Citizens of the USA, UK, EU, Canada, and a number of other countries are granted 90 day to six month visa-free entry to Japan for tourism or business purposes. Visitors from other countries may need to apply for a tourist visa in advance of travel at a Japanese embassy or consulate. No specific vaccinations are required, although those traveling to remote areas are recommended to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis.

Health and Safety

Japan is a safe country with a low crime rate and few attacks on tourists, although the usual precautions should be taken when carrying money, especially late at night in Tokyo’s seedier Roppongi district and other entertainment areas. Summers can be very hot and humid; requiring sunscreen and a hat, and hikers in remote areas should take care to avoid ticks as they can carry disease. Overall, the cuisine is safe to eat and food poisoning is a rare occurrence. Japanese hospitals offer world class healthcare to the insured, but foreign visitors are required to pay for treatment in full. The area surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant explosion in the March 11, 2011 as a result of the earthquake and tsunami should still be avoided, but radiation in food or drinks is no longer a viable concern in main cities.