Can British citizens travel to Japan without a visa?
Yes, British nationals can travel to Japan without a visa for short-term trips of up to 90 days. This visa-free regime applies to leisure travel, business visits, cultural activities, and other short-term trips.
If you plan to stay longer or engage in activities that go beyond the permitted conditions (for example, work), you should apply for an appropriate visa in advance.
What documents do I need to enter Japan as a British citizen?
In order to cross the border without any problems, British citizens must have the following documents:
- Valid passport. Make sure that your passport is valid for the entire period of your stay in Japan. It is advisable that it covers at least 6 months from the date of entry.
- Return ticket or ticket to a third country: this is a confirmation that you plan to return or travel further.
- Documents confirming your place of residence: a booked hotel, an invitation from friends or other proof of your stay.
- Financial documents. It is recommended that you have bank statements, credit cards, or other documents proving your financial solvency during your stay in Japan.
You can find detailed information on the conditions for visa-free entry to Japan by visiting the official website of the Japanese diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom. You can find it at this link.
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What is a “Landing Permit” to Japan?
When the British arrive in Japan, they need to be screened by an immigration officer to obtain a “Landing Permit”. This means that the officers check whether you meet all the requirements for entry set out in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. The requirements include a valid passport with a visa (if necessary), a clear purpose of the trip, and a specified period of stay.
If all the conditions are met, the officer will issue an “entry permit” by affixing a special stamp to your passport. This stamp indicates your “residence status” (i.e., what activities are allowed in Japan) and “period of stay”.
Important to know: once you receive an entry permit, your visa becomes invalid (except for multiple entry visas, which remain valid until the end of their validity period). If you need to change the type of stay or extend the period, this is done through a “change of residence status” or “extension of stay” through the Regional Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice of Japan.
Recommendations for the British traveling to Japan
1. Customs regulations: it is forbidden to import drugs, weapons, dangerous items or certain types of food. Pay attention to the restrictions on the import of tobacco and alcohol.
2. Immigration regulations: illegal work during your stay is prohibited and violations may result in a ban on further entry.
When is the best time for tourists from the United Kingdom to visit Japan?
For the British planning to travel to Japan, the best times are:
- Spring season (March-April): during this time the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and it is a real sight to behold. The city of Kyoto is especially beautiful during the cherry blossom season, when temple gardens and city parks are filled with pale pink flowers.
- Autumn season (October-November). Experience the beauty of Japanese nature through the autumn color of the leaves (moma-ji). This is a period of warm colors and vivid landscapes, especially in Nikko or Arashiyama.
- Winter. Visit snowy villages such as Shirakawa-go or enjoy skiing in mountain resorts such as Hokkaido.
Places to visit for travelers from the United Kingdom during their stay in Japan
- Kyoto. With its numerous temples, bamboo groves and historic gardens. In particular, Ryoanji is known for its stone garden.
- Tokyo: a city that combines modernity and tradition. From visiting the famous Tsukiji Market to walking through the ancient neighborhoods of Asakusa.
- Okinawa. If you are looking for beaches and tropical vacations, you will definitely like this place. Discover the beauty of the marine world at the Churaumi Aquarium.
- Hiroshima. Peace memorials, including the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Dome.
- National parks. A trip to Fuji Hakone-Izu can offer unique landscapes of Mount Fuji, hot springs, and lake views.
Transit visa.
It is issued when Japan is not the final destination of the tourist, its validity is 72 hours. For those who plan to go on a cruise with a call to Japanese ports, it is also recommended to obtain a transit visa - it will allow you to go ashore.
If a tourist flies with a change at a Japanese airport within one day, a transit visa is not required. In case of force majeure, the visa-free stay is extended to 72 hours, and a special mark in the form of a sticker is made on the passport in such an event. In this case, passengers cannot leave the transit area of the airport.
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Documents required for issuing a transit visa to Japan:
● A valid international passport (for visa and immigration stamps, the passport must have at least 2 blank pages).
● A copy of the first page of the international passport with a photo and information about its owner.
● Two completed visa forms in English
● Two photos sized 4.5x4.5, necessarily in color.
● Two copies of the visa to the country of destination.
● A copy of the airline ticket reservation, which indicates a stay in Japan of up to 3 days.
● Two copies of hotel reservations where tourists will stay in Japan.
You may need to provide financial documents:
● certificate from the place of work indicating the position, length of service, and salary;
● statement from a bank account with cash flow for the previous 3 months.
Based on the current situation in Ukraine, Japan has decided to apply to dogs and cats evacuated to Japan, the provisions on rescue dogs, etc., provided by the order of the Minister. You can find this provision
here.
General rules for importing pets to Japan.
First, let us briefly list the necessary documents and conditions, and then consider them in more detail:
1) Obtaining an international passport and implantation of a subcutaneous chip.
If the animal does not have an international veterinary passport, you need to get one to start the first stage. It is desirable to register the animal for the person who will transport it.
Next - identification chip installment. If the animal already has a chip implanted, please check its compatibility with Japanese requirements. The microchip must comply with ISO 11784 and 11785 standards (15-digit code consisting only of numbers).
Make sure that the microchip number can be identified by a microchip reader in veterinary hospitals.
2) Double vaccination against rabies.
The Japanese quarantine service requires double vaccination of animals, each dose of which is noted in the veterinary passport.
1st vaccination:
If the animal was vaccinated before the installation of the chip, these vaccinations are not considered valid. In this regard, you can take the opportunity and put the first vaccination immediately after installation of the chip or after 1 week.
If the animal has been vaccinated with the chip installed, the duration of this vaccination should not exceed 91 days (the date of vaccination is considered zero day).
2nd vaccination:
No earlier (mandatory condition!) than in 31 days the animal is given the 2nd rabies vaccination.
Importantly! Japanese requirements state that vaccination must contain a dead virus! "Killed" recombinant / modified viral vaccine. Vaccines made with "live" viruses are not accepted by the Japanese side. Please consult your doctor in advance during this step to avoid unpleasant consequences.
3) Test for antibodies to rabies and 180-day quarantine.
This test can be done on the day of the 2nd rabies vaccination or in the following days.
The certificate is issued within 2 weeks. Be sure to check this document for spelling information, especially the microchip number. Otherwise, if an error is detected at the border, the animal will simply be not accepted. The certificate validity is 2 years.
Importantly! The antibody titer should be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU per 1 milliliter, which means that the animal is eligible for import into Japan. If the titers are unsatisfactory - the analysis is repeated.
The waiting period is 180 days. Dogs and cats must arrive in Japan 180 days after the blood test for rabies antibodies. The date of blood collection is considered to be day 0.
In addition, the date of arrival in Japan must be within the validity of the administered rabies vaccine and the validity of the rabies antibody test (certificate valid for 2 years).
Importantly! Dogs and cats waiting less than 180 days will be quarantined in the Animal Quarantine Service remand center for the period of replenishment of missing days. The age of the animal imported into Japan must be at least 10 months.
4) Prior notification of the quarantine service.
You must notify the Japanese Quarantine Service of your arrival with the pet at one of the airports/seaports at least 40 days in advance. Communication is in Japanese or English.
When making a notification, you need to send information about the upcoming flight with your pet and special completed notification forms:
Notification form for dogs:
Notification form for cats: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-cat.pdf
What can be imported into Japan by plane:
● The import and export of local or foreign currency are not restricted (amounts equivalent to 1,000,000 JPY or more are subject to mandatory declaration). Gold products of millesimal fineness 900 must also be declared if their total weight exceeds 1 kg.
● Persons over the age of 20 are allowed duty-free import of up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco
● Up to 56 ml (2 ounces) of perfume
● Other goods up to JPY 200,000
What is forbidden from imports into Japan:
● Firearms and ammunition (cold steel, hunting, and pneumatic weapons are imported only with the permission of the National Security Service of Japan).
● Drugs and psychotropic substances (their importation is subject to deportation and a life ban on entry into the country).
● Some medications (especially those containing 1-deoxyephedrine).
● Counterfeit securities and banknotes.
● Fresh fruits, vegetables and plants, animals and a number of foods of animal and vegetable origin (primarily meat and meat products, as well as various fruit crops).
● Pornographic material, movies, or publications that contain scenes of violence and cruelty.
● Magazines, photographs, drawings and engravings of obscene content.
● Printed publications and other materials that undermine public order
● Counterfeit products, as well as things and items that damage the trademark, copyright and patent law.
What is forbidden from exports from Japan.
● Art and antiques without the permission of the competent authorities
How much alcohol can be imported into Japan.
● Up to 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages (up to 0.75 liters each)
What you need to know before renting a car in Japan.
Most rental companies allow people to rent cars from the age of 18, but this depends on the specific company and the type of vehicle may vary. Young drivers should learn about age restrictions in advance.
In addition, a valid driver's license is required. A valid driver's license is the International Driving Permit (IDP).
1) When you rent a car in Japan, all drivers must be registered in the rental documents. To do this, either all drivers must be present in person at the time of the lease, or one person must have all the driver's licenses to confirm the identity of drivers and the validity of licenses.
2) Depending on the rent, a number of services are offered. Discuss additional services in advance, such as car seats for young children, multilingual GPS devices, ski racks, and more.
3) Japan has many toll roads and highways, and some routes can be very expensive. An electronic payment card (ETC) is a useful tool that allows you to charge a fare directly from your credit card or include it in your car rental bill.
● This means you don't have to stop at a payment point - just slow down and the ETC card will be activated. For more information on ETC devices and ETC card rental, see the official website.
● If you do not have an ETC card, you can only go through paid checkpoints labeled “General” in green or general paid checkpoints labeled “ETC / General”. "ETC-only tollgate" - only ETC signs marked in purple.
4) Return of the car
Be sure to fill the fuel tank before returning the car to the rental company, or you will have to pay extra for the missing gasoline. Some rental companies require a receipt as proof that you have filled the tank.
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