**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 and COVID Requirements
* Japan has resumed visa-free travel for [ordinary passport holders of 68 countries](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html) (countries listed [here](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html)).
* 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](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html).
* Tourists need to have three doses of an [approved vaccine](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html) or submit [a negative COVID-19 test result](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_test.html) ahead of their departure to Japan. For the vaccine doses, there are no timing requirements as long as you have three doses of an approved vaccine (see [top of page 10 here](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001002920.pdf)).
* Tourists entering Japan should get their COVID document checking process, Immigration process, and Customs process fast tracked by filling out [Visit Japan Web](https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/). This will generate a QR code for Immigration, a QR code for Customs, and a blue “Review completed” screen for COVID fast track (no QR code) once approved. (See below for more info.)
* Travelers connecting through Japanese airports and staying airside for their connection do not need to complete any visa, entry, or COVID procedures.
## Japan Tourism and Travel Updates
* Masks are still very prevalent both inside and outside while in Japan. The [current government recommendation until March 12, 2023](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/mask.html) is to wear masks both indoors and outdoors whenever in close proximity to other people or while talking to them. In practice, most people wear masks all of the time, and the majority of businesses require masks to enter the premises.
* **Starting on March 13, 2023, [mask usage will be up to personal choice and preferences](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/mask.html).** The government recommendation will only remain in place for medical institutions, nursing homes, and crowed buses/trains. That said, keep in mind that private establishments can still ask that you wear a mask to enter, and you should be respectful of those types of restrictions.
* Shops and restaurants often do temperature checks or require you to use hand sanitizer when entering a building, although you won’t typically be asked for any proof of vaccination.
* 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](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/xqulaa/for_travelers_coming_to_japannew_and_gone/) for more detail.
* If you become ill while traveling, please see the instructions in [this guide](https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html) or contact the [COVID-19 Consultation Center by phone](https://www.c19.mhlw.go.jp/covid-19-en.html#contents04).
## Visit Japan Web Info and FAQs
[Visit Japan Web](https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/) (VJW) is an online document-checking system introduced in December 2022. It allows you to pre-enter all of your Immigration, Customs, and COVID vaccine/test information before arriving in Japan. To make the entry process as smooth as possible and prevent any issues, we recommend filling it out and obtaining the QR codes provided by the service.
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding filling out the VJW sections:
**Can I put multiple family members under the same Visit Japan Web account?**
> All adults should have their own VJW account. Family members on the same account should only be either minors or dependents incapable of filling it out on their own.
**How far in advance can I fill out Visit Japan Web?**
> Officially speaking, you can use Visit Japan Web for trips up until the end of the year following the current year. For instance, in February 2023, you can register a trip with a date up to December 2024. That said, your information will be wiped if you don’t sign into Visit Japan Web at least once every 18 months.
> Practically speaking, there’s no real need to register more than a few months or weeks in advance, as the information gets reviewed and approved within hours or days.
**What flight number do I use?**
> You should use the flight number for the flight _landing in Japan_. So, for instance, if you have a flight from New York City to Seattle and then from Seattle to Tokyo, you use the flight number of the Seattle to Tokyo Flight. If you are on a codeshare flight, you can use either the carrier you purchased through, or the operating carrier. For instance, if you are on American Airlines #4065 and it codeshares with JAL #001, you can write either “AA 4065” or “JAL 001”.
**What do I put down for my intended address? What do I do if I’m staying in multiple hotels or accommodations over the course of my trip?**
> You should use the address and contact information for your first hotel/hostel/Airbnb/etc. You don’t need to provide multiple addresses.
**On the quarantine procedures page, it has a “Time remaining to complete registration: XXXXXX” notification, but I’ve already submitted my vaccine certificate and my screen is blue. What do I do?**
> You don’t have to do anything. This timer is for submitting a test for approval, which you don’t need to do if you submitted vaccine information. Basically, it’s bad design/programming.
## Quick Links for Japan Tourism and Travel Info
* [/r/JapanTravel Discord](https://discord.gg/3f7KBUMwU4)
* [/r/JapanTravel Resources Page](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/resources/)
* [Immigration/Customs Info](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/airportimmigration/)
* [JR Pass Info](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/jrpass/)
* [IC Card Info](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/)
* [Luggage Forwarding Info](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/luggage/storageandforwarding/)
* [Phone/Internet/SIM Card Info](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/technology/internet/)
31 comments
Is it safe to say Keisei Access Express is one of the best ways to get from Asakusa station to Narita Airport? The last time I was in Tokyo this was what I took, and somehow I got on a wrong train that didn’t take me to NRT. I can’t seem to find the timetable for this route, but I recall seeing a billboard with the timetable at a station. Can anyone point me to the timetable?
Any recommendations for Ryokans with private onsens in Hakone? I would prefer somewhere that is tattoo friendly because my friend has a tattoo on her arm. Thanks in advance!!
It looks like I’ll land and get to my hotel by 7pm on a Monday. According to everyone, I’ll be jet lagged and want to sleep but I’d like to feel Shibuya Crossing (maybe it’s the Lost in Translation fan in me) that night.
What’s the best way to see it from above around 8pm? I don’t mind paying a little, but would like to avoid being elbow to elbow.
The cherry blossom predictions didn’t mention Hakone, does anyone know what is Hakones current blossom expected dates?
I’m planning a hakone (+owakudani valley) day trip and wanted to see if I might catch cherry blossoms there depending on when
I have torn my meniscus, thankfully it is mild and this trip is 8 months out. I was in tears yesterday when I got the news since this is a lifelong injury that can only be managed. Has anyone else gone through this and successfully taken their trip to Japan? I’m not getting any younger so can’t imagine this will be fixed if I just keep delaying the trip. Starting steroids today and rehab.
Can anyone clarify the eating on trains etiquette? I know it’s rude/not done to eat or drink on subways/trains within a city, and that it’s fine on Shinkansen. But what about shorter routes that are not Shinkansen, like Kyoto to Nara, or Kyoto to Osaka, or Nagoya to Kyoto? How do you know when it’s okay to play to grab something to eat en route and when it’s not?
Does anyone have experience with Invisalign in Japan? Do restaurants have restrooms? I’ll need to floss and brush after every time I eat. Just wondering what kind of experience I’m in for.
My daughter who’s 6 has developed a cough. I’m almost certain it’s not Covid as she’s only coughing during the night. What medicine can I get her? I’m in Shinjuku.
Has anyone been to the monthly market at Kitano Tenmangu shrine ? I want to visit it (have already been to the shrine before) but don’t know if it’s worth changing my whole itinerary around for!
If I’m not doing the Shimanami kaido is onomichi worth 2 nights or shall I just stay 1 night ?
I’m flying into Haneda at 5am soon and am wondering if anyone has recommendations for places I can go to take a nap for a couple hours that early in the morning. Or even any guest houses that might take such an early check-in.
I’m reading (or reading wrong) that cherry blossoms last for up to two weeks after peak bloom in ideal conditions.
Current forecast states peak bloom in Osaka to be around April 1, is there a good chance we will still see a decent amount of cherry blossoms in Osaka around April 11/12?
Thank you!
I saw an instagram video (and of course didn’t save it) for a restaurant where you get 10 small pieces of wagyu beef that you cook yourself at the table. For the life of me I can’t find on google. She said was about $70US PP.
Any guesses on what the restaurant was? Thanks so much!
Would Hyogo or Niigata be feasible as day trips from Tokyo (staying in Suginami) or would it be better to stay overnight? I’d be going on a Sunday in late May if that makes a difference.
Hi all, my husband and I are in the process of planning our honeymoon to Japan in April. One of his requests was to visit Universal in Osaka, which I bought tickets for thinking I was being so prepared and smart about it all…. Only to have input the wrong date for said tickets when booking – I bought tickets one weekend early.
I bought them through Klook. Looking at the actual tickets though, it seems as though the tickets aren’t for a specific date but for a period rather? So A, B, or C, and you should be good to go as long as you show up on a day you bought a ticket for (in our case, I bought a B ticket which does happen to be the same ‘class’ for the day we actually will be visiting).
Could anyone give me peace of mind and confirm that this is the case? Or will I just have to buy another set of tickets for the right date?
Thank you!
Is there any downside to flying out of Itami instead of Kansai when leaving Osaka? I’m looking at two almost identical flights (back to DC via Haneda) but the one leaving Itami is at a better time for us.
so happy to have gotten studio ghibli museum tickets, but god that whole process was brutal 😭. it almost took a whole hour to actually enter the reservation page
How specific are the requirements for a negative covid test? Do I need to have specific information on the negative result to get approved? I got two doses and didn’t get boosted, and I really don’t want to get a booster before I leave and feel like shit for a few days.
Has anyone had to transfer from Narita airport to Haneda for a connecting flight? I’ll have to go through customs at Narita. I’m curious how difficult or long it will be. Thanks
Ok, this may be the stupidest question BUT- I’m working on reserving seats on the Shinkansen and I see that any bag over total 60cm needs to be in the oversized baggage seats. I am traveling with a new set of luggage- larger than any I’ve had before- total cm is 152.40. I realize I should just accept this as “I don’t need the oversized area” – but because I’ve never traveled with luggage this large before (and this is my first time to Japan), I’m paranoid about it not fitting on the overhead area and then missing the train because I don’t have the right seats.
Anyone have experience with this? Should I just relax a bit and take the facts at face value?
My wife and I will be visiting Japan in June 2023. We want to buy/reserve Nozomi green luggage seats for a round trip Tokyo-Kyoto. What’s the best website to do that? Or will our hotel concierge be able to do that?
After searching for information on Jalan I found several mentions of it, including mention in the Travel Tips page, however I did not find any discussion on it. I found a hotel I am interested in and it appears to be substantially cheaper on Jalan compared to [Booking.com](https://Booking.com).
Is there anything I should know about Jalan before booking through them?
Do shinkansen trains have luggage racks at the front/back of cars to keep luggage or is it only above the seats or between your legs?
Edited: spelling
We are a family of 6 travelling to Japan in April. I have brought JR rail passes via the official website so I can book seats in advance. Twice now, even when I’ve been online immediately when bookings open, the oversized luggage seats are already not available. Do they really book up this fast, and I’ve just got to be really lucky, or is there something I don’t know, i.e., bookings for these open later? First time it was Tokyo to Kyoto, the second time Kyoto to Himeji.
I was unable to secure Ghibli tickets last night in the international sales release. I see that there is also an option to buy these tickets from Lawson when I’m in Japan. I heard that there are more slots available to people in Japan.
Do you all think that this might be possible to do? I’m arriving on March 19th and would be buying for April 7th. Can I go into a Lawsons and try to figure this out?
Is Tsukiji Market open on Spring Equinox Day?
Has anyone used Ikyu.com (一休) to make hotel reservations? Is it legit?
Visiting Japan for the first time from March 26 to April 9th (mostly Tokyo and Kyoto) and was wondering if many restaurants/eateries do walk-ins? The few specific places I’m interested in eating at require reservations and they don’t make the process easy (granted, they’re themed places). I’m hoping most places aren’t like this otherwise I’m gonna eat konbini food the entire trip 😭😭
It looks like hanami activities are [back to normal this year](https://japantoday.com/category/national/cherry-blossom-parties-allowed-at-tokyo%E2%80%99s-most-popular-sakura-spots-for-first-time-since-pandemic).
I imagine the dates across these will be similar, but the article specifically mentions the Meguro River lights will be from March 18-April 9, so even if you’re a little early or late, the lights along the river are a nice walk in an area that’s worth a visit.
Is there any reason not to just rely on our cell phone providers international plan? When we’ve traveled to Europe and Mexico our phones work as normal when we arrive, we just pay $10/day for the international service. We’re fine with that for simplicity sake, but I see so many posts saying to get pocket wifi or a SIM card upon arrival. Is this just suggested as it’s more cost effective or is it too sketchy to rely on AT&T’s international service in Japan?
How would I go about finding healthy meals? Would my only option really just be to buy raw ingredients and cook them myself? I’m asking mainly because, where I live, restaurants are pretty much all deep-fried/unhealthy foods.