Visit Japan Web is the Japanese government’s online service for arrival procedures. It handles immigration and customs, and it also covers tax-free shopping. You register your immigration details in advance and show the 2D code it generates at the immigration desk.
Register on a computer, show the code on a phone
You can complete the registration on a computer, but you cannot present it on one. The 2D code has to be shown at the immigration counter, so carry a smartphone or tablet when you land.
One code for two checks
Immigration clearance and the customs declaration now use a single unified 2D code, not separate ones.
Who can use it
Visitors arriving from overseas and Japanese residents returning home. Foreign visitors can also use it for tax-free purchases during their stay.
Use the official site
Go to Visit Japan Web through the Digital Agency address linked below. The government has previously flagged unofficial lookalike apps, so do not find it by searching an app store.
If you plan to use a Japan Rail Pass, note that the automated immigration gates do not stamp passports and the pass needs proof of Temporary Visitor status. The JR Pass rules and break-even sums explain what to ask for at the gate.