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Visa
Visitors to Japan who are holding valid passports or traveling documents issued by the list of eligible countries below are exempted from applying visas. Otherwise, visa is required. Visitors can apply visa at Japan Consular Offices in their own countries.
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Period of Travel |
Europe |
Asia |
America |
Africa |
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14 days |
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Brunei |
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90 days |
Andorra, Czech, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco |
Australia(2), New Zealand |
Barbados |
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3 months |
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Norway, Portugal(4), San Marno, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
Bangladesh(1), Iran(1), Israel, Pakistan(1), Singapore, Turkey |
Argentina, Bahamas, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Suriname, Uruguay |
Lesotho, Mauritus, Tunisia |
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6 months |
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, United Kingdom(3) |
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Mexico |
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Visa Recommended |
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Malaysia |
Peru |
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(1) Agreements with these states have been temporarily suspended.
(2) In the case of Australia, Japan adopts a unilateral measure, not a bilateral visa exemption arrangement.
(3) Except when the passport is originally issued in British colonial territories.
(4) Except when the passport is originally issued in present or former Portuguese colonial territories.
Festivals and Holidays
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Date |
Holiday |
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January 1 |
New Year's Day |
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The second Monday of January |
Coming-of-Age Day |
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January 15 |
Adulthood Day |
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February 11 |
National Foundation Day |
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March 21 (or 20) |
Vernal Equinox Day |
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April 29 |
Greenery Day |
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May 3 |
Constitution Memorial Day |
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May 5 |
Childern's Day |
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June 22 |
Summer Solstice Day |
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July 20 |
Maritime Day |
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September 15 |
Respect-for-the-Aged Day |
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September 23 (or 24) |
Autumnal Equinox Day |
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The second Monday of October |
Health-Sports Day |
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November 3 |
Culture Day |
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November 23 |
Labor Thanksgiving Day |
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December 23 |
Emperor's Birthday |
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December 31 |
New Year's Eve |
Language
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English |
Japanese |
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Good morning |
Ohaiyo gozaimasu |
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Good afternoon |
Konnichiwa |
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Good evening |
Konbanwa |
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Good night |
Oyasuminasai |
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Goodbye |
Sayonara |
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Yes |
Hai |
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No |
Iie |
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Thank you |
Domo arigatou gozaimasu |
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You're welcome |
Dou itashimashite |
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No, thanks |
Kekko desu |
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Sorry |
Sumimasen |
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Hot |
Atsui |
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Cold |
Samui |
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Happy |
Ureshii |
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Sad |
Kanashii |
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Interesting |
Omoshiroi |
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Boring |
Tsumaranai |
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Beautiful/clean |
Kirei |
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Handsome |
Hansamu |
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Delicious |
Oishii |
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Sweet |
Amai |
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Spicy |
Karai |
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Sour |
Suppai |
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Bitter |
Kurui |
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Cheap |
Yasui |
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Expensive |
Takai |
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Big |
Ooki |
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Small |
Chisai |
Consumption Tax
Generally, Japanese government would charge 5% consumption tax for every product or service. However, the price listed is always the price without tax. For travelers, you can bring your passport to relieve tax if you were shopping in department store and buying more than 10,000 yen.
Top 5 Places
Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. It is Japan's political, economic, financial and communications centre. In Tokyo there is the congregation of international cuisine and fashion, massive department stores, cinemas, opera houses, first-rate restaurants, huge museums and art galleries. The Roppongi and Shinjuku Districts are the hosts of a variety of exciting and colourful nightlife. That's why Tokyo is the place where young people are eager to visit and a shopping paradise where tourists from all over the world always dream of. All the districts within Tokyo are closely linked together, but each district has its own lively shopping streets usually close to railway and underground railway stations. The main sightseeing districts of Tokyo include Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Ikebukuro and Asakusa, and the main attractions include the Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Disneyland, Hello Kitty Land and the Fuji Mountain in the vicinity.
Hakone
Hakone is situated in the central-western part of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It covers the area around the Mount Hakone Volcano. In the north lies the gorgeous Lake Ashi which is the main sightseeing spot of Hakone. Hakone gains popularity by means of spa motels, dense forests and ravines. Moreover, when you come to Hakone, you can immediately feel the rich artistic atmosphere via various museums of all sizes. These museums display fine-quality glass, pottery and porcelain artifacts.
Sappro
Sappro is one of the main city in Hokkaido. It lies on the southwestern part of the Ishikari Plain. The Hokkaido Prefectural Government is located there. Now the cultural, political and commercial center of Hokkaido, it is the fifth largest city of Japan, with a population of about 1.7 million. As a key station of the national railway, it is also just 90 minutes by jet from Tokyo. It has well-organized lovely streets with a Scandinavian atmosphere. Expansive areas of greenery attract many tourists annually. Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972, and it is still an attractive destination for winter sports and the Snow Festival.
Kyoto
Kyoto, at the central-western part of Honshu, is only about 47 kilometers from Osaka. Kyoto is a city of historical heritage, as well as the centre of civilization and Buddhism in Japan. Apart from exquisite Japanese commemorative and traditional gardens, there are around 400 Shinto shrines and over 1,600 temples for sightseeing and worshipping. The number of shrine activities hosted by Kyoto is enormous, so visitors from all over the world can see and feel for themselves the traditional conventions of Japan. Moreover, there are lots of no and kabuki theatres, and customary flower arrangement and tea ceremony activities.
Osaka
Osaka Prefecture, at the center of Japan, is divided into 33 cities, 10 towns, and one village, and has an area of about 1,890 square kilometers. It is adjacent to Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. Osaka can be called the "City of Rivers" because many rivers flow through the city. However, tourists can visit the main attractions of Osaka by riding on the circulating elevated railway. As the prefecture advances, it has added in special districts and facilities like the Osaka International Convention Centre, the Techno Port and the Kansai Science City Zone under construction. These unique areas await your discovery. Besides, the underground malls such as the Crysta Nagahori have always attracted millions of people to go and buy designer clothing and popular specialty goods. In the city, there are many toys and dolls shops, too. Osaka has nevertheless retained its traditions. The spectacular Osaka Castle is the symbol of the city, and it is one of the three biggest castles of Japan. The Japanese puppet show originated from Osaka, and it is a common entertainment apart from kabuki.
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