Japan Arrival Day Checklist

The first 24 hours decide the trip's rhythm. Everything in order, from the jet bridge to tomorrow's alarm:

Checkboxes work on screen too, state isn't saved, screenshot when done.

At the airport (first hour)

Immigration QR done via Visit Japan Web before landing (saves the paper-form queue)
eSIM activated / pocket wifi picked up
Cash: withdraw ¥20,000–30,000 at the 7-Eleven ATM in arrivals
Suica/ICOCA: added in Apple Wallet or bought at the station machine (guide)
Rail pass / Haruka voucher exchanged at the JR office if you bought one
Konbini onigiri for the train, start the system early

The transfer

Right transfer for your hotel zone, Narita/Haneda ranking · KIX ranking
Landing after 22:30: check last-train times NOW, not on the platform
Big luggage + hotel district on a limousine bus route → take the bus

First evening

Hotel/hostel check-in; note the curfew if a hostel has one
Google Maps offline map downloaded for the city
Walk one block: find your konbini, your station entrance, your late-night noodle option
Load ¥3,000 on the Suica at any station machine or konbini
Jet-lag rule: stay up until 21:00 local minimum, sunlight tomorrow morning

Tomorrow-morning setup (5 minutes tonight)

First sight chosen for BEFORE 9 AM, crowds are a clock problem (the dawn playbook)
Timed tickets (teamLab/USJ) checked: correct date, QR loads offline
Weather checked; rain plan = aquarium, onsen, or depachika

More tools: all free Japan tools ·JR Pass calculator ·best time to visit.

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