Japan Travel Practical Guide: Visas, SIM Cards, Money, and Everything Else

Japan is one of the easiest countries in the world to navigate independently — the infrastructure is excellent, crime is minimal, and the hospitality culture means that people will go out of their way to help confused foreigners. The preparation required is not extensive. But there are specific systems that differ from how things work in most Western countries, and understanding them in advance prevents friction.

Entry Requirements

Visa-Free Countries

Citizens of approximately 70 countries — including the US, UK, EU member states, Canada, Australia, and most of Latin America — can enter Japan visa-free for stays of up to 90 days (or 15 days in some cases; check your specific nationality). This visa-free entry covers tourism and visiting friends/family but not work.

Verify your specific nationality’s current status at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before travel. Conditions can change.

Visit Japan Web

The Japanese government’s digital registration service for arriving travelers. You can register your travel information (passport details, address in Japan, return flight) before arrival and receive a QR code for faster processing at immigration. Free service; registration is recommended but not strictly mandatory for most travelers.

URL: vjw-lp.digital.go.jp

JESTA (Planned for 2028)

Japan plans to implement a pre-travel authorization system (JESTA — Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) similar to the US ESTA or Australia’s ETA. As of 2025, this has been announced for implementation around 2028. When implemented, it will require visa-free travelers to register and pay a fee (expected ¥3,000) before booking flights. Check current status close to your travel dates.

On Arrival

Immigration at Narita and Haneda airports is generally efficient. Non-Japanese passengers queue in the “foreign nationals” line, present passport, submit biometric data (fingerprints, photograph), answer standard questions (purpose of visit, accommodation address). The process typically takes 15–40 minutes depending on airport traffic.

Internet: SIM Cards and Pocket Wi-Fi

Reliable internet is important for navigation, translation apps, and train timetables. The options:

eSIM

The most convenient current option for most travelers. Purchase a data eSIM before departure from providers like Airalo, Ubigi, or Holafly — these provide Japanese data access through Softbank, NTT Docomo, or Rakuten networks. No physical card required; activates on your phone digitally.

Cost: ¥2,000–5,000 for 5–30 days of data (varies by provider and data amount). Most eSIMs are data-only — no calling or SMS capability, which is fine for travelers relying on messaging apps and internet calls.

Requirement: Your device must be eSIM-compatible (most smartphones from 2019 onward are, but verify your specific model).

Physical SIM Card

Available at major airports (Narita Terminal 1 and 2, Haneda) and at electronics stores throughout Japan. IIJ, OCN, and b-mobile are the main providers for tourist SIM cards.

Data-only SIM: ¥3,000–5,000 for 15–30 days with 10–30GB data. Insert on arrival; no registration required for data-only cards.

Voice + Data SIM: Requires passport registration; available from Softbank, au, and NTT Docomo airport counters. More expensive (¥5,000–8,000) but enables local calls.

Pocket Wi-Fi

A portable Wi-Fi device you collect at the airport, connects up to 5–10 devices simultaneously. Rented by the day (¥300–600/day) or for a fixed period. Return at the airport on departure.

Good for: Groups or families sharing one internet connection; travelers with multiple devices. Less convenient than eSIM (one more device to carry and charge).

Recommendation

Solo travelers: eSIM. Purchase before departure, activate on arrival. Fastest and cheapest. Groups: Pocket Wi-Fi or multiple eSIMs.

Money

Cash

Japan operates substantially on cash. The following types of establishment and service commonly do not accept cards:

Small restaurants and ramen shops
Temple and shrine admissions
Street food and market stalls
Taxis (some accept cards; many don’t)
Ryokan and traditional guesthouses (some cash-only)
Craft shops and small retailers

Withdraw from 7-Eleven ATMs: 7-Eleven convenience store ATMs (operated by Seven Bank) accept international Visa, Mastercard, and most foreign cards reliably, in English. Japan Post ATMs (green machines) also accept international cards. Most other ATMs do not reliably accept foreign cards.

How much to carry: ¥30,000–50,000 ($200–330 USD) is a reasonable amount for a few days. Withdraw more in cities before entering rural areas where ATMs may be scarce.

Cards

Accepted at: large hotels, major department stores and shopping malls, most chain restaurants, convenience stores, transport IC card top-up machines, tourist sites with foreign visitor volume. Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than American Express or Discover. JCB is accepted most widely domestically.

Revolut/Wise: Both work at 7-Eleven ATMs and for card payments where cards are accepted. Revolut’s exchange rates are generally better than standard bank card rates for yen.

IC Card as Wallet

The Suica or Pasmo IC card (available at JR East, Tokyo Metro, and other major station machines) functions as a transport prepaid card but also works at:

All convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson)
Many vending machines
Some restaurants and retail

Load ¥5,000–10,000 and use it as a daily spending card. The ¥500 deposit is refunded when you return the card (keep the card between trips — it remains valid for 10 years).

Getting a Suica

Go to any JR East station machine in Tokyo (or major JR stations in most cities)
Select “Suica” on the English menu
Insert ¥2,000 minimum (¥500 deposit + ¥1,500 starting balance)
Card is issued immediately

Alternatively: Apple Pay Suica or Google Pay Suica can be set up before departure from most countries, eliminating the need for a physical card. The digital version works identically for transport and payments.

Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin)

Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express offer same-day or next-day luggage forwarding services throughout Japan. Cost: ¥1,500–3,000 per bag depending on size and distance.

Practical uses:

Send luggage ahead from Tokyo to Kyoto while you travel with a day pack
Send bags from your hotel to the airport before checking out
Ship souvenirs home from convenience stores (international shipping available)

How to use: Take your bag to any convenience store (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) or hotel front desk. Fill in the destination form (staff can help). Pay in cash. Bag arrives the next day.

This service is one of the more useful practical tools for Japan travel — moving between cities without pulling a wheeled suitcase through crowded stations significantly improves the day.

Papago (Naver) — best translation app for Korean and Japanese. More accurate than Google Translate for colloquial Japanese. Available iOS and Android, free.

Google Maps — works well in Japan for navigation. Includes train routes with platform numbers and transfer instructions. Download offline maps for the regions you’re visiting.

Hyperdia or Japan Transit Planner — specialized train routing apps, more detailed than Google Maps for complex multi-line journeys.

Kakao Maps — if also visiting Korea. Not useful in Japan.

Google Translate camera — the live translation camera function works well on Japanese menus and signs. Download the Japanese language pack for offline use.

Packing Considerations

Shoes: You’ll remove shoes multiple times daily (temples, traditional restaurants, ryokan). Slip-on shoes or shoes that come off easily without untying are practical.

Layering: Japanese buildings and trains are heavily air-conditioned in summer. Carry a light layer regardless of outdoor temperature.

Umbrella: Japan sells excellent ¥500 umbrellas at convenience stores; not worth bringing from home unless you have a preference.

Power adapter: Japan uses 100V / 50-60Hz with Type A plugs (two flat parallel prongs). Most modern electronics (phones, laptops) handle 100–240V automatically — check your devices. No adapter needed for US/Canada plugs; EU/UK travelers need an adapter.

Yen before departure: Exchanging currency before departure is usually worse than withdrawing at a 7-Eleven ATM in Japan. The airport exchange rates on arrival are also unfavorable compared to 7-Eleven ATMs. Bring enough home currency for the taxi or train from the airport (¥1,000–2,000), then withdraw at the first 7-Eleven inside the city.

Health and Safety

No vaccinations required for Japan from most countries. Routine vaccinations (tetanus, MMR) should be current.

Medical care: Japan’s public health system is excellent. Clinics and hospitals in major cities will have some English-language staff. International travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended — costs are manageable but require upfront payment without insurance.

Pharmacies (yakkyoku): Indicated by green crosses. Over-the-counter medications are available; prescription-equivalent medications in many categories. Bring any specific prescription medications from home — Japanese equivalents exist but require a doctor’s prescription.

Emergency numbers: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance/fire). Some prefectures have English-language emergency lines; alternatively, Google Translate on a phone can assist with communication.

Water: Tap water is safe and good quality throughout Japan. Free water from taps is the norm at hotels, ryokan, and most accommodation.

Emergency Situations

Lost wallet: Report to the nearest koban (police box, identified by the green dome symbol) immediately. Japan has an extremely high rate of lost wallet return; if turned in to police, you will typically receive your wallet back intact. The koban system provides 24-hour neighborhood police presence in all areas.

Natural disasters: Japan has frequent earthquakes (the country experiences approximately 1,500 detectable earthquakes per year). In the event of a strong earthquake: take cover under a solid table or doorframe, away from windows. The Tokyo Inland Earthquake warnings and NHK alerts will appear in English on smartphones registered with a Japanese carrier.

If you lose your phone: The nearest koban, or any 7-Eleven store, can assist with basic communication. Hotels have landlines.

One Last Thing

The preparation stress most first-time Japan travelers feel before departure is usually disproportionate to the actual difficulty. Japan is a country that values order, clarity, and hospitality — the systems are designed to work, the signage is generally bilingual in cities, and the people are genuinely helpful. The practical guide above covers the edge cases; the actual experience is easier than the research suggests.