What documents do I need when entering Japan?
To enter Japan you need a passport valid for the duration of your stay, a completed Japan Visit Web entry record, and proof of onward travel.
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Documents required for Japan
Japan is one of the easier countries to enter if you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country, but you still need the right paperwork ready. trip1 lets you pay for your Japan hotel with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDC, but immigration will need to see traditional documents on arrival.
- A passport valid for at least the duration of your stay in Japan.
- A completed Visit Japan Web QR code (digital immigration and customs declaration).
- Proof of onward or return travel, such as a flight ticket out of Japan.
- A hotel booking confirmation from trip1 or proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient funds (rarely checked but occasionally requested).
Who needs a visa for Japan?
Japan offers visa-free entry for short tourist stays to citizens of around 70 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, all EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore.
If your country is not on the visa-exempt list, you must apply for a tourist visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate before traveling. The visa requires a passport, application form, photo, itinerary, and proof of funds.
What is Visit Japan Web?
Visit Japan Web is the official online service for completing immigration and customs declarations before arrival. You enter your passport details, flight information, and where you are staying - and receive QR codes to scan at the airport.
Using Visit Japan Web is not strictly mandatory, but it is highly recommended. Without it, you complete paper forms on the plane and stand in longer lines at immigration.
Hotel check-in requirements in Japan
Japanese hotels must record your passport details if you are a foreign visitor. Bring the passport you used at immigration and your trip1 booking confirmation. Some traditional ryokan inns also ask for the address of your next destination.
What documents do I need when entering Japan - FAQ
US citizens need a passport valid for the whole stay and no visa for tourist visits of under 90 days. Officers can also ask for proof of onward or return travel and where you are staying, so keep your flight details and trip1 booking confirmation handy. Completing Visit Japan Web before you fly is optional but speeds up arrival.
Only for the length of your stay. Japan does not apply the six-month rule many countries use, so a passport that stays valid until the day you leave Japan is enough. Make sure you also have a blank page for the landing stamp, and check the expiry date against any onward trip you have planned after Japan.
Not if your passport is from a visa-exempt country. US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens, among many other nationalities, can visit Japan without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Other nationalities must get a tourist visa from a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling, which needs an application form, photo, itinerary and proof of funds.
No. Visit Japan Web is optional, and you can still fill in paper immigration and customs forms on the plane or at the airport. Using it gives you QR codes to scan on arrival and usually means shorter queues. You need your passport, flight details and the address of where you are staying, such as the hotel on your trip1 booking.