Well done, Japanese customs officer, for asking questions that I feel like I should be getting more often!
In this post:
I’m rarely questioned at immigration & customs
I travel internationally a ton, often for the purposes of airline review trips, where I’m visiting a lot of countries in a short period of time. You’d think that this would look suspicious to immigration officers, yet I almost never get any sort of questioning.
Historically, I’ve always traveled with a backpack and carry-on bag, both because there are certain comforts I like traveling with, and because I figure that just traveling internationally with a small backpack would be too suspicious.
Yet for my past several trips, I’ve started just traveling with a backpack. This is convenient in terms of not having to worry about overhead bin space, and not having to lug a lot of stuff around. I assumed that this would arouse some suspicion at airports, but nope, for the most part, it hasn’t.
Like, I took a one night trip to Bolivia, I’m just traveling with a backpack, and you have no questions for me? Admittedly I’d be the dumbest smuggler on earth, and perhaps it would just be so obvious as to not be suspicious. But still, you’d think there would be questions.
I’m not trying to get into an argument about “wokeness” here, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that me being able to breeze through customs and immigration like this at least partly comes down to me being a white dude. I guarantee that if I were an obvious minority, I’d probably be stopped a lot more often.
My funny Japan customs experience
All of this brings me to my arrival in Japan. After flying Korean Air’s A321neo business class, I arrived at New Chitose Airport (CTS), and had to clear immigration and customs. I had no issues at immigration, but then I got to the customs officer.
In Japan, you fill out a customs form, and then each passenger has to go up to a customs officer who reviews the form. Every time I’ve entered Japan, they’ve just sent me on my way without asking anything. This guy looked at my form, and then looked at me, with a slightly confused look on his face.
The conversation then went something like this:
Officer: “Did you collect your luggage?”
Me: “Yes, I just have the backpack.”
Officer: “How long are you staying in Japan for?”
Me: “Just for one night. I fly to Tokyo Haneda tonight, and then to New York tomorrow.”
Officer: “Do you have any gold?”
Me: “No.”
Officer: “Do you have any illegal drugs?”
Me: “No.”
Officer: “Do you have any friends in Japan?”
Me: “Not really.”
Officer: “Is it okay if I search your bag?”
Me: “Of course!”
He then proceeded to search my bag. I’d say it was a reasonably thorough search, as he rummaged through every pocket of my bag. But it wasn’t one of those situations where they’re convinced you’re carrying something, and send your bag through an x-ray, search your body, etc.
After a minute, he simply said “thank you for waiting, so sorry, welcome to Japan.”
Bottom line
I don’t often get questioned at customs, even though logically, I feel like it would be appropriate. So that’s why I was kind of amused by my arrivals experience in Japan, whereby the officer started by outright asking me if I had gold or drugs. I can totally understand how traveling internationally with a small backpack looks suspicious, so I don’t blame him!
Given how rare this kind of questioning is for me, I figured it was an anecdote worth sharing.
You get searched in Japan depending where you come from.
Every time I come from Europe, I never get searched, but every time I come from Mexico I've got a full search.
In the US there is already preconceived notions depending on where the flights or people are coming from it seems or are of origination.
If you’re flying from France/Switzerland they’re suspicious of you bringing in handbags/watches and such luxury goods without declaring.
If you’re coming from South America it’s probably narcotics.
If you’re coming from India/Israel it’s probably gold and diamonds.
"Catching A Smuggler" on NatGeo is a great docuseries that covers exactly this kind of thing.
In many years of flying, I have so far never been stopped at customs.
How many international flights coming in from a different country/customs area? Sometimes some of us get stopped at customs not just because of the vast number of flights meaning it sometimes just happens but because our required declarations increase the odds of a stop in order to try to protect America’s farms/orchards, animals and nature from disease agents and invasive species.
Very interesting.
In Europe we find it strange going into stores and being requested to open the backpack the male is carrying and the tote the women is carrying.
My guess Ben is that carrying a single backpack caused a question, rather than when you carry the two bags.
Alot of business people I know, all switched to backpacks instead of briefcases, but they normally have more than one bag when flying.
Who knows. Is it still the stigma of a backpack?
I am very, very rarely questioned by customs outside of the US. Get more questions from customs in the US than anywhere else in the past 15-25 years. And the US is the only place where customs asked me if I am transporting diamonds.
Also just rule of maths - Going through smaller border control / customs will get you more scrutiny, this applies to worldwide. Chitose is much smaller than Tokyo in this regard.
Japanese customs often ask you to open your bag so they can check, but it's weirdly low key. I once had some beef jerky in my bag, and the customs officer told me I could not bring meat products (even if processed) into the country. He then told me not to do it again, but didn't seize it, so I did bring it into the country.
P.S. Don't try that. This was many years ago and they are cracking down.
I took advantage of a cheap RyanAir roundtrip last Sunday to fly from Pescara to Munich (actually Memmingen) for the last day of Oktoberfest. Also just carrying a backpack because well it was just a day trip and darn it, my lederhosen were at the cleaners. When I flew back the next day, the bored Guardia di Finanza (tax police) at the airport asked me for documentation, ostensibly because being Asian makes me interesting in...
I took advantage of a cheap RyanAir roundtrip last Sunday to fly from Pescara to Munich (actually Memmingen) for the last day of Oktoberfest. Also just carrying a backpack because well it was just a day trip and darn it, my lederhosen were at the cleaners. When I flew back the next day, the bored Guardia di Finanza (tax police) at the airport asked me for documentation, ostensibly because being Asian makes me interesting in this area. I produced my Italian identity card, residence permit, and (American) passport. They asked me if I was working, which was a dumb question to ask because I'd already given them my residence permit which says I'm not allowed to work in the country, so I told them I'm retired. They asked me what was in my backpack, well it's just clothing I replied. Then they asked me how much cash I had on hand -- certainly less than EUR 200. Then they asked me if I had any US Dollars on me. I kind of lost my patience at this point and told them no, why would I have USD on me when I live in the area and am flying back from Memmingen?
I took advantage of that United routing deal years ago where you could book an award ticket from the US to Japan with a free “stopover” anywhere in Africa on the way for the same number of miles as a direct flight to Tokyo. Apparently a young guy traveling solo in business class from the Seychelles to Tokyo raised some red flags. I got politely but thoroughly searched at Narita. All my checked luggage, the...
I took advantage of that United routing deal years ago where you could book an award ticket from the US to Japan with a free “stopover” anywhere in Africa on the way for the same number of miles as a direct flight to Tokyo. Apparently a young guy traveling solo in business class from the Seychelles to Tokyo raised some red flags. I got politely but thoroughly searched at Narita. All my checked luggage, the coat I was wearing, etc. I had to provide a demonstration of what a bottle of spray sunscreen was/did. The ironic part was that in the side pocket of my checked bag were two large ziplock bags full of protein powder. I was on the first leg of a 30 day trip and had brought a full months supply. After searching through every article of clothing the customs officers (there were 2) completely overlooked the pocket with the two huge unlabeled bags of white powder and sent me on my way.
once upon a time I got grilled *all* the time. do not miss this st all.
You’re upset about NOT being grilled by customs or immigration?!?!? Are you truly out of your mind?
When I was departing Sao Paulo about 10 years ago, I was told at check in I needed to report to a customer service counter because I was red flagged for something. I found out I was selected because I had too many Japan stamps (stickers) in my passport and it was suspicious. I think their criteria needs changing if they think Japan trips are suspicious.
I'm the middle-aged, middle-class white guy who usually gets waved through customs without a second glance, but I've twice had my luggage searched on arrival in Japan. I have no objections to officers doing their jobs, it's just an observation of a point of difference.
Hi Ben, just remember, wokeness will only get you so far. I am a white guy also, but have long hair. The default is they assume I have drugs on me.
Japan is the best. Last time the officer pulled out a big picture book of elicit drugs and pointed to @ 5 or 6 pictures, slowly asking if I had any of those. He then went back to the first one (weed) and asked again if I was sure I didn't have any on me...lol!
With all the travel you do, how could you possibly afford to buy drugs or gold :p
Funny enough, I was questioned by "undercover" plainclothes CBP officers in Miami for having *too much* luggage when flying back from Bolivia. So, maybe you're right, Ben, that traveling with only a backpack is so obvious that no one worries about it!
When our flight landed in MIA, I left my mom sitting towards the back of the customs hall and went to pick up our two full size checked bags at customs baggage claim....
Funny enough, I was questioned by "undercover" plainclothes CBP officers in Miami for having *too much* luggage when flying back from Bolivia. So, maybe you're right, Ben, that traveling with only a backpack is so obvious that no one worries about it!
When our flight landed in MIA, I left my mom sitting towards the back of the customs hall and went to pick up our two full size checked bags at customs baggage claim. The second I grabbed the two suitcases, two officers in plainclothes approached me, showed me their badge, and asked me about my travel. Their first question was why did I have two checked bags when I was traveling alone.
I told them I was traveling with my mom, and that one suitcase was mine, and one was hers. We walked over to where my mom was sitting so she could confirm the same details. When they realized I wasn't traveling alone, their attitude changed, and things wrapped up quickly. Interestingly, they never inspected our bags (just asked some questions about what we were bringing back).
I've never seen/noticed plainclothes CBP officers directly at the customs baggage claim before or since. I had no idea they did that.
Miami may be the only airport to retain dogs trained to sniff for gold or bundled cash.
Seems like a rather silly question to ask. Does anyone ever say yes? If someone looks suspicious just ask to check them.
I'm not trained in such things, but I suspect that they are looking at your reaction more than expecting anything other than "no."
Also, gold importatation to Japan is legal in all amounts, but you must declare >1 kg. So, the answer could easily be "yes," with the followup of "how much" and "show me." It's the same with >$10,000 cash into U.S.: you only get in trouble if you don't declare (except thry stoll might try to take it).
They are worse at judging reactions from people about who is a good person or not than a toddler.
Apart from seeing your reaction, telling a lie is an offence in its own right, so it gives them more charges to prosecute you on if they then find something you said you weren't carrying.
One time when I came back from Zurich they were on me like white on rice at PHL. Looking for gold , Rolex , and pattek phillipe. I live in a dumpster lol.
Best comment of the day. LOL
Ben: I don't think anyone has asked you the most important questions:
*Which back pack do you use
*How much do you manage to pack into it (clothes, toiletries, electronics???)
I use a small backpack (small enough to fit under the seat in front of me) but by the time I pack my laptop and assorted electronics, some paperwork, there is no room for anything else. Please share what secrets are:-)
dude. he travels with a small, personal tardis. :)
That explains it; who would have thought:-)
There are some great expandable travel backpacks that actually are very cheap, work well for short trips and can even be stuffed under the seats in economy class. For example, the Duchamp brand expandable travel backpacks are as little as around $40-50 in stores like TJ Maxx and other discounters. They are my standard gift to people who are to travel for me or with me.
Amazon wants $100+ for this:
https://www.amazon.com/Getaway-Expandable-Carry-Backpack-Suitcase/dp/B07ND2VXC8
But I have gotten them all for under $50 from TJ Maxx and other discounters in the US.
And you even got a "so sorry"! Nice.
I was detained at YYZ for 45 minutes last month, as far as I can tell for wearing shorts and a T-shirt and carrying just a backpack for a 3-night visit. Also hadn't shaved in a few days.
They were absolutely not pleasant about it, in true Canadian border agent fashion. Full search and no effort to put things back in any sort of reasonable...
And you even got a "so sorry"! Nice.
I was detained at YYZ for 45 minutes last month, as far as I can tell for wearing shorts and a T-shirt and carrying just a backpack for a 3-night visit. Also hadn't shaved in a few days.
They were absolutely not pleasant about it, in true Canadian border agent fashion. Full search and no effort to put things back in any sort of reasonable manner. Kept asking me how I intended to pay for things in Canada and I had to show them my hotel reservation and checking/savings balances on my phone. And they definitely didn't give me a sorry afterwards. I get that Canada has a huge problem with people coming and staying illegally to work but they can at least be polite... like everyone else in the country.
Problem is that this sort of nonsense keeps much more legitimate tourists away than people who plan to overstay / work illegally. Personally I'm avoiding Canada for this very reason even though I have many of its cities on my bucket list. Yeah, I know I tick all the boxes customs have but come on, I'm an EU citizen, I can work in 30+ countries legally (some of them much richer and more attractive than...
Problem is that this sort of nonsense keeps much more legitimate tourists away than people who plan to overstay / work illegally. Personally I'm avoiding Canada for this very reason even though I have many of its cities on my bucket list. Yeah, I know I tick all the boxes customs have but come on, I'm an EU citizen, I can work in 30+ countries legally (some of them much richer and more attractive than CAN), why would I bother with cheating? So I go elsewhere where I feel welcome and don't have to deal with nasty customs officers, or be worried about being sent back home (in economy!). Meanwhile someone who has illegal intentions is motivated enough to just make something up.
Canada is the worst place for Customs and Immigration. They don't want anyone visiting.
I agree. Had a land crossing at the blue bridge (Port Huron to Sarnia).
She asked us if we knew we going to Canada? We had already handed her passports♀️
And a bunch of obnoxious questions about financial resources.
I make sure I have an answer for exactly how long and where we we are staying even if don’t exactly have my whole itinerary planned out.
The few times I've been searched and they go through my luggage, which is always packed very strategically because it's FULL, they (not Canada, any customs anywhere) never even try to be gentle about repacking anything so I always make them stop and tell them I'll repack it, and then I do, and I take my time, and I do it right there on their little exam table that they need to inspect the next...
The few times I've been searched and they go through my luggage, which is always packed very strategically because it's FULL, they (not Canada, any customs anywhere) never even try to be gentle about repacking anything so I always make them stop and tell them I'll repack it, and then I do, and I take my time, and I do it right there on their little exam table that they need to inspect the next person, and they get super annoyed with me. I'm sorry officer if me returning my stuff to the condition it was in before you rummaged through it all like a tornado on coke is inconveniencing you, it must be absolutely horrible to be so inconvenienced, what a bummer....
Come back from Bangkok as a sole male traveler. If you are like me you will be taken to a customs room, have your bags searched and asked personal questions including about your family members. Versus the people that simply walk across the Southern border.
That's weird. Whenever I return from BKK, I don't even need to pull out my passport, the facial recognition at Global Entry knows who I am, and I'm on my way. When I cross back in to South Texas (where I live) from Tamaulipas, I have to approach a CBP official, and even though I have SENTRI, there's still always a short line of questioning.
I fly to Thailand often. I have never had any problems with customs.
Beside me, I have lots of family and friends and other acquaintances who have flown back to the US from Bangkok and never been flagged on arrival to the US on trips to the US front Thailand.
But some other people get flagged for being suspected abusers of child prostitutes in SE Asia and then they sometimes want to check out your electronic devices.
I must look super-dodgy! I've been asked and searched for drugs (they use that little fabric swab on the end of a stick to wipe my bags and my clothes each time) at Gatwick, Tenerife South and Stockholm airports in the last 18 months :(
I assume the swipe is more for explosives. I used to get swiped going through the Australian TSA equivalent with some frequency. I always assume that they have to do so many, and I look like a guy you're not so fearful of if I got mad. My last swipe was leaving from LHR. My solid carryon backup deorderant triggered it.
Yep, I asked once as I was always getting tested in Australia and they said it was because I was smiling and it’s easier to deal with someone not agro…
I recently got back from Indonesia. and had gone through various airports, no problem. SIN, IST, MUC, FRA. But TSA at PHX, OMG. Had around two pounds of wonderful incense, and obviously they don't know what that is if it doesn't have the form of a fir tree hanging from your rear view mirror. They had to rip apart my extremely carefully packed carry-on, with half a dozen of swabs, and three guys being involved,...
I recently got back from Indonesia. and had gone through various airports, no problem. SIN, IST, MUC, FRA. But TSA at PHX, OMG. Had around two pounds of wonderful incense, and obviously they don't know what that is if it doesn't have the form of a fir tree hanging from your rear view mirror. They had to rip apart my extremely carefully packed carry-on, with half a dozen of swabs, and three guys being involved, and left me with an utter mess, that I had a hard time to re-pack.
T3 at LHR is consistantly the worst. They seem to have been trained by a sadist.
Those are swipes for explosives unless you were dealing with customs right after the baggage claim halls.
I have had items swiped for explosives at passenger security screening checkpoints at two of the three above-listed airports.
The best way to annoy those customs people is by becoming overly helpful, like pointing out some pockets they might miss and asking them proactively if you should help them by opening some for them. Then give them an unwanted audio tour of the contents they're going through. Make sure it's in a happy, constructive and helpful but just too loud tone. In most cases they're done with me in under a minute.
(Yes,...
The best way to annoy those customs people is by becoming overly helpful, like pointing out some pockets they might miss and asking them proactively if you should help them by opening some for them. Then give them an unwanted audio tour of the contents they're going through. Make sure it's in a happy, constructive and helpful but just too loud tone. In most cases they're done with me in under a minute.
(Yes, I know they're just doing their jobs, but that doesn't make the experience less annoying, and in most cases I get the impression the annoyance goes both ways).
Not very clever. Rule #1 is don’t annoy customs people.
Rule #1 Don't tick off folks who can have you strip searched
Rule #2 Don't tick off folks who have access to your food orders
Great anecdote - that's something I always wonder with these review trips, the sort of questions you get at immigration and customs and what you say etc.
So, what you’re telling us is that your gold/ drug smuggling into Japan was successful.
Congratulations!
Why would only having a backpack be suspicious?
It’s because most visitors arriving into Japan from long-haul flights come with more than a small backpack, and so they are more likely to expect to see more luggage than just a small backpack. The lazy-minded go after the different because it’s the lazy and easier thing to do as part of the dog and pony “security” show. Meanwhile most contraband comes in via commercial cargo and surface transport means.
I agree with @GUWonder, there's a lot of intellectual laziness to it more than anything. I don't know about Japan, but perforating a random unit/box in a huge pallet is still a screening practice in some "1st world" countries. That can give you an idea of what gets missing every single day and would be an informative statistic for sure. But, of course, catching a single person carrying illegal stuff in a backpack, or putting...
I agree with @GUWonder, there's a lot of intellectual laziness to it more than anything. I don't know about Japan, but perforating a random unit/box in a huge pallet is still a screening practice in some "1st world" countries. That can give you an idea of what gets missing every single day and would be an informative statistic for sure. But, of course, catching a single person carrying illegal stuff in a backpack, or putting a big show where the usual "suspects" are thoroughly screened to keep a country "safe" is what satisfies most people.
Quite the picture of unwavering Japanese precision, and I’m surprised it hasn’t happened to you more often.
As an aside, it seems Air India has ordered 85 more Airbus aircraft, and I think it’s pretty noteworthy for you to cover, especially after the passing of its leader Ratan Tata.
lmao what about this shows a picture of "unwavering Japanese precision"
I meant to say the by-the-book, methodical way the officer asked those questions.
I travelled to Narita from Singapore with only a backpack for a 2 night stay. I was shown a card and asked if I have any of the items listed ( gun, drugs etc)
I said no and the border officer asked " body touch ok?" He patted down my coat for about 3 seconds and then sent me on my way with a thank you!
I also travel lightly, usually a rollaboard and a backpack. I never had any issues except once at IAD, where there was a long line (around several backage carrousels) and it took me about 1 hour only to get to see the officer ... and then they searched my belonging thoroughly (like most other pax). I think that day they got a hint (or some intelligence), therefore it was much more thorough than usual.
Wondering if this is more of a standard question they're asking. I got asked if I had illegal drugs when I went in 2022, but they didn't search me. I was staying 3 weeks, and traveling with family. I breezed through alone and with friends twice in 2017 and twice in 2018, no questions or searches at all.
I will say though, my interactions with CBP have generally been good. I got searched coming back...
Wondering if this is more of a standard question they're asking. I got asked if I had illegal drugs when I went in 2022, but they didn't search me. I was staying 3 weeks, and traveling with family. I breezed through alone and with friends twice in 2017 and twice in 2018, no questions or searches at all.
I will say though, my interactions with CBP have generally been good. I got searched coming back from a work retreat in Cancun a couple years ago, but the agent was courteous. Not apologetic, but I don't expect them to be, they're doing their job. Coming back from Cancun with my fiance last month we chatted with our passport control agent for a few minutes, he used to be a COBOL programmer.
Hi.
Welcome Japan.
I reccomend you the Visit Japan Web(customs declaration form).
It's a very easy.
https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
You don't have to write down the customs declaration form.
Then you can pass through without quesiton and no waiting time the custom declare.
This is the best way!
Forgot about Visit Japan Web after the end of Pandemic. Gotta use that if my planned trip to Tokyo this winter actually happens. ありがとうございます!
I live in Japan and I find the old-school paper customs form to be easier than all the steps involved in using Visit Japan Web. You have to pre-register before the flight, mess around with a terminal in the baggage claim area, get a QR code, etc. etc. whereas with the paper form you just fill it in and hand it off, generally with a minimal line and usually with no questions. Sometimes the QR code line is actually very long.
+1
yep, what Joe said.
We arrived to HND last week and the arrivals/immigration process was insanely chaotic, and it was pretty much all due to the Visit Japan system. Two or three flights all landed at the same time, and then they had about 75 people yelling directions to passengers, directing them where to go. Of course most did not have it prefilled, so they are scanning the QR codes as they navigate the lines and filling them out...
We arrived to HND last week and the arrivals/immigration process was insanely chaotic, and it was pretty much all due to the Visit Japan system. Two or three flights all landed at the same time, and then they had about 75 people yelling directions to passengers, directing them where to go. Of course most did not have it prefilled, so they are scanning the QR codes as they navigate the lines and filling them out as they go. This caused so much backlog, and they wouldn't let those with the QR code ready to cut ahead. Even worse was after immigration, needing to scan it for your customs form before heading through. No idea why this was needed, since you don't receive anything, but again, caused total chaos and confusion, and crazy long lines to scan it since there are only a few machines. As amazing and efficient as Japan is, the Visit Japan arrival process is horrendous. I thought the Ashgabat visa on arrival was nuts, but HND blew that out of the water.
Thanks, @Ben, for acknowledging that race indeed plays a role in how "security" is enforced. I'll never forget a flight from CDG to ZRH. Right in the baggage claim area there was an officer smiling and waving goodbye to "all" passengers. I thought "OK, it seems they're just saying hello to that guy and heading straight to the exit". Well, as soon as I was approaching I did as "everybody else", waved hello to the...
Thanks, @Ben, for acknowledging that race indeed plays a role in how "security" is enforced. I'll never forget a flight from CDG to ZRH. Right in the baggage claim area there was an officer smiling and waving goodbye to "all" passengers. I thought "OK, it seems they're just saying hello to that guy and heading straight to the exit". Well, as soon as I was approaching I did as "everybody else", waved hello to the guy, to which he replied in German "you come here". What followed was lots of questioning and an EXTENSIVE search. Guess how many passengers on that flight (regional aircraft) went through that? 2, me and a Black passenger. The others (all white, of course) just waltzed their way through baggage claim with a smile on their faces.
They are playing the statistical odds.
No they aren’t. They are just being lazy-minded and buying into racist and other bigotry of the sort that you support perhaps more and more broadly than you want to publicly acknowledge.
"I think it’s important to acknowledge that me being able to breeze through customs and immigration like this at least partly comes down to me being a white dude. I guarantee that if I were an obvious minority, I’d probably be stopped a lot more often."
Your passport privilege also helps out with that, whether using your German or US passports.
A white person traveling with a Serbian passport or Brazilian passports, as examples, might be a bit more suspicious.
I believe this is much closer to the truth than simply racial profiling. It's naive to think that customs officials pick people just based on how suspicious they look when waltzing through the customs area. Rather, they have a preselected list of names (and pictures) of people that they are looking for. Someone could get picked off the flight manifest or flagged when going through immigration based on their nationality, flight origin, previous travel patterns...
I believe this is much closer to the truth than simply racial profiling. It's naive to think that customs officials pick people just based on how suspicious they look when waltzing through the customs area. Rather, they have a preselected list of names (and pictures) of people that they are looking for. Someone could get picked off the flight manifest or flagged when going through immigration based on their nationality, flight origin, previous travel patterns and such. Many countries participate in international police cooperation and their officials may be tipped off in advance of an inbound passenger.
That's an excellent point about passport privilege, in addition to the individual person's demographics.
Another factor is that using the priority immigration line for premium cabin passengers, where available, makes a massive difference in how customs/immigration officers treat you.
Folks don't seem to understand how they profile people. Most of time it has to do with background checks and travel terms (when was ticket bought, from what country, who paid, etc). They're chasing mules where they originate from suspicious airports and under suspicious circumstances (with the notable exception of Canada, as many others have said). NO country wants people that may be attempting to RELOCATE to their country. One way tickets are a guarantee...
Folks don't seem to understand how they profile people. Most of time it has to do with background checks and travel terms (when was ticket bought, from what country, who paid, etc). They're chasing mules where they originate from suspicious airports and under suspicious circumstances (with the notable exception of Canada, as many others have said). NO country wants people that may be attempting to RELOCATE to their country. One way tickets are a guarantee of a check. Over-packing is a guarantee of a check. Buying a ticket just before or paying in cash or someone buying you a ticket from another country, are all guarantees. Certain tattoo types, you'll get a check.
But some airblogger traveling business class? Highly unlikely.
During the last 15 years or so, 90% of my international trips are on one-way tickets. I have been questioned more when arriving on roundtrip tickets than when arriving on one-way tickets.
Japan is just wonderful in about everything, even Customs.
As told before I travel about the same average as you, but only for Business, so I have lot of Lay Overs of just one night or even less. To give you an example, one of my most frequent Routes are ZRH-GRU-ZRH, LX departs ZRH late evening and arrives at GRU at around 05:00h. I get out at GRU but the plane continues to EZE...
Japan is just wonderful in about everything, even Customs.
As told before I travel about the same average as you, but only for Business, so I have lot of Lay Overs of just one night or even less. To give you an example, one of my most frequent Routes are ZRH-GRU-ZRH, LX departs ZRH late evening and arrives at GRU at around 05:00h. I get out at GRU but the plane continues to EZE (not sure if this is a Fifth Freedom) and returns and then make it on at evening the Sector back GRU-ZRH. Most of the times I stay there for a night or so but last month I was in a hurry and decided to take the same flight back to ZRH a couple of hours later.
I have to admit, once I'm tired (which was the case) I like cooperation.
When I deplaned in the morning, a guy at GRU-Customs asked me, "why are you already flying back this evening"? (For those not familiar, Customs at GRU -besides others, can be a pain in the as#.
Without thinking I asked him; "Don't you go home when you finish your job here"?
Well, it took me 4h untill I was able to leave the airport.
Side note, the guy still recognises me everytime we meet.
Not sure if the officer had a reasonable suspicion and asking if you have a gold or a drug straight seems weird, but it seems like he/she handled the situation quite well afterwards (certainly better than what CBP would do).
What’s wrong with carrying gold?
You're supposed to declare it. if it isn't on your entry form but you claim to have gold then there's a problem.
Whenever you're in Japan, always make an effort to visit the airport's observation deck and aviation-themed gift shop if available. Japan's airports are the best that has avgeeks in mind in my opinion. From what I recall, Narita's Terminal 1 even has a 90s like simulator which was fun and makes you feel like a kid again aside from the gift shop.
Exactly, it's hard to find an airport in Japan without an observation deck.
Admittedly Japan is the best place to be a transport geek of any sort (aviation, train, buses, etc.).