Know before you go: Japan

Quick answer: Most Western passport holders can still enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days in 2026, but always verify your specific nationality’s rules on Japan’s official immigration sites before flying, since a new pre-travel authorization system (JESTA) is being phased in over the next few years. Japan remains a cash-friendly but increasingly cashless, extremely safe, world-class transit destination — just confirm the latest details close to your travel date.

Visa & entry

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains reciprocal visa exemption arrangements that let qualifying passport holders enter for short-term tourism, business meetings, family visits, or transit without applying for a visa in advance, and the status granted is “Temporary Visitor,” which does not allow paid work, long-term study, or income-generating activities. As of a September 2025 update, the list covers 74 countries and regions, and while the default period of stay is 90 days, the actual stamp depends on nationality, passport type, and sometimes a pre-registration step — some countries get shorter stays (Thailand gets 15 days, for example). Only nationals of a handful of countries (UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Mexico) can apply for a second 90 days; other visa-exempt nationals must leave when their stamp expires.

A big change is coming, but not yet: in May 2026 Japan’s Parliament adopted a law creating the legal basis for JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which adds a prior online formality before entry for short stays but does not end visa-free travel itself. The law passed May 29, 2026, but the system launches no later than March 2029 (fiscal 2028) — you do not need JESTA for 2026 or 2027 travel. The exact fee hasn’t been finalized, though officials have indicated it will likely sit around ¥2,000–¥3,000 per person. Travelers from countries that already require a visa (e.g., China, Russia, India, the Philippines, Vietnam) should use the embassy process or Japan’s eVisa portal, since nationals of countries not on the visa-exempt list will continue applying for a regular Japanese visa through an embassy or the Japan eVisa portal, and JESTA does not replace that process.

Practical entry steps for everyone: to enter Japan in 2026 as a tourist, most travelers from visa-exempt countries need a valid passport, a completed registration on the Visit Japan Web portal (to obtain Immigration and Customs QR codes), and a confirmed onward or return ticket. Confirm your exact entry requirements on the official government links below — rules and durations vary by nationality and can change.

Getting around

Japan’s rail network is the backbone of travel. For city and regional travel, get an IC card: Suica and PASMO are prepaid IC cards used to pay for transportation and small purchases across Japan, with Suica issued by JR East and PASMO by a consortium of private railways and bus operators. Since 2007 they’ve been fully interoperable, meaning no functional difference for tourists, and cards issued in Tokyo work seamlessly in Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and beyond, alongside regional cards like ICOCA, TOICA, and SUGOCA. Tourists should look for the Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica is a tourist-only version of Suica with 28-day validity and no deposit. Note that an IC card covers every local train, bus, and subway but does not cover the Shinkansen between cities.

For multi-city trips, weigh the Japan Rail Pass: buy a JR Pass if you’re visiting 3+ cities in 7 days; for single-city deep dives, an IC card is all you need. As of 2026, a 7-day Ordinary JR Pass starts at around $325 USD. Reserving Shinkansen seats is easier than ever — foreign visitors can use the SmartEX app for reserved seat bookings in 2026, eliminating counter queues.

Money & costs

Japan’s currency is the yen (¥/JPY). Banknotes come in ¥1,000, ¥2,000 (rare), ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 denominations, and coins run ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500. Card acceptance has grown but cash still matters: Japan has a reputation as a cash-loving country, and while that is still partly true in 2026, tap-to-pay IC cards, contactless credit cards and mobile wallets now cover the vast majority of everyday spending in cities, yet a rural ryokan or a back-street ramen counter may still want yen in hand. A good rule of thumb: bring a Visa or Mastercard, add a Suica/ICOCA IC card on day one, and carry ¥15,000–20,000 cash — that combination covers 99% of normal trips.

For cash access, 7-Bank ATMs inside 7-Eleven convenience stores are available 24/7 with an English interface, accept Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB, and charge a ¥220 withdrawal fee (the cheapest in Japan), with Japan Post Bank ATMs as a good backup. Avoid a common trap: always select JPY (Yen) rather than your home currency when a card terminal asks — choosing your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion at a poor rate, while choosing JPY lets your card issuer convert at a fair market rate. Also, most credit card companies will charge a surcharge (usually 1–3%) for foreign-issued cards, so a fee-free travel card can save money. On tipping: Japan has a no-tip policy, and tipping is generally not expected and can sometimes feel awkward, as service charges are usually included in the bill.

Best time to visit

The consensus answer — spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) — is consensus for good reason: temperatures are mild across most of Honshu, the natural scenery is at its most dramatic, and the cultural calendar is active. The tradeoff is that these are also the most crowded and most expensive periods — accommodation in Kyoto during peak cherry blossom or koyo season can cost two to three