This discussion thread has been set up by the moderators of /r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, and be helpful. Keep in mind that standalone posts in the subreddit must still adhere to the rules, and quick questions are only welcome here and in /r/JapanTravelTips.
Japan Entry Requirements
- Japan allows visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders of 71 countries (countries listed here).
- If you are a passport holder of a country not on the visa exemption list, you will still need to apply for a visa. All requirements are listed on the official website.
- As of April 29, 2023, Japan no longer requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test (official source).
- Tourists entering Japan should have their immigration and customs process fast tracked by filling out Visit Japan Web (VJW). This will generate a QR code for immigration and customs, which can smooth your entry procedures. VJW is not mandatory. If you do not fill it out, you will need to fill out the paper immigration and customs forms on the plane/on arrival to Japan.
- For more information about Visit Japan Web and answers to common questions, please see our FAQ on the topic.
Japan Tourism and Travel Updates
- Important Digital IC Card News! As of iOS 17.2, you can charge digital Suica cards with some (but not all) foreign Visa cards. See this blog post from At a Distance for more information and ongoing updates, as well as our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips.
- Important JR Pass News! As of October 1, 2023, the nationwide JR Pass and many regional JR Passes increased significantly in price. Information you find on the internet or on this subreddit may now be out of date, as the price increase makes it so that the nationwide JR Pass is no longer a viable option for most itineraries. For more information on the JR Pass, including calculators for viability, see our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips.
- Important IC Card News! Although there is an ongoing shortage of regular Suica and PASMO cards, there are some reports that Suica cards might be starting to be available again at some stations. You can also still get the tourist versions of those cards (Welcome Suica and PASMO Passport). Please see our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips for IC card info, details, and alternatives.
- As of March 13, 2023, mask usage is left up to personal choice and preferences in most circumstances.
- Some shops, restaurants, and attractions have reduced hours. We encourage you to double check the opening hours of the places you’d like to visit before arriving.
- There have been some permanent or extended closures of popular sights and attractions, including teamLab Borderless, Shinjuku Robot Restaurant, and Kawaii Monster Cafe. Check out this thread for more detail.
- If you become ill while traveling, please see the instructions in this guide. If you are looking for information on finding pain or cold/cough medication in Japan, see this FAQ section.
Quick Links for Japan Tourism and Travel Info
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12 comments
Is there a reason to spend the night in Ibusuki? Is there enough to do?
For people who have recently been or are currently in Japan, what’s your estimate on how many people are masking in public?
Last time I went (March 2023) it was 80-95% depending on location, but that was the tail end of the mask ~~requirement~~ recommendation. I want to go again this fall but just need to do a risk assessment.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: for context, one of my travel companions is immunocompromised, that’s why I’m asking and why I mentioned a risk assessment. Travel is risky for people who get sick easily!
Any suggestions for things to do in the Takadanobaba area?
Are there any 24hours manga cafe like places ikebukuro to stay the night?
Can I charge up a Suica with an exact amount? For example, can I charge an amount like 1,128 yen? If so, how?
Wondering if anyone can help me understand IC card stored value vs. metro passes for daily getting around… Trip is 4-6 days in each of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Is one definitively more cost effective? A lot of the videos I’ve seen say 1/2/3+ day passes are worth it, but they’re mostly from a year or two ago. Getting around is probably the only thing I’m worried about for our trip.
I know we’ll have to buy JR/Shinkansen tickets for travel between Kyoto and Tokyo, but definitely won’t be getting long term JR passes.
Any info helps – thanks!
I maybe interested in visiting the Kyushu prefecture(late Dec) for about 4 days.
Although I’m kind of hesitant to fly from Tokyo and not sure if there is that much that we, personally, would enjoy.
Wife and I like to do off the beaten path activities, to compare, last trip, we went to Awajishima and went to greenarium to pick fresh strawberries and also went to Nijigen no Mori. We aren’t the biggest fans of going to a bunch of shrines and temples, maybe 1 or 2. We are open to renting a car too, I’ve driven in various parts of Japan multiple times and am comfortable with it.
Does anyone have recommendations on off the beaten path or cool activities besides visiting monuments/shrines/temples?
Some rough things I saw in Kyushu I listed down:
Fukuoka
* Strawberry AYCE greenarium, apparently best strawberries (Amau) in ALL of JP?)
* Find yame green tea houses, also same high level of tea as Uji
* Ohori Park
* Tenjin
* Christmas market outside JR Hakata Station
* Hakata Issou Ramen
* Yakiniku – Nikuichi
* Dessert – Ishimura Monseido
* Seafood don – Itoomashi
* Coffee:
* Rec Coffee
* Coffee County
1. Beppu
* Hyotan Onsen
* Sand Bury
* Yufuin Floral Village
1. Kumamoto? We typically never actually go inside castles when we’ve gone to many of them. Kumamon mascots are cute but not sure if we want to go to takachiho gorge in late December cause it’ll be cooold.
2. Kagoshima seems to be pretty far down the island so not sure if have time..
Anything cool going on in Tokyo August 1 – 3 I should know about?
Pasmo Passport has stopped being sold by the way. And I don’t think Welcome Suica is being sold at Narita anymore iirc. The JR east travel service center at Ueno had a slow, dedicated line for regular green Suica cards (¥500 deposit, exchange either ¥1000 or ¥2000 and have the balance charged) where they looked at your passport. If you’re going within JR West (kyoto, osaka) close to the beginning of your trip, I say brave out the beginning with paper tickets/passes and get an ICOCA like normal. And def go for digital if it’s an option for you.
Use the JR rail calculator to see if any of the regional passes work out for you.
Hello guys I’m going to Japan and want to visit as many places as I can. I will be there for 10 nights and was thinking this itinerary. Am I missing something big? Does it makes sense? Thanks Day # / Where I spend the day / Where I sleep
1 Osaka / Kyoto
2 Kyoto
3 Kyoto / Nara
4 Nara / Hakone
5 Hakone / Fugiyoshida (Yamanashi)
6 Fugiyoshida / Tokyo
7 Tokyo (Kamakura day trip)
8 Tokyo (Nikko day trip)
9 Tokyo
10 Tokyo
11 Tokyo / Osaka
Edited formatting
Is a week-long trip when I’ve been to Japan before doable?
Sorry if this has gotten asked before, I did a search and all the posts about shorter trips were about going for the first time. We went to Japan last year for two weeks (it was my first time, not my husband’s) and we would love to go again this year. However, because of our PTO situation, we would only be able to take about a week off for the remainder of this year. I know we won’t be able to go to Japan next year and don’t want to wait until 2026 so I want to try to make it work. I’ve been missing it since we came back lol. I understand a week means adjusting to jet lag will be trickier. Since we’ve already done the major tourist locations, this time we’d like to do Tokyo and one other city (we were thinking Hokkaido), so it would be a less jam-packed itinerary. I’d love to hear about anyone’s experience going to Japan for a week and any tips you have!
As a US citizen I read that I only need my passport to be eligible to go, but someone told me I also need an electronic visa. Can anyone confirm which is true?