British, EU and US nationals can visit Japan for up to three months without a visa. It is not necessary to apply for a visa waiver in advance. Note that you will be asked to provide evidence of a return or onward ticket on arrival in Japan. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

When to Travel

The typhoon season runs from June to October with most activity between July and September. The southernmost regions of Japan are usually the worst affected.

The monsoon rains occur throughout the summer months, affecting much of southern and central Japan, including Tokyo and Kyoto. The heaviest rains occur June to July and during the September peak typhoon season. August often sees a lull in the rains. During this period, temperatures in Kyoto and Tokyo can be as high as 35°C.

The most pleasant months to travel in central and southern Japan are late October to May, when the weather is typically cool, clear and dry. The autumn ‘koyo’ and spring ‘sakura’ seasons are particularly popular times to travel, due to the seasonal colours.

Conversely, in the northernmost regions of Japan, including Hokkaido, the summer is the most pleasant time to travel, with typically dry conditions and temperatures ranging from 20-28°C between June and August. During the winter months, many of the national parks in Hokkaido close.

Please bear in mind that the sakura (cherry blossom) season brings an influx of travellers, both domestic and international, especially to Kyoto and Tokyo. If you do not have a keen interest in seeing the blossoms, we recommend travelling outside of this period.

Health & Immunisation

You are advised to contact your GP/travel nurse around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Vaccinations that may be recommended include: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, Tetanus, Tick-borne encephalitis (certain regions only).

Medical facilities in Japan are excellent throughout the country, but the cost of treatment is high. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover the cost of any treatment, and contact your insurer ASAP if you receive any medical care whilst in Japan.

If bringing prescription medication into Japan, it is necessary to complete and submit an import application form (available from your Japanese embassy), ideally one month before travel.

A number of common over-the-counter drugs are banned in Japan, including many allergy medicines, mild painkillers including codeine, and Vicks inhalers. If in doubt, check with the Japanese embassy before travel.

Currency

The local currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY). Japan is predominantly a cash society, and while most major credit cards will be accepted in hotels, you will often find that they are not accepted in shops or restaurants.

Foreign issued debit cards and credit cards are usually accepted by the ATMs found in Japanese Post Offices or in convenience stores; high-street ATMs, on the other hand, may not accept international cards. Note that ATMs usually close from 9pm and on weekends – it is always wise to carry a supply of cash and not to rely on your credit card while travelling in Japan. First-time visitors to Japan are often surprised at the scarcity of ATMs!

Travellers’ cheques are no longer widely accepted.

Tipping

There is almost no culture of tipping in Japan, and few if any situations in which you will be expected to tip – this applies even in restaurants. Service charges are, however, added to the bill in some hotels and restaurants.