Japan
Japan is an East Asian archipelago of four main islands and thousands of smaller ones, with Tokyo — the heart of the world's largest metropolitan area — as its capital. It pairs one of the world's most advanced economies and transport networks with an unusually intact cultural continuity, from working temples to onsen bathing tradition. Citizens of over 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, most EU members and Australia, enter visa-free for short stays, with most major nationalities receiving 90 days.
Visa Requirements for Japan
Japan offers visa-free entry for citizens of over 60 countries and territories under various visa exemption arrangements. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most EU countries, and many others can enter Japan for tourism or business without a visa for stays of 15 to 90 days depending on their nationality (most major countries receive 90 days). Working Holiday visas are available for citizens of certain countries aged 18-30 (or 18-25 for some). Visitors must have a passport valid for the duration of stay — Japan does not require the 6-months-beyond-travel-dates validity common in many other countries, though checking your own passport's remaining validity before departure is still worth doing — proof of onward travel, and sufficient funds. Those requiring visas should apply through Japanese embassies or consulates. Japan's visa policies are relatively open for major tourism markets, making it accessible for international visitors. Extensions beyond the initial visa-free period are difficult and require compelling reasons.
Visa types
For tourism, business meetings, conferences, visiting friends/family for 60+ eligible nationalities.
Guides
Japan delivers the ancient-meets-ultramodern contrast more completely than anywhere else, and the practical shape of a trip follows from it: Tokyo and Kyoto anchor opposite poles — the megacity and the temple capital — with Osaka's street food, Nara's deer-filled temple parks and Hiroshima's Peace Memorial and Miyajima shrine island strung between them along the shinkansen. Beyond that spine lie the country's other registers: Mount Fuji's climbing and viewing culture, the onsen bathing tradition from Hakone to Beppu, a cuisine UNESCO lists as Intangible Cultural Heritage — ramen's regional broth traditions, kaiseki, izakaya evenings, even convenience-store food that shames many restaurants — and the two genuinely different Japans of Hokkaido and Okinawa. The whole country runs with a precision that recalibrates expectations, and it is among the safest and cleanest places on earth to travel.
Japan travel guide →
The full guide — Fuji's climb and its viewing hedge, onsen culture, the shinkansen decision, Hokkaido, Okinawa and the sakura-bet route.
Money in Japan →
Yen, cash culture and IC cards — the practical money guide.
Eating in Japan →
Regional broths, kaiseki ceremony and konbini surprises — how Japan's food culture actually organises itself.
Getting around Japan →
The shinkansen spine, the JR Pass math and the IC-card layer — the systems to understand before you land.
Health & safety in Japan →
Earthquake and typhoon basics, conduct that matters, connectivity and the numbers to call — the practical picture.
Cities & planning
Regions
Embassies & missions
Frequently asked questions
It depends on nationality. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU countries, and 60+ other countries and territories can enter visa-free for tourism or business, for stays of 15 to 90 days depending on nationality (most major countries get 90 days). Working Holiday visas are available separately for citizens of certain countries aged 18-30. Anyone not covered by a visa-exemption arrangement needs to apply through a Japanese embassy or consulate before travel.
Yes, more than the high-tech image suggests. Many restaurants, small shops, and taxis still don't accept credit cards, and convenience-store ATMs (7-Eleven, post offices) are the most reliable way for foreign cards to withdraw yen. Carry enough cash for daily spending, especially outside major cities.
No — tipping isn't practiced in Japan and can come across as confusing or even offensive. Excellent service is the standard expectation, already reflected in the price, so there's no need to leave anything extra at restaurants, taxis, or hotels.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.