How would you compare security measures inside and outside the terminal buildings at Narita international airport with airports in other countries?

I was impressed with how polite they are. When they searched my bag, they folded my dirty laundry (I had some in a plastic bag).

In my experience, the customs officials at Narita while adequately stern, are polite and professional, at least toward those of us flying in from nations with developed economies.

This is in stark contrast to Customs in the U.S. where they go out of their way to be rude, heavy handed and intimidating toward everyone.

Question was about security, not customs. Think it is hit and miss like in most countries.

I think as far as customer service goes, the security at Narita compares favorably. The screeners tell you what to do and how to do it-- you know, putting this and that in the plastic trays and stepping through the metal detector-- without the militaristic, guilty-until-proven-innocent nastiness I've encountered in the US. When you pick up your bags inbound there are sniffer dogs and their handlers walking around but they're not too obtrusive. As for the rest of it, they must be fairly discreet because I haven't noticed a whole lot of cops milling around. In Atlanta, you know they're there, especially when some cop comes through the lobby on a mountain bike. So overall I want to say the Narita security people are doing a fine job of it. I hope we never hear otherwise.

Security procedures varies depending on where in the world you are. Some places really have strange, annoying security procedures which I think are downright offensive to foreign visitors. America and Australia has strict policies while the security routine at Narita will seem familiar to passengers coming from the Western countries. Canada has many of the same airport security procedures as America except you can leave your shoes on. But don't wear any shoes with metal in them otherwise you will trigger the metal detector. I find that many countries subject passengers on international flights to extra scrutiny. In the United Kingdom they have extra screenings for passengers who are flying domestically and use a biometric screening system for all travelers flying to other airports in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The strictest security system in the world has to be Israel because your bags have to be screened and put through decompression chambers in order to detect any explosives. Every passenger flying on the official airline of Israel is subject to questioning by security agents before boarding the plane and no passenger is exempt. Foreigners are questioned more thoroughly than Israelis or Jewish people of other nationalities. In the end security procedures are by no means uniform except for the obligatory walk through a metal detector which are practically universal.

My home airport is Glasgow, and there are police with MP5s wandering about the check-in hall. In Schipol where I get my connecting flight there are Dutch police wandering about with SMGs. At Narita I've only ever seen the odd copper standing on a block armed with a side arm.

Now Glasgow Airport was attacked by terrorists with a car bomb. Amsterdam... I don't know, but since Narita hasn't had any attacks, or is a terrorist transit point I wouldn't expect armed plod in armour. Saying that, there are passport checks in a few places, and you can't leave the terminal without another baggage search... or at least being questioned by a pretty young lady in a uniform.

There seems to be more security for "show" than elsewhere, though as other posters noted it's generally polite.

Going into Narita by car or bus, for example, and there's that check of passports, and sometimes the trunks of passenger cars/taxis. As security measures go, these are pretty useless--and yet the airport employs dozens of workers to perform them.

(In fact, a taxi driver once joked with me that terrorist threats in Japan are ranked by whether or not the folks at the auto/bus entrance to Narita have begun checking in the trunks of cars.)

I agree that the security personnel are polite, pleasant and visible. And honestly that's all they need to be. They just need to deter terrorists and smugglers, because they cannot be stopped.

I've traveled around the world and seen all types of airport security, and there isn't one I could get past if I put my mind to it. Airports are huge and have dozens of exits and entrances, and the idea that they can be secured is pure fantasy.

And since that's the reality I like the polite security best.

@Novenachama

The strictest security system in the world has to be Israel

Very true ! I had to go to Isreal for my job some years ago. I was questioned for half an hour - standing in front of my open suitcase. I was then told to wait and another young lady came over to ask me the exact same questions : "Did anybody help you pack ? Were you given anything to put in your suitcase ?" etc. and I wasn't even flying El-Al ! (I was flying Air France...)

I've traveled around the world and seen all types of airport security, and there isn't one I could get past if I put my mind to it.

I don't doubt it for a second.

@Frungy

I've traveled around the world and seen all types of airport security, and there isn't one I could get past if I put my mind to it.

Not quite what you wanted to say, right?

I have never had a problem with airport/immigration staff in Japan, or any other country. Then again, I come from a first world country, and don't have a massive chip on my shoulder.

lucabrasiApr. 01, 2015 - 06:46PM JST

I've traveled around the world and seen all types of airport security, and there isn't one I could get past if I put my mind to it. Not quite what you wanted to say, right?

Urgh. Could -> Couldn't.

Thanks, I missed that.

Polite & professional security. In fact, the whole airport (narita) offers good customer service.

Thanks, I missed that.

No worries. You had it correct the first time.