Visas & entry
Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, most EU/EEA countries and many others are generally visa-exempt for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Many Indian and Chinese passport holders need visas; eVisa eligibility depends on nationality and country of residence. Verify rules with the Japanese embassy before booking, and complete the free Visit Japan Web immigration/customs forms rather than paying a third-party site.
Getting in
- Tokyo Haneda: The best Tokyo airport if fares work: it is close to the city and the simplest start for a first Japan trip.
- Tokyo Narita: A major long-haul gateway with many international flights, but budget both time and money for the longer transfer into central Tokyo.
- Kansai International, Osaka: The practical airport for Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, and the obvious open-jaw departure point after starting in Tokyo.
- New Chitose, Sapporo: Hokkaido's main gateway for ski, summer and national-park trips; treat Hokkaido as a destination rather than an add-on to a short Golden Route.
- Fukuoka: The useful entry point for Kyūshū and one of Japan's easiest regional-city arrivals; use it for a Kyūshū-focused route rather than trying to bolt the island onto a rushed mainland itinerary.
Getting around
Rail is outstanding on the Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima corridor: frequent, fast and usually less tiring than flying once airport transfers are counted. A car is unnecessary in the big-city corridor but valuable in rural Hokkaido, parts of Kyūshū and some mountain areas; buses matter in the Alps and to places such as Shirakawa-go. Fly for Hokkaido, Okinawa, or long cross-country jumps rather than burning holiday time on rail.
Money
Japan uses the yen. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry cash for smaller restaurants, temple admissions, rural transport and older businesses; contactless payment is common but not universal. Tipping is not expected and can create confusion—service is built into the price.
Book before you land
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka · Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail summer climbing reservation and mountain huts · Tokyo Disney Resort on peak dates · Universal Studios Japan on peak dates, especially Super Nintendo World timed entry · teamLab Borderless, Tokyo
- Use Visit Japan Web only through the official government service; customs QR-code middlemen are unnecessary.
- Book long-distance reserved seats around Golden Week, Obon and New Year, and reserve early if traveling with oversized luggage.
- Do not tip; a simple thank-you is enough.
- In Kyoto, avoid private Gion lanes and do not photograph maiko or geiko as if they are attractions; photography is banned on private roads.
- Plan Tokyo and Kyoto by neighborhood, not by a citywide hit list—cross-city backtracking is the fastest way to waste a day.
- Summer heat is a genuine safety issue: schedule outdoor sights early, hydrate, and do not build an August itinerary around midday temple queues.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.