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Japan Practical Travel Info

Visa rules by nationality, money, safety, and getting connected.

Most Western passport holders (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand) get visa-free entry to Japan for up to 90 days as of 2026 — no advance application needed. Japan is famously safe and famously still cash-heavy despite its high-tech reputation; carry cash alongside a card. A planned US-style pre-authorization system (JESTA) does not take effect until 2029, so ignore any site charging for it now.

This is the unglamorous section that quietly prevents a bad first day: whether you actually need a visa (mostly no, if you're reading this from most Western countries), how much cash to carry in a country that's more cash-based than its reputation suggests, and how to get connected without paying your phone carrier's international roaming markup.

Japan Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Practical Info

Japan Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)

The real answer, broken down by passport — plus the JESTA scam warning worth knowing.

Money, Safety & eSIM in Japan
Practical Info

Money, Safety & eSIM in Japan

Cash, cards, real safety risks, and the fines that catch visitors off guard.

Questions people actually ask

Do I need a visa for Japan?
Most likely not — see our full visa & entry page for the breakdown by nationality. As of 2026, US, Canadian, UK, EU, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders get visa-free entry for up to 90 days.
Is Japan safe to visit?
Yes, exceptionally so — violent crime against tourists is rare and petty theft is uncommon even in crowded areas. The real practical risks are natural (earthquakes, typhoon season roughly June–October) rather than crime-related, and a growing list of local etiquette fines (street smoking, public drinking in some districts) that are easy to avoid once you know about them.
What currency does Japan use?
The Japanese yen (JPY, ¥). Check current exchange rates before you go, since they move — as a rough planning anchor, $1 has recently traded in the mid-140s to mid-150s in yen, a genuinely favorable rate for visitors paying in USD, EUR, or GBP. Carry cash; Japan remains more cash-reliant than its high-tech reputation suggests.