- Travel Information for Japan
What Do You Need for Entry, for Example, to Japan?
People who are temporarily staying in Japan and are not citizens must always carry their passport. Residents in Japan must always carry their residence card. Individuals without the proper identification documents can be arrested and held for several days. Additionally, a significant fine may be imposed.
For a tourist stay of up to 90 days, a passport, a temporary passport, or a child passport is sufficient.
Passport, Temporary Passport, and Child Passport
A passport, temporary passport, or child passport must be applied for at the appropriate authority. An application for a passport or child passport can be submitted at the citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) of your main residence. You can also apply for a passport at any citizens’ office across Germany, though additional fees may apply.
Basic Fee for a Passport
According to §15 of the Passport Regulations, a basic fee is always charged for issuing a passport, with the amount depending on your age. Additional fees may apply for extra services. Below is an overview of the costs effective from January 1, 2024.
Persons aged 24 and over: €70.00 (valid for 10 years)
Persons under 24 years: €37.50 (valid for 6 years)
For the basic fee, you receive a passport with 32 pages (international standard). You can apply for your passport at the citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) of your main residence.
How Long Must Identification Documents Be Valid for Japan?
Travel documents must be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay. Do not travel to Japan with a passport that was reported lost or stolen and later recovered.
So only fly with a current and valid passport, and make sure its validity extends beyond the duration of your stay.
Do You Need a Visa When Entering as a Tourist?
Do you need a visa as a tourist for Japan? For stays of up to 180 days, no visa is required for either tourists or business travelers. Upon arrival at the airport, a 90-day temporary visitor permit is issued.
How much does a flight from Germany to Japan cost
Prices for flights from Germany to Japan vary depending on the offer. In this scenario, we are flying from Düsseldorf to Japan. (As of: 04.2024)
| Destinations and Stops | Prices and Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Destination: Fukuoka Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €698 17 h 45 min+ |
| Destination: Ōsaka Flights with 1 stop available |
from € 948 14 h 25 min+ |
| Destination: Tokyo Prefecture Flights with 1 stop available |
from € 951 14 h 30 min+ |
| Destination: Okinawa Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €1,021 17 h 40 min+ |
| Destination: Sapporo Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €1,103 17 h 35 min+ |
| Destination: Kagoshima Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €1,199 18 h 25 min+ |
| Destination: Miyazaki Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €1,211 18 h 20 min+ |
| Destination: Nagasaki Flights with at least 2 stops available |
from €1,211 18 h 0 min+ |
How much money do you need for a 3-week trip to Japan?
The question of how much money one needs for a 3-week or 2-week vacation in Japan cannot be answered 100 percent.
Here the questions arise:
- Do you go to restaurants or cook for yourselves on vacation?
- Do you want to see many tourist attractions or just explore the cities?
- How mobile do you want to be, rental car or train ticket?
Let’s assume that you don’t feel like cooking, want to see all the tourist attractions, and otherwise want to live very lavishly. Then, expect €162 per day, which corresponds to 27,454.26 yen.
For 1 week in Japan: €1,141, which corresponds to 193,366.14 yen.
For 2 weeks in Japan: €2,282, which corresponds to 386,732.27 yen.
For 3 weeks in Japan: €3,423, which corresponds to 580,098.41 yen.
1 yen corresponds to €0.0059 (As of: 04.2024)
Carrying Cash
Cash up to 1 million yen can be brought in duty-free. If someone carries more than this amount, it must be declared. Precious metals such as gold can be brought in tax-free up to a limit of 1 kilogram.
| Yen | Euro |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000 yen | €5,900.72 |
1 yen equals €0.0059 (As of: 04.2024)
However, I recommend not carrying all the money in your wallet and instead going to an ATM or a bank when you need more. If you have already withdrawn a larger amount, it is advisable to leave some in the hotel. In case the wallet is lost, the damage will then not be as high.
Which vaccinations are required for entry into Japan?
In Japan, no mandatory vaccinations are required for entry. However, for long-term stays or visits to rural areas, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis is recommended.
What is Japanese Encephalitis?
Japanese Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain and its membranes. About 1 in 200–1,000 people bitten by infected mosquitoes develop this disease. Typically, flu-like general symptoms appear 6–16 days after infection and last for about 2–3 days.
Is there still a mask mandate in Japan?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no legal requirement to wear protective masks in Japan. The government only issued recommendations. These recommendations have mostly been lifted as of today. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the decision to wear a mask is now left to each individual.
Staying in Japan for more than 180 days
If you plan to stay in Japan for more than 180 days or to work, do an internship, or study there, you must apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or one of the Japanese consulates before your departure.
Importing Food and Meat Products
For personal use, small amounts of food can be brought in, such as cookies, chocolate, candy, etc. The import of beef and pork, even in processed form, is prohibited, and sausage products are often confiscated by customs.
