**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).
* **If you are arriving in Japan on or before May 7, 2023,** you will 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 your 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)).
* **If you are arriving in Japan on or after May 8, 2023,** you will not be required to present a vaccine certificate or negative PCR test ([official MHLW source](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html)).
* 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
* As of March 13, 2023, [mask usage is left up to personal choice and preferences in many circumstances](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/13/national/japan-mask-rules-caveats/). 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. Additionally, Japanese airlines still require masks in most circumstances.
* 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.
**Will I still get a “temporary visitor” stamp in my passport if I use VJW? I need it for the JR Pass and tax-free shopping!**
> Yes, you will still get a temporary visitor stamp in your passport. Tourists who fill out VJW still see an immigration officer at a manned immigration station and receive their stamp.
## 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/)
* [Prescription Medication Wiki Page](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/health/prescriptions/) (Recently Updated!)
26 comments
I realize every situation is different, but FYI, flew to Aomori and back to Hanenda this week and didn’t wear a mask at all. Wasn’t even asked to put one on. Additionally two of the flight attendants were not wearing masks, along with a number of passengers.
The same goes for the trains. Haven’t had any issues not wearing a mask on them or at the stations or shops. I assume they expect you to give into peer pressure and wear one, but haven’t had any issues not wearing one since the beginning of March.
Not all situations will be the same, but people are slowly relaxing here.
Spent 2.3 million yen over a four week trip not counting flight and JR Pass. A trip report would be too long so I think I will just write a post on the ryokans unless there’s something else people are interested in.
FYI for anyone in Tokyo/Hakone looking for full-bloom cherry blossoms, as of yesterday there were 3 cherry blossoms in peak bloom in the Hakone Open Air Msueum!
This is my first time going to Japan and I’m quite nervous about using the subway/train systems. It seems somewhat complicated especially with the language barrier and I feel overwhelmed. any advice for an anxious first timer? Thanks in advance!
I’m getting mixed info on the Covid requirements thing. My friend came to japan a week ago and he said he didn’t show any documentation about 3 doses vaccination. But when I search about it, it says it does.
Two quick questions:
1. How easy is it to get an IC card at Narita (queue wise)? If I understood properly, you can get them from specific machines so it shouldn’t be too time consuming right?
2. Any recommendations for cash exchange shops / machines near Tokyo station?
Thanks in advance!
Hakone plan doable?
I planned the activities I want to to do in Hakone, but curious if it’s actually doable?
May 9th (Tuesday)
Take romantic car form Tokyo to Hakone
Drop off bags at Ryokan. It’s by Gora station
Cable car
Sight seeing boat ride
Amazake chaya
Would this be doable and be in time for dinner back at the Ryokan?
thanks!
I’ll be landing in Tokyo the last week of September, and staying until October 13th.
I don’t have to worry about the JR pass price increase since it’s going up on October 1st, right? Like, it’s an upfront purchase, and they wouldn’t retroaactively charge me more for it after we roll into October?
My girlfriend an i are looking for a caricature of us in manga-style (preferably onepiece artstyle). We are currently staying in Tokyo but couldnt find an artist that does someting like that. ( We are also going to Kyoto and Osaka) Can you guys help us out?
I am looking for some advice for transferring between terminals 3 and 2 at Haneda airport. We arrive in Terminal 3 at 4:45 am then have a flight out of terminal 2 to Osaka at 6:25 am, leaving 1.5 hours of layover. The flights are not booked through the same airline. Does this leave us enough time to make the transfer?
Alternatively, we can take a later (7:30am) flight to Osaka extending the layover or take the bullet train for an extra $100.
I’m 193cm and broad shouldered. Am I going to have any luck finding souvenir t-shirts and clothes that fit? I already have trouble at home, so I think it might be more of a struggle in Japan.
Does anyone have recommendations for allergy cards to travel with?
Anyone gotten a month long gym pass anywhere in Shibuya?
Will it affect me Covid-wise if I take a flight via China (only with a layover inside the airport) ?
How long should we spend at Tsukiji Market to cover a decent amount of it? We want to go to the market in the morning and then teamLab Planets after but we’re not sure what time slot to choose for teamLab. We don’t want too much downtime between the two because we want to use whatever time we have afterwards to explore Odaiba.
Also, on the teamLab website, it says we can expect to line up around 30-90 minutes to get in. Is this even if we booked in advance? Has anyone had to wait this long just to get in?
Anyone who has gone to Nara from Kyoto, is it easy to just buy tickets at the Kyoto station in person, day of for the Kintetsu Limited Express? Do they often sell out?
Experiences of getting to/exploring Koyasan?
My husband and I have a 2 day stay in Koyasan as part of our itinerary for our trip in late May/June. We’ll be staying in a temple and want to explore the local temples and Okunoin Cemetary, and nature spots.
We will be leaving from and returning to Kyoto and are looking for experiences getting there (done the basic research but want to hear personal experiences as the variety of modes of transportation needed is intimidating) and any recommendations of places to eat and what to prioritize for exploration. Breakfast is included with our temple stay but would love recs for lunch/dinner.
I did not want to make a thread for this since I think it is a more…simple. I hope. My husband loves sushi so we are going to go to several sushi placed, for him. Of all the Japanese foods I love sushi, is, unfortunately, not one. It is the texture of the raw fish that causes a gag problem for me. It has been a thing my whole life despite attempts to make it not so. I have found one restaurant that does do cooked fish sushi (note: husband has no issues with raw fish hahah…) but I was wondering if anyone else might know of other sushi places in Tokyo/Kyoto or Fukuoka/Sapporo that might have similar options? Thanks!!
Managed to get a square enix cafe reservation over seas. What an absolute nightmare, I had to use a prepaid Japanese visa gift card to bypass the payment system. If you know Japanese well enough to navigate the site, its the only work around I found for the payment.
I’m going to Japan in October. I’m seeing some conflicting information on Studio Ghibli museum (not Ghibli park in Aichi) tickets. Some sites are indicating foreign sales are not possible currently. Is this accurate? If not, where can I buy tickets online? I’m aware they won’t sell any tickets for October until August or September.
I have a friend who recently moved to Japan. She’s said she would buy a ticket for me if necessary. I’m worried with it being not in my name, I couldn’t get in. Could my friend buy the ticket then give to me?
I’m flying through NRT to transit to ICN in Korea. I’m flying ANA from SFO-NRT then Air Seoul to ICN (a discount carrier). I believe they’re both in terminal 1. I don’t need to go through immigration or anything right? Can just walk out one gate and go straight to the next without any procedures? It’s a 3 hour layover, not overnight. TIA
I asked this in the other thread and got no response, I’ll try again…
I will be in the Kansai area while the Sanja Matsuri will be going on. I am really interested to experience a matsuri so I am considering dropping by for a day there (maybe connected with a stay in a capsule hotel), now I am wondering which day is the best to experience – the first, second or third (friday, saturday, sunday)? And is it worth it actually?
My Aunt and her fellow 3 traveller’s (all in their 70s, some with mobility issues) have been let down majorly by their travel agent. She arranged their itinerary with JR rail passes (green), redeeming here in Japan, ie not purchased online, and has arranged their key travel date to be the expected busiest day during Golden Week, Sat 4th May. On this day, they are meant to travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima. They have now collected their passes but were unable to make seat reservations at the JR office and are now on a cruise till 2nd May. Is there anyway they can book seats online? We are currently in Japan and booked our passes online so reservations have been easy. I’ve tried the JR east website but it doesn’t seem to have a std JR pass as an option to select. Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
Is Fuji still pretty with no snow (going in June)?
How do we get to Disney sea from Tokyo?
I have a QR code ticket to DisneySea, does anybody know how to scan it in the Disney Resort app?
Based on the districts in Tokyo which area do you think deserves at least 2 days?
I’m looking at Shibuya and it seems like just some of the malls could take the whole day.