In celebration of Japan and South Korea’s 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations, the two nations have set up fast lanes at immigration for each other’s citizens for a limited time.
These fast lanes can be found at Tokyo Haneda, Fukuoka, Seoul Gimpo, and Busan Gimhae airports. They will be in place for use until June 30.
This is the first time Japan has set up a dedicated immigration lane for a specific group of foreign citizens.
So far this year, from January to April, over 3.2 million South Korean visitors have entered Japan, accounting for about 22% of all foreign arrivals according to JNTO data. The number of Japanese travelers has been lagging, largely due to the weak currency. Still, over 3 million Japanese travelers made their way to Korea in all of 2024.
Despite the historical and political disputes these two nations have every so often, it’s good to see them recognizing the importance of efficient travel between Japan and Korea. I think it’s in their best interests to make air travel as smooth as possible for each of their citizens, and I wish this had been longer than a one-month gig. Maybe we’ll get something more permanent down the road after this, as both governments will have data on how this went. In a way, this could be a limited-time trial for something in the future.
Featured image by Kyodo News.
