Japan travel tips

Guidance for travellers applying from the United Kingdom. Always confirm requirements with the official visa authority.

Short answer: After your Japan visa is granted, keep copies of your documents, respect local laws, and confirm entry conditions still match your itinerary.

Practical tips

  • Confirm visa-free duration for your passport on the embassy website.
  • Buy a Suica or Pasmo card for metros and convenience-store payments.
  • Book Kyoto ryokan and Fuji-area hotels months ahead in peak seasons.
  • Carry cash for temples, buses, and countryside meals.
  • Check onsen tattoo policies before booking traditional baths.
  • Register for earthquake apps and heed typhoon train suspensions.
  • Use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) between cities to avoid hauling suitcases on trains.
  • Learn basic phrases—locals appreciate attempted Japanese greetings.

Travel highlights

Attractions

  • Tokyo
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Hiroshima Peace Memorial
  • Hakone and Fuji views

Cities

  • Tokyo
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Sapporo
  • Fukuoka

Best time

March to May for sakura; October to November for foliage; January for powder snow in Nagano and Hokkaido.

Need help applying for your Japan visa?

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Official sources

This site is informational and is not a government website. Final decisions rest with consular officers.

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