Visitors to Japan who spend forever waiting to get past Narita airport's immigration counters can take solace -- the government is aware of their plight.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday that the Justice Ministry and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry need to consider ways to improve the system at the nation's main international hub.
He was responding to a question by Satsuki Eda of the Democratic Party of Japan during a House of Councilors Budget Committee session.
"We have to improve these services in view of our 'Welcome to Japan' campaign," he said, referring to the government's plan to promote tourism and double the number of foreign visitors in 2010 from the current 5 million a year.
Eda gave an example of a Canadian who complained that it took 90 minutes to get though immigration because he had to wait in a line for foreigners, while several other booths for Japan residents were not busy.
Koizumi said immigration control should be more flexible about opening more booths for tourists by shifting immigration officials from vacant booths.
Transport minister Nobuteru Ishihara told the same committee session that he is aware of the problem. He said he has asked the ministry to look into the situation.
"When I inspected the airport in summer, it seemed some (tourists) were waiting for about an hour," he said. "We have to change such a situation as soon as possible, otherwise our 'tourism nation' campaign won't work."
There are 34 booths at the airport's Terminal 1, and 46 at Terminal 2. The number of booths available for foreigners varies depending on arrival situations, but "at least four" are open in each terminal, an airport spokesman said.