Japan, explained.

Holders of eligible passports from a number of countries and regions can visit Japan visa-free for short-term stays such as tourism. Whether you qualify, and for how long, depends on your nationality and also on the type of passport, the purpose and length of your stay, and in some cases registration in advance. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) list and its conditions before you book flights.

💡 Working, even remotely for a Japanese client, is not allowed on a visa-free stay.

Japan asks that your passport is valid for your whole stay; many airlines and transit countries apply stricter rules, so having at least six months left is the safe choice. Foreign visitors aged 16 or over who are in Japan with short-term stay status must carry their original passport at all times; a photo or copy does not replace it. Different document rules can apply to other residence statuses.

💡 Take a photo of your passport photo page and store it offline in case it is lost.

Visit Japan Web is the free official website run by Japan's Digital Agency where you enter your immigration (arrival card) and customs declaration details before you fly. It gives you one QR code that you scan at the airport, including at the joint immigration and customs kiosks at Kansai Airport. It is not compulsory - paper forms are still available - but it usually saves time in the arrival hall.

💡 Register at least a few days before departure and take a screenshot of the QR code in case the airport Wi-Fi is slow.

Some cold medicines, allergy medicines and prescription drugs are controlled in Japan. Whether yours is affected depends on the exact ingredients and their strength, not on the brand or the number of boxes. Before you travel, check each medicine by ingredient and amount with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) or the Narcotics Control Department, and get a permit where one is needed. There are two separate procedures: an Import Confirmation (輸入確認証, formerly called Yakkan Shoumei) for some medicines, and a permit to carry controlled narcotic or psychotropic medicines into or out of Japan.

💡 Bring medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription in English.

Everyone fills in a customs declaration (on Visit Japan Web or on paper). You must declare cash or equivalent over ¥1,000,000, goods above the duty-free allowance, and any meat, fruit, plants or animal products. Meat products such as jerky, sausages and ham, and many fresh fruits, are refused under animal and plant quarantine rules and fines can apply.

💡 If in doubt, declare it - undeclared food is where most visitors get into trouble.

Japan has passed the law amendments that create JESTA, an online pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, similar to the US ESTA. The government aims to introduce it within fiscal year 2028. For the official start date and application requirements, check the Immigration Services Agency's announcements, and never pay unofficial 'JESTA' websites.

The Nankai limited express rapi:t runs from Kansai-Airport Station to Namba in as little as 34 minutes, with all seats reserved. Since April 2026 the adult fare is ¥1,670 for a Regular Seat and ¥1,880 for a Super Seat (base fare plus limited express charge). Nankai's ordinary Airport Express trains take a little longer and cost only the ¥970 base fare.

💡 Buying the rapi:t ticket online is ¥150 cheaper; buying on board costs ¥300 more.

JR West's limited express HARUKA runs directly to Tennoji, Osaka (some trains), Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, reaching Kyoto in about 75-80 minutes. Foreign visitors with a passport and 'Temporary Visitor' status can buy a discounted HARUKA one-way ticket: ¥2,200 to Kyoto, ¥1,800 to Shin-Osaka and ¥1,300 to Tennoji (children half price). The airport limousine bus to Kyoto Station Hachijo exit costs ¥2,800 and takes about 1 hour 25-30 minutes.

💡 The discounted HARUKA ticket is sold at the JR ticket office at Kansai-Airport Station - have your passport ready.

Limousine buses are ideal with heavy luggage because bags go underneath and you do not need to change trains. Adult one-way fares are about ¥1,400 to Namba (OCAT, about 50 minutes), ¥1,800 to Osaka Station/Umeda and ¥2,800 to Kyoto Station. Buses run less often late in the evening, so check the timetable for your terminal.

💡 Buy tickets at the machines or counters outside the arrivals hall before joining the queue.

There are two different options. A regular metered taxi from the KIX taxi rank is expensive: the airport's reference fares, including tolls, are about ¥23,320 to Chuo-ku in central Osaka, about ¥24,400 to Kita-ku (Umeda) and about ¥43,150 to Kyoto Station, and late-night surcharges can apply. Pre-booked fixed-fare taxis and shared shuttles are a separate service: they must be reserved in advance, the fare depends on the operator, area and vehicle, and some plans charge tolls on top. Check the booking conditions, starting fare and whether tolls are included before you book.

💡 Stays by Tabitime guests can book an airport transfer to the door from the guest page.

Last trains and buses from KIX depend on the date, your destination and your terminal, so check the timetables for your own arrival day instead of relying on one fixed time. Late-night public transport is limited: confirm the last train and any late-night bus for that day in advance, and have a backup plan such as a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.

💡 If your flight lands after 22:00, book a transfer in advance - immigration and baggage can easily take an hour.

Once through customs, the arrivals floor has currency exchange, ATMs, SIM and Wi-Fi counters and tourist information. Pick up an IC card (ICOCA) or set one up on your phone, and withdraw some cash. The train station is across the walkway from Terminal 1; Terminal 2 (for some low-cost carriers) is linked by a free shuttle bus.

💡 Send your check-in details from the guest page before you leave the airport so arrival is smooth.

Credit cards and contactless payments are accepted at most convenience stores, chain restaurants, department stores and stations. Small family restaurants, market stalls, temple entrance fees, some taxis and rural buses may still be cash only. An IC card (ICOCA/Suica) covers trains, buses, vending machines and convenience stores.

💡 Always choose to be charged in yen (not your home currency) on card terminals to avoid poor exchange rates.

ATMs at 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) accept most Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay and Cirrus/Plus cards 24 hours a day, with English menus. Japan Post Bank ATMs in post offices also accept major international cards, though hours are limited at many branches. Many other bank ATMs do not accept foreign cards.

💡 7-Eleven stores are everywhere, so a 7-Eleven ATM is usually the easiest option near your home.

No. Tipping is not part of Japanese culture in restaurants, taxis, hotels or tours, and leaving money on the table may lead staff to chase you to return it. Good service is simply expected. A sincere 'arigato gozaimasu' (thank you very much) is appreciated.

For purchases made on or after 1 November 2026, Japan switches to a refund system: you pay the full price including 10% consumption tax (8% on food), and the tax is refunded after customs confirms at your departure airport that the goods are leaving Japan. The minimum is still ¥5,000 (before tax) per shop per day, and goods must be taken out of Japan within 90 days. Show your passport when you buy, keep every receipt and item, and do the tax-free procedure before checking in your luggage.

💡 Leave extra time at the airport on departure day if you have tax-free purchases - refunds can be by card or other methods depending on the shop.

For most city visitors, around ¥10,000-¥20,000 per person in cash is enough for a few days, topped up from ATMs as needed. Keep coins handy for lockers, shrine offerings and some buses. Japan is safe, but carry only what you need for the day.

💡 Coins pile up fast - spend them at convenience stores or top up your IC card with them.

ICOCA is JR West's rechargeable IC card: tap it at ticket gates, buses, lockers, vending machines and convenience stores. Visitors can buy a visitor-design ICOCA at Kansai-Airport Station for ¥2,000 (including a ¥500 deposit), and IC cards from other regions such as Suica also work across Kansai. On an iPhone 8 or later you can add ICOCA or Suica to Apple Wallet and top it up with a card in Wallet; mobile ICOCA/Suica on Android works only on Japanese-market phones.

💡 Top up at station machines with cash; with a phone card you can top up anywhere in the app.

Only if you are travelling long distances, such as Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima return within 7 days. The official 7-day Ordinary pass costs ¥50,000 for adults when purchased online, or ¥53,000 when purchased at an overseas JR-designated agency. It is not worth it for a stay based in Osaka and Kyoto, and it does not cover Nankai, Keihan, Hankyu, subways or city buses.

💡 Price out your actual route first - individual tickets are often cheaper.

JR West's WEST QR Kansai Area Pass (a QR code on your phone, bought before travel from overseas travel agencies) covers JR local trains in Kansai, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, and HARUKA non-reserved seats. Prices are ¥2,700 for 1 day, ¥4,700 for 2 days, ¥5,500 for 3 days and ¥6,700 for 4 days (adult). The 5-day Kansai WIDE Area Pass (¥12,000) adds the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Okayama and trips as far as Kinosaki and Shirahama.

💡 Passes change often - check the official JR West page for the current version before buying.

Yes, on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Bags whose length + width + height total 161-250 cm need a seat with an oversized baggage area, reserved when you buy your ticket (no extra charge). Bringing one without a reservation costs a ¥1,000 fee, and bags over 250 cm are not allowed.

💡 A standard large check-in suitcase is often over 160 cm - measure yours, or send it ahead with a luggage forwarding service.

Taxis are metered, clean and safe; the rear left door opens and closes automatically, so do not touch it. Most city taxis accept cards and IC cards, and ride-hailing apps can call licensed taxis. Show your destination address in Japanese, as many drivers speak little English.

💡 Save your home's Japanese address (from the guest page) as a screenshot to show drivers.

Keep your voice low and put your phone on silent; phone calls on trains are considered rude. Priority seats near the doors are for elderly, pregnant, disabled passengers and those with small children, and phones should be set to silent there. Queue at the marked lines on the platform, let people off first, and take backpacks off in crowded cars.

💡 In Osaka people stand on the right of escalators; in Kyoto usually on the left - just follow the people ahead.

If your phone supports eSIM, a travel eSIM is usually the simplest: buy and install it at home, then switch it on when you land. Physical data SIMs are sold at the airport and electronics stores. A pocket Wi-Fi router suits groups or people with several devices, but you have to carry, charge and return it.

💡 Check that your phone is carrier-unlocked before buying any SIM or eSIM.

Japan uses Type A sockets (two flat pins) at 100 volts, 50 Hz in eastern Japan and 60 Hz in Osaka and Kyoto. Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100-240 V, so you only need a plug adapter if your plug is not Type A. Hair dryers and straighteners from 220-240 V countries may not work properly.

💡 Many Japanese sockets have no ground pin hole - bring an adapter for three-pin plugs.

Google Maps handles train and bus routes very well, including platforms and fares. Google Translate's camera mode reads menus and signs. Install JNTO's Japan Official Travel App for travel information and the Safety tips app for earthquake, tsunami and weather alerts in English.

💡 Download the offline Japanese language pack in Google Translate before you fly.

Free Wi-Fi is available at airports, major stations, convenience stores and many cafes, and your Stays home has Wi-Fi. Public networks can require registration and can be slow, so do not rely on them for navigation. Avoid entering bank details on public Wi-Fi.

Japanese law requires every licensed lodging, including vacation rentals under the Private Lodging Business Act (Minpaku Act) and the Hotel Business Act, to keep a guest register. For each foreign guest without an address in Japan, the operator must record name, nationality and passport number, check the passport and keep a copy of it. This applies to every guest, including children, not just the person who booked.

💡 Completing online check-in before arrival means you just walk in - no desk needed.

Use the online check-in on your guest page: register every guest, upload passports and confirm your arrival time. You will then receive your entry details and house guide. Most homes are self check-in, so there is no front desk.

💡 The guest page also has voice guides and local help for your area.

Check-in and check-out times are shown on your booking and guest page; typically check-in is in the afternoon and check-out in the morning. Cleaning teams arrive right after check-out, so please leave on time. Ask through the guest page if you need luggage storage or an early or late arrival.

💡 Coin lockers at big stations are a good place to leave bags before check-in or after check-out.

Only registered guests may stay, and the number of guests must not exceed what you booked. Because the law requires every guest to be registered, unregistered visitors cannot stay overnight. If your group size changes, update it before arrival.

Japanese cities require rubbish to be separated, usually into burnable waste, plastic packaging, cans/bottles/PET bottles, and sometimes paper. Your home guide explains the local rules and where to leave rubbish. Please never put rubbish out on the street yourself unless the guide says to - collection days and places are strict.

💡 Rinse bottles and cans; it keeps the home and the bins clean.

Please respect the neighbours and keep noise down: homes are on residential streets and walls can be thin. Quiet hours, smoking areas, visitors, rubbish sorting and check-in/check-out rules differ by home, so read the house guide for the home you booked. Take off your shoes at the entrance (genkan), and never walk on tatami in slippers.

💡 Talking in the street outside late at night carries far - say goodbye indoors.

Homes normally provide towels, bedding, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, a hair dryer, basic kitchen equipment and Wi-Fi; the listing shows exactly what is included. Toothbrushes, razors and personal medicines may not be provided. Laundry machines vary by home - check the listing.

💡 Convenience stores sell everything from toothbrushes to phone chargers 24 hours a day.

Undress completely in the changing room and wash and rinse your whole body at the shower stations before getting into the bath. Swimsuits are not worn, towels stay out of the water, and long hair should be tied up. Tattoo policies vary: some baths ban them, some allow them, and some let you cover small tattoos with a sticker - check with each facility.

💡 Bring a small towel to wipe yourself before returning to the changing room.

It is generally considered impolite to eat while walking, and some Kyoto shopping streets such as Nishiki Market ask visitors not to. Eat near the stall where you bought the food or find a bench. Drinking from a bottle while walking is fine.

Public bins are rare. Carry a small plastic bag for your rubbish and dispose of it at your home or in bins next to convenience stores (for items bought there) and at stations. Please do not leave rubbish on streets or on the ground at temples.

Bow once at the torii gate, walk to the side of the central path, and rinse your hands and mouth at the water basin (never drink directly from the ladle). At a shrine, the usual prayer is bow twice, clap twice, bow once. Speak quietly, follow photo rules, and remove shoes where asked in temple halls.

💡 Visit popular Kyoto temples right at opening time to avoid the crowds.

Do not enter private lanes marked as no entry, and follow the photography restrictions posted on site. Never photograph, follow, block or touch geiko and maiko without their permission; they are working professionals on their way to appointments.

People queue neatly for trains, lifts and popular restaurants - join the end of the line. Many restaurants ask you to wait to be seated and some use ticket machines at the entrance. Slurping noodles is normal and even a sign you enjoy them.

Never stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks - both are associated with funerals. Do not point with chopsticks or wave them around, and rest them on the holder or across your bowl. It is fine to lift a rice or soup bowl to your mouth.

💡 Say 'itadakimasu' before eating and 'gochisosama deshita' after - staff love it.

Yes, it is strongly recommended. Foreign visitors are not covered by Japan's public health insurance and pay 100% of medical costs, which can be very high for an ambulance transfer, hospital stay or surgery. Choose insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, and keep the policy details on your phone.

💡 Many hospitals ask for payment or a guarantee before treatment - carry a credit card.

Drugstores (look for the word 薬 or 'drug') are everywhere and sell pain relievers, cold medicine, stomach medicine and first-aid items. Some stores have pharmacists and staff who speak English or Chinese. Japanese dosages can differ from home, so read the label or ask.

💡 Google Translate's camera mode helps read medicine packaging.

JNTO has an official medical institution search where you can find clinics and hospitals by area, language and department. For minor problems, a local clinic is quicker and cheaper than a hospital emergency department. In a real emergency call 119 for an ambulance.

Yes. The Japan Visitor Hotline, run by JNTO, answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese: 050-3816-2787 from inside Japan, +81-50-3816-2787 from overseas. It helps with accidents, illness, disasters and general travel questions.

💡 Save the number in your phone before you travel.

Summers in Osaka and Kyoto (roughly July to early September) are hot and humid, often above 35°C. Heatstroke is a real risk: drink water regularly, take salt or sports drinks, rest in the shade and wear a hat. Watch the heatstroke alerts on the Safety tips app and plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings.

💡 Convenience stores and vending machines make it easy to buy cold drinks everywhere.

Cedar and cypress pollen peaks from about February to April, and many people wear masks for this reason. If you have hay fever, bring your usual antihistamines (checking the ingredient rules in the entry section). Drugstores also sell allergy tablets, eye drops and masks.

Drop, cover and hold on: get under a sturdy table and protect your head until the shaking stops. Stay away from windows and heavy furniture, do not run outside during shaking, and turn off the stove afterwards. If you are near the coast and a tsunami warning is issued, move to high ground immediately.

💡 Check where the nearest evacuation shelter is in your home guide when you arrive.

Install the JNTO Safety tips app, which sends earthquake, tsunami, weather and heatstroke alerts in English and other languages, with guidance on what to do. Japanese phones also receive emergency alerts with a loud tone. Local schools and community centres usually serve as evacuation shelters.

Typhoons can reach Kansai from about July to October, with the peak in August and September. Trains, flights and ferries may be suspended for a day, so keep your plans flexible and follow the news and the Safety tips app. Stay indoors during the storm and close shutters or curtains.

💡 If a typhoon is forecast on your departure day, check your airline early - Kansai Airport is on an island.

Japan has a very high return rate for lost items. Ask at the station office, the shop or the nearest koban (small police box) - they can check lost-property reports. For items lost on trains, contact the railway company's lost-property office as soon as possible.

💡 Note the train line, car number and time if you leave something on a train.

Call 110 for the police and 119 for fire or an ambulance; both are free from any phone. Say where you are (an address or a nearby landmark) and what happened. For non-emergency help, call the Japan Visitor Hotline on 050-3816-2787.

Crime is low, and walking at night in Osaka and Kyoto is generally safe. Use normal care in busy nightlife areas: avoid street touts offering bars or clubs and check prices before ordering. Short-term visitors aged 16 or over must carry their passport, and police can ask to see it.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are mild, around 10-25°C, so bring layers and a light jacket. Summer (June-September) is hot and humid, with a rainy season in June and July: pack breathable clothes, a hat and a compact umbrella. Winter (December-February) is around 0-10°C and Kyoto feels cold, so bring a warm coat.

💡 Temples can be cold in winter because you walk around in socks - bring thick socks.

Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes are essential: many visitors walk 15,000-25,000 steps a day, and stations and temples have many stairs. Slip-on shoes are handy because you remove your shoes at homes, temples, some restaurants and fitting rooms. Make sure your socks are clean and without holes.

A coin purse, because you will collect many ¥1-¥500 coins. A small hand towel or handkerchief, because many public toilets have no paper towels or dryers. A foldable bag for shopping and a small plastic bag for your rubbish, as bins are rare and shops charge for bags.

A plug adapter if your plugs are not Type A, a power bank for long days out, your medicines in original packaging, and a copy of your insurance details. Luggage space is limited on trains, so a medium suitcase or a backpack is easier than a very large case.

💡 Leave room in your bag - shopping in Japan is tempting.

- Konnichiwa (こんにちは) - Hello

- Arigato gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) - Thank you very much

- Sumimasen (すみません) - Excuse me / Sorry

- Onegaishimasu (お願いします) - Please

- Hai / Iie (はい / いいえ) - Yes / No

- Eigo wa daijobu desu ka? (英語は大丈夫ですか？) - Is English OK?

- ... wa doko desu ka? (…はどこですか？) - Where is ...?

- Ikura desu ka? (いくらですか？) - How much is it?

- Kore o kudasai (これをください) - This one, please

- Okaikei onegaishimasu (お会計お願いします) - The bill, please

💡 'Sumimasen' is the most useful word in Japan - for getting attention, apologising and saying thanks.

Most people learn English at school and can read it better than they speak it, but many are shy to speak. Staff at stations, airports and big shops often speak some English, and signs on trains are in English. Speak slowly, use simple words, and show text or pictures on your phone.

💡 Typing your question into a translation app and showing the screen works very well.

Many restaurants have picture menus, plastic food displays in the window, or QR-code menus with English. Ramen and noodle shops often use a ticket machine at the entrance: choose your dish, pay, and hand the ticket to the staff. Pointing at a picture and saying 'kore o kudasai' works everywhere.

💡 Some ticket machines only take cash - keep ¥1,000 notes handy.

Station and major street signs are in Japanese and English, and train announcements are usually in English too. For menus, labels and paper notices, use the camera mode of Google Translate. Your home's guide and the guest page are written in English.