Along with your passport you choose either the red channel if you have something to declare or the green channel if you do not.

Once you are processed you are then reunited with your onboard luggage to be further processed by customs inspection officers, before being granted access to enter Japan.

Japan is very strict on what can be brought into the country and very strong penalties exist, at the time of writing the following items were banned. Please visit Japanese Customs website for up to date information.

Illegal drugs, including Heroin, cannabis and other narcotics, Firearms, ammunitions and explosives, Counterfeit money or credit cards Obscene, immoral material e.g. pornography in all forms including drawings, videos, carvings, DVDs or printed works and articles that infringe intellectual properties.

There are also restrictions on bringing certain organic items into the country including some animals and plants and strangely salt. If in doubt people should declare any item with the customs officers instead of risking severe fines and or long jail terms.

There are also some duty free restrictions with allowances of 3 x 750ml bottles of alcohol, 57g of perfume, 400 cigarettes and souvenirs and gifts up to Y200 000.

People bringing more than the equivalent of one million yen into the country in cash should also declare it. People bringing more than this amount into Japan can pay an additional charge at the customs office.