Japan Entry Basics for US Travelers: What to Have Ready

If Japan is your first international trip, entry is one of the easier parts. According to the US State Department country information page, US citizens do not need a visa for short-term tourism stays.

Have These Ready Before You Board

• A passport valid for the length of your stay. Check the expiration date now, not at the airport.
• Proof of onward travel. Immigration officers can ask how and when you plan to leave.
• Your first accommodation address. Arrival forms ask where you are staying, and "I will figure it out" is not an answer that works.

Good to Know

• Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the United States among visa-exempt countries for short tourism stays.
• Rules change. The official pages listed below are the places to confirm before you fly, and PINYA links them so you do not have to guess.