Visas & entry
Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, most EU/EEA countries and several other nationalities are generally visa-exempt for short tourist visits, commonly up to 90 days. Passport-specific exceptions and conditions apply, and travelers outside the waiver scheme should expect to need a visa or potentially qualify for eVISA; verify current rules with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant Japanese embassy before booking.
Getting in
- Tokyo Haneda Airport: The most convenient Tokyo gateway, close enough to the city to make it the best arrival airport when fares and schedules work. It is also the practical domestic-flight hub for Hokkaido, Kyushu and Okinawa.
- Tokyo Narita International Airport: Tokyo’s other major international gateway, often with more long-haul options and fares. It is much farther from central Tokyo than Haneda, so budget roughly an hour or more for the airport transfer.
- Kansai International Airport, Osaka: The sensible open-jaw arrival or departure point for Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and western Japan. Haruka serves Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, while the Nankai Rapi:t is useful for Namba.
- New Chitose Airport, Sapporo: The real gateway for Hokkaido, reached easily by domestic flights from Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Use it for ski trips, Sapporo and wider Hokkaido rather than trying to reach the island as a casual rail add-on.
- Fukuoka Airport: The most useful gateway for a Kyushu-focused trip and one of Japan’s easiest airport-to-city transfers. It works well for an open-jaw itinerary through Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Beppu, Aso or Kagoshima.
Getting around
Rail is excellent on the Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima spine, but the nationwide JR Pass is not automatically good value; price the individual long-distance tickets and regional passes first. Use an IC card for city transit and convenience-store purchases, and reserve shinkansen seats on busy travel dates or when carrying oversized luggage. Rent a car for rural Hokkaido, Aso and parts of Kyushu, Okinawa, or remote Tohoku—not for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or the main rail corridor; fly rather than train when adding Hokkaido or distant southern islands.
Money
Japan uses the yen. Cards are widely accepted in cities, hotels and chain businesses, but cash still matters for small restaurants, temple donations, rural transport and older shops; carry some and use convenience-store ATMs if needed. Tipping is not customary and can create awkwardness—good service is already part of the price.
Book before you land
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka · Ghibli Park, Aichi · Universal Studios Japan timed-entry and Express Pass products, especially Super Nintendo World access · Tokyo Disney Resort tickets for weekends, holidays and peak school-vacation dates · teamLab Borderless or teamLab Planets timed entry during peak dates
- Do not talk loudly on trains, take calls in rail cars, or block escalators and station passages with luggage; transit is efficient because people follow the flow.
- Use luggage forwarding between major hotels instead of dragging large suitcases through stations; it makes multi-city travel substantially easier.
- Carry a small amount of cash even in Tokyo, and keep coins: they remain useful for local buses, lockers, temple offerings and small purchases.
- Kyoto’s headline districts are crowded by midmorning. Start early, walk between nearby sights, and do not rely on buses as the only way across the city.
- Trash bins are scarce despite clean streets; carry a small bag for wrappers and dispose of rubbish at convenience stores or your hotel.
- Onsen require washing before entering the bath; swimsuits are generally not worn, and tattoo policies vary, so check before booking.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.