DEPARTURE

Most International flights from India leave at very early hours in the morning. Before going to the airport, you should call ahead, and confirm your departure time, and get there at least three hours before that time. This will ensure that you get a seat on the flight, and also give you enough time for all the checking-in formalities, besides allowing you to choose if you want an aisle or window seat.

Note: In your carry-on bag, make sure you have all your important papers, valuables, a toilet kit, and a change of clothes. You will need these things incase your baggage gets lost.

In order that your checking-in procedure goes smoothly, here are a few things that you must remember:

• When you get to the airport, you'll have to pass your luggage through a x-ray machine.
• At the airline counter, you have to check in and get your boarding pass.
• Whatever foreign exchange you need can be changed at the airport.
• When you're done with the checking in, proceed for immigration check, keeping your passport and boarding pass ready.
• At customs, you should declare any dutiable items (cameras, computers) that you are carrying, and have it endorsed on your passport to avoid problems when you come back to India. You may also have to identify your checked in baggage.
• When it is announced, proceed for the security check.
• Now you can go through the duty-free shopping area while waiting for your flight to be announced. When it announced, proceed to the right gate for you flight.
• Remember not to take any parcels from someone you don't know, and if you are carrying a parcel for someone, make sure you know what's in it.

Airport Tax and Foreign Exchange

When you get to the airport, you'll have to pay international departure tax, which is About Japan Rs. 300 for each passenger. Find out the exact amount form your travel agent before hand.

When changing money, you might find that the counter has run out of dollars, in which case you should buy some other currency, preferably of the European country that you may be stopping over in. Otherwise, any of the European currencies should be good like Deutsch Mark or Pound Sterling.

Baggage Identification Tags

Baggage Identification tags are a must because incase you lose your baggage, the airline will know where to send it.

• Make sure that all your baggage is clearly labeled with your address in India, and your care-of address in Japan.
• Check to see if your baggage is in accordance with the airline restrictions on baggage size and weight.
• The airline will also issue their own tags, and you should attach these to your hand luggage with your name and address, and flight number.

Checking In

Flight and baggage check-in is done at your airlines counter inside the terminal.

• At this time, specify if you want a window or aisle seat.
• Re-confirm your vegetarian/non-vegetarian meal selection.
• You will be given a boarding pass with your seat number on it. You will need this to show to various officials before boarding the plane, so keep it handy.
• At check in, your baggage will be tagged and weighed, and you will be given the stub of the baggage tag, which you must keep. Incase you lose your baggage, these tags will help in locating and claiming your baggage.
• Check your baggage through to the city of your final destination. The airline will handle all the transfers, so you don't have to worry About Japan stopover cities.
• On arrival in Japan, you will have to clear customs, and then check it in again for any local flights you might be taking.
• Security checks are thorough, and the officials may require you to open your bags. Make sure that you've not overstuffed your bags, because re-packing at the airport can become difficult.
• You may be asked to identify your baggage a couple of times before it is loaded on the plane.

ARRIVAL

Japan has international airports in Tokyo, Niigata, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Naha. These are links that will help you:
All Nippon Airways
Japan Airlines homepage
Narita Airport homepage

Collect your baggage on arrival. Remember:

• Many bags look the same, so make sure to check the tag before picking it up.
• Never leave your baggage unattended.

Lost Baggage

It is possible for your baggage to get lost, and this has happened to many travelers.

• When you get to Japan, if you find that your baggage is lost, immediately go to the airline counter. Give them a description, and show them your baggage tags.
• To be on the safe side, you should pack an extra set of clothing and your cosmetics in your carry-on bag.
• If you lose your baggage, you should go to the nearest shopping center and buy yourself some things you might need over the few days that it would take you to get your baggage back.

Ground Transportation
If possible, you could ask your company to have someone receive you at the airport. If they can't there are other alternatives:

• You can take a taxi, though this may be expensive.
• Most of the hotels offer free shuttles to the hotel from the airport. The information counter at the airport can help you find out if your hotel has this service or not.
• Hotel buses run once an hour or so. The buses leave from well-marked locations (just look for the word limo). Tickets may be purchased from counters inside the airport.
• The airport bus is another convenient method and run to a number of destinations.
• The hotel and station buses are the most convenient way into the city.

Note: Even if it may prove to be a little expensive, it may be wise to take a taxi for the first time, until you get a hang of how to travel in the city.