Travelling to...
JAPAN
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VISA & Immigration
A Visa is a official document or sticker issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate that allows a foreigner to enter Japan for a specific purpose, such as work, study, residence or tourism
Do I need a Visa to Travel to Japan?
Whether you need a Visa to visit Japan fully depends on your nationality. You can either be from a visa exempt country, meaning you do not need a visa to travel to Japan.
Or, if you are from a country that is NOT visa exempt, you need to apply for a Temporary Visitor Visa (Short-Term Stay Visa)
What do I need if I am from a Visa Exempt Country?
Here is what you need if you are from a visa-exempt country:
Visa application form (download from the Japan embassy website
Valid passport
Recent passport-sized photo
Flight itinerary
Accommodation details
Bank statements
Letter of invitation (if you are visiting family or friends)
Visa fee
Where to apply?:
You will be applying at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, some countries do allow application through authorized travel agencies
Renting
If you are visiting Japan for a holiday, you have a lot of options for renting accommodations. However, long-term rentals are not available for tourists
Options for renting in Japan
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Western style Hotels
Business Hotels
Luxury Hotels
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Experience tatami mats, futon bedding and hot springs
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These are very budget friendly
Capsule hotels offer small sleeping pods
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Rented out apartments or housing which are a great option for large groups or families
Great for longer stays
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These are very cheap overnight options if you miss your last train
Provides a small private booth, reclining chair, free Wi-Fi and showers
Driving and Transportation
Japan has one of the world’s best public transportation systems, making very easy to travel without a car. However, if you do plan to drive you will need a Japanese driver’s license and understand car ownership.
Public Transport
Japan has one of best and most extensive public transport networks in the world, so most residents do not own a car, especially in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Here is a quick breakdown of the most used public transportations in Japan:
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Shinkansen, this is the bullet trains for long distance travel
JR (Japanese Railways), this is the national rail network
Subways and Metros, which are in-city transport
Private railways, Non-JR lines linking to different regions
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City buses which are for local routes
Highway buses, these are cheaper than trains for long distance travel but do of course take longer
Night buses, overnight travel options
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Taxis are pretty pricey, but are available 24/7
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There are options like Times Car Rental and Toyota Share that let you rent a car hourly
Renting a Car in Japan
If you want to rent a car in Japan, most visitors need to get an IDP to be able to drive. There are a very select few of countries that do not need to get an IDP, but, they need to get an official Japanese translation of their home countries license from the Japan Automobile Federation.
The countries that do not need an IDP are:
Switzerland
Germany
France
Belgium
Taiwan
Monoco
Here is what you need to rent a car:
Valid passport
International Driving Permit
Credit Card
Age Requirement (some agencies require you to be 21+)
Japanese Translation of your Drivers License (if your country requires it)
How to get an International Driving Permit (IDP)?
What do you need:
A valid drivers license from your home country
IDP application form
Passport-sized photos
Application fee
In person application:
Go to an official issuing authority in your country
Submit documents and pay the fee
Some locations issues IDP immediately on the same day!
Online or Mail application:
Some countries allow you to apply online
If applying by mail, send your documents with a return envelope
Processing time is around 1-2 weeks (longer for mail applications)