Entering the country

Unless your visit is prepared by a professional travel agency, you might want to double check a couple of things.

- You need to have a passport valid through your entire stay of course

- Check whether you need a visa to enter the country or not ( click here )

- Check the maximum length you can stay in the country without any further permissions ( click here )

- Have the address of your accommodation ready when crossing the border, otherwise you might encounter some difficulties

- Don't stock up more than 20 kilos of luggage per person unless you'd like to pay the overweight fees for your packs on your way back. ( may be more difficult than it sounds )

- If arriving to Narita Airport, use Narita Express to get to Tokyo instead of a Taxi

VISA information per country of residence
( Quoted from the JNTO website , for further
information please see the tips and resources page )

" Any foreign visitor who wishes to enter Japan must have a passport, which will remain valid during the period of stay. Nationals of many countries are eligible to enter Japan without a visa unless the purpose of the visit is to reside in Japan, to obtain employment or to otherwise engage in remunerative activities. The following is a list of nationals of countries that have "Reciprocal Visa Exemption Arrangements" with Japan:

For a period of 6 months or less
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK citizens only)

For a period of 3 months or less
Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Rep., El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal (except when the passport was originally issued in present or former Portuguese colonies), San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay

For a period of 90 days or less
Andorra, Australia, Barbados, Bulgaria, Czech Rep., Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia and the USA

For a period of up to 14 days
Brunei

Nationals of countries that do not have "Reciprocal Visa Exemption Arrangements" with Japan must obtain a visa.

A "Temporary Visitor's Visa" is usually required as permission to stay in Japan for a period of up to 90 days for non-remunerative activities such as sightseeing, participating in amateur sports, visiting relatives, taking inspection tours, participating in lectures or research, attending conferences, making business contacts or other similar activities.

Needless to say, the "Temporary Visitor's Visa" cannot be used for any remunerative purposes, which involve profit making or payment acceptance within Japan by the visitor.

To apply for a visa, the applicant must apply in person to a Japanese Embassy or a consulate, usually in his or her home country. The following documents must be submitted whatever the purpose of visit you are going to make:

(1) Valid passport;
(2) Two passport photos taken within the six months previous to the date of application;
(3) Two official visa application forms, available at the embassy or consulate;
(4) Documents certifying the purpose of the visit.

As the type of documents required for the application may differ according to the purpose of your visit, the applicant is advised to check with the Japanese Embassy or consulate beforehand.

Visa Fee Exemption: The nationals of some 60 countries around the world are exempted from visa fees. "

JNTO website, may, 2006. Click here to visit.
For further and more detailed official VISA information visit the MOFA website.

Japan Guide

- Japan Visa, border entry, what to bring and be prepared with
- Japanese maps, Navi mobile navigation, easy orientation for travelers
- Convenience stores, the resupply stations that sell everything
- Japanese Vending machines, for drinks, tickets, cigarettes and more
- Japanese Food, and all kinds of food in Japan, restaurants, fast food, cheap food...

Tokyo guide

- Tokyo - as we see it - introduction
- Budget Tokyo apartment rental, accommodation, let go of the concern
- Tokyo Prices, the real cost vs. western legends, how to make most of your budget
- Cheap Tokyo Stores, bargain tips, where to find what, fashion to electronics
- Tokyo Cafe life, a guide to Cafes serving as meeting points, hangouts and life-savers
- Tokyo Parks and Gardens, well maintained icons of tranquility, tradition or having fun
- The Tokyo crowd... escaping from Tokyo to Tokyo, evading downtown rushhours