The 72-strong NSW-based urban search and rescue (USAR) team is scheduled to land at Sydney International Airport about 1.30pm aboard Qantas Flight 22 from Narita Airport, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said.
Mr McClelland said these specialists undertook an incredibly difficult job in very challenging circumstances.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The team was based near Minamisanriku, one of the most severely affected areas in Northern Honshu.
"These USAR specialists have been searching for survivors alongside teams from New Zealand and Switzerland, tunnelling through collapsed buildings and overcoming logistical issues such as fuel shortages and poor communications," he said in a statement.
"The team has also worked through temperatures as low as minus 17 degrees on some nights while housed in tents.
"Despite the grim nature of the work and the very difficult conditions, the team did a tremendous job and I'm told morale has remained strong throughout the mission."
Mr McClelland said many of the team members had only recently returned from New Zealand searching for survivors of the Christchurch earthquake when they were deployed to Japan.
