Japan requires a valid passport for the duration of your stay, and all visitors must comply with the conditions of their visas. Citizens of over 50 countries with a “general visa exemption arrangement” need only a valid passport to enter Japan as a temporary visitor. If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you can obtain a visa on arrival for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days.
British citizens, or those holding a British National (overseas) passport, do not need a visa if their period of stay in Japan is 90 days or less and they are not going to return or onward journey from Japan. However, upon arrival into Japan, it is fairly common to be asked to show evidence of your return or onward journey from Japan. Most travelers to Japan can enter the country without obtaining a visa in advance, including nationals from 65 countries, including the USA, Australia, and other countries.
The primary requirement for nationals who can enter Japan without a visa is a valid passport. Visa-free entry is typically granted for tourism, but currently, all foreign nationals who wish to newly enter Japan need to apply for a visa except for those with a re-entry permit. The vast majority of the time, visitors to Japan must obtain a visa before traveling there. Citizens of over 68 countries have free access to Japan, and no visa is required for British passport holders unless they intend to stay longer than 90 days in Japan.
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Which countries are visa-free for Japan?
Japan offers visa-free travel for certain passport holders, thereby rendering the destination more accessible for travelers. This convenient option streamlines the visa application process, enabling travelers to immerse themselves in Japan’s distinctive culture and breathtaking landscapes. This blog offers a comprehensive guide to these countries, with the objective of streamlining the travel preparation process and enabling travelers to direct their attention to their forthcoming journey to this captivating country.
Is there visa on arrival in Tokyo?
Indian travelers are required to obtain a visa before entering Japan, with the country offering various visa categories, including a Japan tourist visa for tourism purposes. No Visa on Arrival is available for Indian passport holders. The visa application process requires a completed visa application form, a valid passport, recent passport-sized photographs, proof of travel arrangements, evidence of accommodation in Japan, proof of financial means, and a letter outlining the purpose of the visit and the intended itinerary. The process is crucial for obtaining a visa in Japan.
Which country can enter Japan without a visa?
As of 2024, individuals holding regular passports from 67 countries, including Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, and Brunei, are exempt from visa requirements for tourism-related visits to Japan. These individuals may remain in Japan for a limited period upon arrival. It should be noted, however, that nationals from six Asian countries are exempt from the necessity of a visa for entry into Japan, while those from 25 other countries are required to obtain a valid entry visa.
How long can I stay in Japan without a visa UK?
This guide provides essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Japan, including visa requirements and residency. For those intending to stay over 90 days, a visa must be obtained from the nearest Japanese Embassy/Consulate. British citizens may extend their 90-day visa once in Japan. The guide is provided as a guide and should be obtained from Japanese authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information. The guide also outlines how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if needed.
Do you need a visa to go to Tokyo Airport?
Japan allows transit without a visa for those with a confirmed onward ticket within the same calendar day, staying within the international transit area of the airport, and having the necessary documents for the next country of destination. For travelers traveling through Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) or Kansai International Airport in Osaka, they can transit without a visa if they have a confirmed onward ticket within the next 72 hours, stay within the airport’s international transit area, and have the necessary documents.
Who needs a visa for Japan?
The Washington, DC Embassy is the designated entity for the acceptance of visa applications and inquiries from residents of the aforementioned jurisdictions: Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. A visa is required for those intending to visit Japan, irrespective of whether the visit is for transit, tourism, business, conference, or study purposes. To ascertain whether a visa is required, kindly refer to the section on General Rules and Processing Time. In the event that a visa is not required, the applicant should proceed directly to Step 6.
Which countries can a UK citizen travel to without a visa?
British passport holders can travel visa-free to 154 countries as of March 2024, according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. The UK passport ranks 27th globally, allowing citizens to visit 154 countries without a visa. Countries like Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, and Austria are all visa-free. The UK passport ranks 27th globally, ensuring that UK citizens can explore various destinations without worrying about getting a visa. This makes it an ideal choice for leisure or business travelers.
What documents do you need to enter Tokyo?
During your trip to Japan, it is mandatory to carry your passport as it is a legal requirement and may be checked by local police. It should be valid for the duration of your stay. If you plan to travel to other countries, check the validity and visa requirements of each country. The Embassy is available to help replace lost or stolen passports, but their ability to issue passports outside business hours is limited. The Department of State prioritizes the safety and security of U. S. citizens overseas, and urgent assistance can be accessed through the Online Navigator or phone (03-3224-5000).
Is Japan expensive for UK tourists?
Japan, often regarded as an expensive destination, can be budget-friendly with a few strategies. Many major attractions are free, and free festivals are held year-round. To make your visit more affordable, consider finding the best-value places to stay, the right transportation tickets, and places to eat that suit your tastes and budget. Daily costs in Japan include capsule hotel rooms, basic rooms for two, self-catering apartments, coffee, sandwiches, beer/pint at the bar, dinner for two, and an hour of karaoke.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Tokyo?
Japan permits tourists or business travelers to secure a visa upon arrival, valid for a period of up to 90 days, without the necessity of prior application. In the case of multiple-entry visas, it is necessary to consult with immigration officials upon arrival. In the event that an extended stay is desired, an extension of 90 days may be applied for at the nearest immigration office, provided that the requisite valid passports are in possession of the applicant.
Can you go to Tokyo without a visa?
To stay in Japan, a valid passport and onward/return ticket are required for tourist/business “visa free” stays of up to 90 days. Criminal penalties include arrest, imprisonment, or deportation for any violation of Japanese laws. Even minor offenses may result in detention without bail for several months or more.
The majority of U. S. citizens’ arrests in Japan are for drug-related offenses, with Japanese authorities aggressively targeting drug smugglers and users. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Japan are severe, with convicted offenders facing long jail sentences and fines.
Some drugs, such as marijuana and synthetic drugs, remain illegal in Japan, even if they are legal in certain jurisdictions outside of Japan. Japanese law does not distinguish between medical and recreational marijuana, and even small amounts of marijuana for personal use can result in a long jail sentence and fine.
Japanese customs officials screen incoming packages, and individuals who are mailed drugs can be arrested and prosecuted as drug traffickers.
📹 Your FIRST HOUR in Japan – 2024 Travel Guide
Ah Japan – the “gateway” & first destination for so many people when it comes to traveling and exploring Asia, and in this video, …
Do you know how freaking awesome this is for autistic people who want some agency and autonomy as they travel (either alone or with family and friends)?! With this informative they’re able to visualise exactly where they need to be, what they have to do and help them plan what they want to do – all without feeling too alone, anxious and overwhelmed. Thank you!! I’ve been to Japan and am autistic but I will be sharing this with others in the community who are afraid of the language barrier and other obstacles.
One of the best lifehacks for riding Japanese trains I found out was to just buy the cheapest ticket to get inside the train. Ride to your destination. Go to fare adjustment machine and stick in your ticket. The machine will show you the difference you owe, since you only paid for a short distance but rode a longer distance. You just pay the difference and exit the train station with that ticket. It takes out all the planning or guess work.
Your PASMO Passport info is outdated: There is no longer the 500 yen issueing fee. It used to be 2000 yen but now it costs 1500 yen and you get to spend all of it. Welcome Suica does not require the 500 yen deposit either. Visitors can just take these cards with them when they leave Japan, like souvenir.
Fabulous article and I have been living in Japan for 20+ years, One more tip is baggage is takkybin (baggage delivery) which is at the airport and everywhere and is the best thing EVER (ex. Sagawa, Kuronekko/Black Cat, etc—Google if you are interested and select your language). If you have an itinerary firmly planned and the time, you can send your big bag to your next longer destination (e.g. hotel) and use a smaller backpack for one or two nights short stopovers and your bag will be waiting for you when you get there. You do see those people hauling suitcases on the train but I always send my luggage to the airport one or two days before my flight to avoid this. It only costs about $15 one way. Residents in Japan use takkybin a LOT. Also, the airport buses are a great alternative to taking so much luggage on the train especially during rush our as it’s cheap, they stow your luggage under the bus and they have comfy seats, some with charging ports, you can use Suica for buses so no need to buy a ticket in advance, the signage is multilingual, and they go to destinations literally all over the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Visit Japan and creating the account is not that bad at all. Takes like 2mins to setup max. After that you fill in custom and immigration forms and then add in passengers that you’re going with and it spits out a QR code. So easy. After that, when you arrive to japan, you don’t need to manually fill those long boring cards. Just scan the qr code and go through the gate.
This is THE BEST article I have seen about what to do once you land in Japan. As someone who gets very anxious about new situations/not knowing where to go or what to do (even when I’ve done research and I know all the info on paper) the visual guides and step by step walkthrough of the process is the most amazing thing I could have asked for! Thank you for putting in the effort to make this. I am traveling to Japan next year and this helps alleviate the anxiety! 🙂
I’m Japanese. Regarding the Japan Rail Pass, even if you don’t take a bullet train every day, you should check the price. Sometimes the Japan Rail Pass is cheaper than buying tickets each time, even with the recent price increase. The pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains, buses, and some ferries, which can add significant value and convenience to your trip. Always compare the total cost of individual tickets to the pass to see if it’s worth it for your travel itinerary.
First of all, thank you very much for the excellent article. It’s a complete treat to the ears to hear an Asian person pronounce all the English words correctly (I mean, not replacing the Rs with Ls and saying kaajool instead of casual). Like you, I am a Canadian who has spent 35 years in all major cities of Japan (Hakodate, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Tokyo) as an English and French teacher. Most of my time in the class was spent in teaching students how to pronounce English and French (especially French) words correctly. Anyway, Location 6:15 I have landed innumerable times at HND. In my experience, most of the people take the Monorail to Hamamatsucho and then change over to JR Hamamatsucho. The process is extremely easy and convenient. There are signs in English and Japanese everywhere and of course, the polite Mono Rail and JR staff are ubiquitous who are eager to help a lost passenger. Did you genuinely forget to mention the Mono Rail in your article? I am asking because Mono Rail is the choice of transportation for most passengers using Haneda airport. Location 9:30 Few escalators. You showed Shibuya station in your article. I can say with confidence that there are at least 4 elevators and several escalators. There are two things that you will find in almost all the stations in Japan – elevators and tourist information kiosks. Exceptions are very tiny stations like (Niigata, I think) which is spread only on one floor and thus an elevator or an escalator is not required.
Note there is a difference between the Japan Rail Pass, which grants (unnecessary) nation wide train access, to regional JR passes which is WAY cheaper but come with restrictions and caveats. For example the North Kyusyu Pass does not grant you access to Sanyo Shinkansen between Hakata and Kokura because it is operated by JR west, and not JR Kyusyu who issued your pass. So your best option is to take the SONIC express. If you are only visiting one city then there are better(cheaper) options, but if you are visiting multiple cities, JR pass is your friend. I always plan my trip around the validity area and period of JR passes, and I think it’s worthwhile to understand the rules.
Your remark at around 5:15 where you say the conversion given to you is “precisely what’s being withdrawn from your account” is incorrect. That second conversion rate is that ATM’s machine offer of how much they’ll deduct from your bank account should you choose that second option. A reason why someone may think about doing it is because their bank charges foreign transaction fees, and they may not want to withdraw in yen and rather withdraw in CAD instead. However, that’s never ever the best case scenario. You’re always better off picking the local currency, and the amount that’s actually withdrawn is way way less than the offer that’s given by the ATM machine.
Another useful travel tip: If you have an iPhone you can get a mobile Suica/Pasmo card on your phone (via apple wallet), and can top it up directly from your home bank, even before you arrive in Japan (and obviously while you’re there too). Anything that accepts Suica will also accept the mobile Suica, so this is useful if you can’t get a physical one (or even if you can and don’t want to faff or pay the deposit). Only downside is that you don’t get the physical card as a nice souvenir. You can’t do this on Android though, as for whatever reason mobile IC cards on Android require a special chip, which is only installed on Android phones purchased in Japan. Whereas on iPhone this chip isn’t required, so any iPhone will work, wherever inn the world you bought it.
1) don’t worry about wearing your fashion best especially if you plan to do a lot of walking 2) the vast majority of hotels have laundry on site 3) english displays all over most train stations, and all digital machines have the option for several languages as well 4) always take your hat off and bow when you pass through a shrine gate.
Hello Maurice. Just letting you know that I’m in Japan with my wife for our 3rd day, and your article got us off to a strong start. I especially appreciate your tip of 10000 yen per day. As of July 2024, IC cards are still unavailable, unfortunately! The subway workers tried their best to help us in the moment. We ended up buying the visitor cards for the Tokyo Metro since we were moving hotels every night.
If you are coming from New Zealand, Australia or Connect through Singapore, then I strongly recommend checking Nagoya flights. I’ve seen Singapore Airlines (a top tear carrier) on Skyscanner cheaper than budget options to Narita or Haneda and because of how fast the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen is, you can get to Tokyo almost as fast as Narita.
I just got back from Japan and when I got there I was not charged any fee for my welcome Suica card. Immigration was easy as well. Fill out the info on the app and you’ll be fine. Ninja Wi-Fi by terminal 3 worked well for me as well. Having the hot spot was pretty awesome. You’ll want it due to looking up info while in the cities.
One other small thing I’d add, is depending on your bank, when you take cash out at the ATM it makes sense to get it in the currency you are extracting and have your bank decide the rate (in this instance, as you showed in the article, you chose Yen and not CAD). This DOES depend on your bank, but if you’re unsure it’s a good rule of thumb to opt for the currency of the country you are in.
Top advice would be to get some of your money changed beforehand. At least get enough to last you until you get to a foreign exchange outside of the airport — their rates are an absolute scam. Most of the airports and train stations will also have wifi so you won’t need to buy a sim immediately after landing. I would suggest checking first if your phone is region locked before getting a sim, and getting it in one of the big Japanese tech stores like BIC Camera or Edion.
One thing I’d suggest for travel to Japan is fly in to Kansai airport, pick up an Icoca card, explore Kyoto and Osaka, then take the shinkansen to Tokyo. Your Icoca card will work just like a Suica card in Tokyo. The difference is that Icoca cards are still for sale to tourists, unlike the Suica. If I was flying into Tokyo, would absolutely agree that Haneda is the better choice if possible. Good call on the 7-Eleven ATM too. Easy to use, clear, no hidden surprises, and usually has the best exchange rate too. Totally agree with you! Oh and yes! Pack light. Carrying bags up huge flights of stairs (I’m looking at you, suidobashi station!) is a nightmare.
For the JR Pass I think how you do your trip matters a lot. My mom and I did a 24 day trip and used the rail pass partially as a safety net to avoid worrying if we missed our train. With our initial plan it would have been about $20 more than getting individual tickets. However we ended up not staying in 2 of the cities we initially planned to as well as hadn’t realized that the JR loop was all we needed in Osaka. So if you are going with a more elderly relative, want piece of mind, financially can handle it and are going to a different city every other day or if the public transit uses the JR Pass it might be worth it. Even if you don’t though it might be worth looking at the regional passes
There are service in Japanese airport for a delivery service to send over large luggage item to your specific place of stay. In Haneda it is located at far end to the right after leaving the gate run by “Kuro Neko Yamato Ta-kyubin” (Black Cat Yamato Delivery Service). It is convenient service for people who would travel farther than Tokyo that wouldn’t need to worrying of carrying and storing large luggage. The luggage would usually arrive within two~three days.
Thank you so much for the step by step info down to which signs to look for, what the ATM breakdown looks like and what halls to walk down. This is especially helpful for those of us who will be first time visitors that are nervous about getting around and knowing what to do when we only know a few words of Japanese. Great article.
A bit of advice don’t depends on gps to get to your destination in busy cities like Tokyo. The address numbers are not always logical so you could be off by blocks not to mention that some of the stores/restaurants are on different floor. So when arriving make sure you have turn by turn directions to your lodging otherwise you could be walking in circles for awhile.
For those over 65 which includes us ancient Brits, JR offer a cut-rate travel deal: Three times a year for a period of five days maximum you get to use the Bullet Train and other JR lines. As example, from Tokyo into Hokkaido for 26,000 yen, reserved seat if you want. After the high^speed Shinkansen, local trains are like a snail with a wooden leg. No rainy season in Hokkaido and cooler than Honshu. There are other routes, you can check out Kyushu if you prefer. Active volcano anyone? Jack, the Japan Alps Brit
Good stuff, but I think it’s good for people to know that the Welcome Suica (and presumably the Passmo Passport) are only valid for 28 days. After that, you need to spend another 500 yen to buy another card – and you lose any money remaining on the card. Another thing people might consider is the Monorail instead of the Keikyu. The monorail has one destination: Hamamatsucho Station. If you’re tired or not paying close enough attention, you could inadvertently end up on the Keikyu to Yokohama. Happened to me once and I didn’t realize it fully until we got to Kawasaki!