Narita Airport...Rudimentary Information

Above, the JR ticket counter in the Arrival Lobby of Terminal One at Narita Airport.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one has never stepped off of U.S. soil to take a trip to Japan or any other foreign country, in order to do so, the first thing they'll need is a valid U.S. passport.  This is to give you some rudimentary information you'll need to visit Japan.

Passports may be obtained through the post office or a local passport office.  Check the government pages in your white pages phone directory or online for information on obtaining a passport.

One thing you will need is a current headshot photo.  It used to be that you would need two identical photos, but when I recently renewed my passport, they only asked for one (and they even took the picture themselves).  It is best to check first.

Above, Narita's Terminal One Arrival Lobby.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After this, the next thing you'll need is a flight to Japan.  Generally, the main entry point in Japan is Narita Airport (NRT) which is outside of Tokyo (about an hour's ride by train to Tokyo).  Other airports with incoming flights are the Kansai International Airport (offshore of Osaka) and Haneda Airport in Tokyo (there are limited international flights into Haneda).  By the way, Haneda Airport was the airport battleground during the battle of Godzilla and Destoroyah in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995).

Of course, you will need hotel, ryokan (Japanese inn) or other accommodations arrangements for your stay.
Since Narita is the main entry airport for newbies (generally speaking), this treatise will concentrate on that airport.

Above, the Narita Express train.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It used to be that the airport was so busy that your arriving flight would stop before reaching the terminal and you'd have to take a shuttle bus to the terminal.  This is rarely the case today.

When you get to the airport, you will be sent to Immigration.  There, you will have to go through a screening process that includes electronic fingerprinting, a headshot photo and completion of their immigration forms.  While standing in line, you will be treated to a video of their procedures that features five-time Godzilla actress Shelley Sweeney.  (I would have posted a photo of the Immigration area, but they don't allow photography there.)
 
After you are finished at the Immigration window, you will head downstairs to the baggage claim area.  There, you will pick up your baggage from the carousel and then head to one of the Customs stations ahead of you.

Once at Customs you will declare what you have and get let through to the main arrival lobby.  If there are people who are picking you up, you will find them there.  Otherwise, you would go to your right just outside the Customs exit door to the currency exchange window.  You can exchange your dollars into yen there or you can do it elsewhere (you choice).

There are windows for trains or limos to obtain tickets into Tokyo across the lobby.  Also, there's a main office for the Japan Rail system at the lower level.  Here, you can purchase tickets to get into Tokyo.  Also, if you have a JR Railpass voucher, you can exchange it here for your rail pass.

Above, inside the Narita Express.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is in the lower level (below the Terminal One arrival lobby) that the Narita Express and other trains (such as the Keisei Lines) into Tokyo can be boarded.

The procedures at Narita Airport are relatively painless (as far as airports go) and well-organized.  The total time to go though the process is usually under an hour.  After you've completed your airport processing.  Just hop on your train (or other mode of transportation into Tokyo), to begin your vacation.

All this (and more) are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.