Sep 2020 Travelling to Japan during Covid-19 - PCR test procedure on Landing at Tokyo Haneda Airport
The thought of travelling during the Covid-19 Pandemic was not something I ever thought about, but recently that's exactly what happened. We moved to Japan in mid Sept 2020. Today I am only going to explain the PCR test procedure that almost everyone has to go through when they land in Japan right now.
We flew into Haneda airport mid Sept 2020.While our airplane was making its way to the gate we could see how quiet the airport really was. The usual movement of fuel vans, cargo vehicles, catering vans and other airplanes was not to be seen. It was as if we were the only ones active around. Once we reached the gate we were told that we have to wait in the aircraft until a quarantine officer clears us to leave the airplane. We waited no more than 10 mins when we were allowed to leave the aircraft. Normally once you leave the aircraft you would go to immigration but now we had to go through quarantine first.
The walk from the aircraft to the quarantine area was about 3 to 5 mins and in those few mins we could see the impact of a global pandemic. It was quiet, eerie like a ghost town. No one around, we didnt even hear the usual announcements you hear at an airport every 2 mins of boarding and gate changes. Even the washrooms along the path were closed off and we couldnt use any of them. Those long flat escalators that get you through long airport corridors, some were static with no one on them. A sight and experience I dont think I will forget anytime soon.
We entered the 1st room
where they took us aside and checked if all the immigration and quarantine
documents that we received on the airplane were filled out. Usually you just get the 1 immigration form on the
plane but we got a few more quarantine forms. Once they checked those they asked us to move to Room 2 but not before we use the hand sanitizer provided there.
The 2nd room was where they conducted the PCR test. It was a relief to see that they were doing the test by collecting saliva and not the deep swab through the nose till the back of your throat (Nasopharyngeal swab). Apparently the switched to the saliva test sometime in July. I had to do the Nasopharyngeal swab twice before we left for Japan and I was not looking forward to that again. (I will write about that harrowing experience soon). They handed us a tube with a label and a small funnel. They had setup small stations on the side where you have to go and collect your saliva. There was information in English which was helpful and pictures of lemon and umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum, my wifes favourite). Apparently pictures of something sour is helpful to create saliva in your mouth. I attached the funnel to the tube and then spat into the funnel to collect my saliva. I thought I spat enough but when I checked the tube, it was less than half full. I did that 2 more times and finally collected a little more than the required amount. They had mentioned on the form that people who cannot produce saliva for the test, would have to go through the Nasopharyngeal swab and there was no way I wanted to get that done again. They then took the tube from us and gave us a number which they would call out later when they announce the results.
After this yes we sanitized our hands again and moved to room 3. This was where the quarantine officers examined our documents that we filled out earlier on the plane. They checked where we will stay for the 14 days and our mode of transport from the airport. They also asked us to connect with them through the line app so they can contact us and check on our health for the 14 days. We had the app installed on our phone, but they said we cant use it unless its connected to a Japanese number. So instead they would contact our family here in Japan and check on our health and we will have to inform our family everyday if we are ok or developed any symptoms. Once we were done talking to the quarantine officers they told us there is a vending machine here if we wanted to buy something before we go and wait for our results in the other room. They told us that the results could take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.
We took the escalator up to this massive open area where we waited for our results. We waited for around 20 mins and saw the officers at the counter getting ready to announce the results. They started calling out 4 numbers at a time. We were so happy we didn’t have to wait for 1 or 2 hours for the results. We even read online about times when saliva test results took almost 4 to 6 hours. In the early days of the lockdown when they were doing the swab test at the airport we heard it took up to 2 days to get the result.
When our number was called we went up to the counter and they gave us a printed copy of our result. We heaved a sigh of relief, the results were negative. From there we moved to the next counter and here once again they asked us how we were going to go to our hotel from the airport. Now when we travelled the rules were that you are not allowed to take public transit or regular taxis to go from the airport to the hotel. We found a list of taxis companies on the ministry of health labour and welfare website which comply with their rules and transport standards and hence we booked one from there to pick us up. These taxi services are not cheap. If you can, ask a family member to pick you up.
Link to the taxi service page: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/newpage_00020.html
The overall time from landing to getting the test result was
around 1 hour and 15 mins. Which was way less that what we had prepared ourselves for. There were a lot of
officers and workers at the quarantine stations in every room so we never had
to wait in line to be helped which was great. From here we moved onto immigration and then exited the airport. I will write more about that in another topic as well. Well for now take care and be safe. Like they say in Japan Mata Ne.
You can even watch my video about the PCR test procedure at Haneda Airport below.
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