Japan

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality — check your own passport's rules before booking. Japan has visa-exemption arrangements with around 70 countries and regions — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU — whose citizens can enter for short-term tourism without a visa, in most cases for stays of up to 90 days. Travellers from other countries must obtain a visa in advance.

Japan does not enforce a strict six-month passport rule — it must be valid for your stay — but many airlines apply their own buffer. Fingerprints and a photo are taken on arrival, and an immigration officer can ask to see onward travel and proof of funds.

A note on the future: Japan plans an electronic travel authorisation system (informally called 'JESTA') that visa-exempt visitors will need to obtain online before departure. As of now it is NOT yet in force — there is nothing extra to apply for, and the target is around 2028. Always confirm the current requirements for your passport with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book.

Japan's currency is the yen (¥). Despite its high-tech reputation, Japan still relies on cash more than many countries, though cashless is growing fast — small restaurants, local shops, temples and markets may be cash-only, so always carry some yen.

Prepaid IC cards — most commonly Suica and Pasmo — are extremely useful: tap them to ride trains, subways and buses nationwide, and they also work as payment at convenience stores and many shops. Top them up with cash at station machines. To withdraw cash, use ATMs at 7-Eleven stores and Japan Post offices, which reliably accept foreign cards.

Crucially, tipping is NOT customary in Japan. It is not expected in restaurants, taxis, bars or hotels, and trying to leave a tip often causes confusion — staff may chase you down to return the money. Good service is simply standard; a sincere 'arigatō gozaimasu' is the right gesture.

A little courtesy goes a long way. Bowing is the standard greeting — as a visitor you are not expected to master it, and a small nod when greeting someone or entering a shop is appreciated. Removing your shoes is important in many settings — always in homes and traditional ryokan inns, and in some restaurants and temples; the cue is a step-up entryway and a shoe rack.

Public spaces, especially trains, are kept quiet — keep your phone on silent, don't take calls and speak softly. Eating while walking is generally frowned upon. With chopsticks, avoid two things tied to funeral rituals: never stand them upright in a bowl of rice, and never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick. Slurping noodles, by contrast, is fine.

For onsen (hot springs) and public baths, the rules are firm: you bathe fully naked (no swimsuits), and you must wash and rinse thoroughly at the showers before entering the communal water. Many baths historically restrict visible tattoos, though this is gradually easing — check the venue's policy in advance.

Tokyo has two airports — Narita (farther out) and Haneda (closer to the city); Osaka's main gateway is Kansai International. The Shinkansen (bullet train) is the backbone of intercity travel — comfortable, frequent and remarkably fast, linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and beyond, alongside the wider JR rail network.

The Japan Rail Pass is no longer the automatic bargain it once was — after a steep price rise, it only pays off for itineraries with several long-distance trips in a short window. For a typical Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop, individual tickets are usually cheaper, so do the maths for your route.

Within cities, metro and subway systems (especially in Tokyo and Osaka) are dense, efficient and easy to navigate with English signage — just tap in and out with your Suica or Pasmo card. Taxis are clean, safe and metered but expensive — fine for short hops or late nights when trains stop running around midnight.

For mobile data, your main choices are an eSIM, a physical SIM, or a pocket Wi-Fi device. An eSIM is usually the simplest for a single traveller — buy and install it online before you arrive, and it activates on landing. Tourist data plans are inexpensive and widely available.

A pocket Wi-Fi router is the better pick for groups or families, since one device connects several phones at once — rent one for airport pickup or hotel delivery. Physical tourist SIMs are also sold at airport counters.

Free public Wi-Fi is fairly common in airports, stations, convenience stores and cafés in cities, but coverage thins in rural areas and is often time-limited. For reliable maps and translation, your own eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi is well worth it.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world to travel in — the US State Department rates it Level 1 ('exercise normal precautions'). Violent crime is rare and even petty theft is uncommon by international standards. The main caution is in nightlife districts of Tokyo (Roppongi, Kabukicho, Shibuya), where occasional drink-spiking and bill scams occur — keep an eye on your drink and use reputable venues.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan, and no special vaccinations are needed. Pharmacies are widespread in cities, though some medicines common abroad are restricted — bring enough of any prescription medication with a copy of the prescription. For emergencies, the numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance.

Japan sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', so earthquakes are a normal part of life — most are minor. Learn the basics (during a quake, protect your head and get under sturdy furniture), and typhoon season runs roughly summer into autumn. The official 'Safety tips' app sends warnings in English.

Power: Japan uses Type A plugs (two flat parallel prongs, the same shape as North America) at an unusually low 100V. Most modern phone, tablet and laptop chargers are dual-voltage and work fine with just a plug adapter, but check higher-wattage appliances like hair dryers.

Language: the official language is Japanese. English signage is common in airports, major stations and tourist areas but less so elsewhere — a translation app and a few basic phrases go a long way, and staff are generally patient and helpful.

Best time to visit: the standout seasons are spring (cherry blossoms, roughly late March to April) and autumn (foliage, roughly October to November) — both bring mild weather but also crowds. Try to avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), when Japan travels en masse.

Time zone: Japan is on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9), with no daylight saving.