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I’m a Filipino citizen. My flight goes from Vancouver to Manila via Tokyo Haneda. I will arrive in Japan at 6pm then depart at 9am the next day. I'm not planning to go out of the airport during my layover, so I don't see a need to have a transit visa. However, I called the Consulate-General of Japan here in Canada, and they asked me to get a transit visa.

Then I called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan and asked them the same question.. at first, they told me I don’t need a visa as long as I stay inside the airport, but when I told them that the Consulate-General of Japan in Canada asked me to get a visa, they also asked me to get one.

I'm so confused. I would like to know your knowledge or experience regarding this.

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Per TIMATIC, the database used by airlines:

TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Passengers transiting through Tokyo (HND) or Osaka (KIX) with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country within 72 hours. They must stay in the international transit area of the airport and have documents required for the next destination.

and

Holders of onward tickets transiting to a third country can obtain a Shore Pass on arrival for a max. stay of 72 hours only if there are no connecting flights on the same calendar day

As such, you don't need a visa, even if leaving the airport. If you want to leave the airport present your passport and connecting boarding pass at border control, and ask for a Shore pass.

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    It's also worth noting that this is the case because Haneda operates 24/7, while Narita does not.
    – lambshaanxy
    Commented Jan 8, 2019 at 10:03
  • Hi, I don’t know how the domestic terminal and international terminals work. As for me, I’ll be arriving at terminal 1 (domestic terminal) at 6pm, then will leave 9am the next day (as stated in my question above). But they said the domestic terminal will be closed at night. Am I allowed to stay inside the terminal?
    – Eishiele
    Commented Jan 8, 2019 at 19:38
  • Also, how can I obtain a shore pass? I’m sorry this is my first time to encounter these things
    – Eishiele
    Commented Jan 8, 2019 at 19:39
  • And, can I get a shore pass if I arrive and depart from the domestic terminal?
    – Eishiele
    Commented Jan 8, 2019 at 21:06
  • I’m sorry, I don’t actually know if it’s Terminal 1 or International terminal. I was so confused because it was written as “Terminal I” in my ticket. I’m currently put on hold by an ANA (All Nippon Airways) agent because she is also figuring out if it’s Terminal 1 or International Terminal
    – Eishiele
    Commented Jan 8, 2019 at 23:35

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