Step by step
Check whether you need a visa
Citizens of 74 countries and regions can visit Japan for a short stay without a visa. Everyone else applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
JESTA, from fiscal year 2028
Japan plans to require visa-exempt visitors to get approval online before travelling, starting no later than March 2029. It has not started, and there is nothing to apply for yet.
Book flights: departure tax included
The ¥3,000 International Tourist Tax is already in the ticket price, shown with the code TK.
Book a hotel: check the accommodation tax
Many cities add a tax per person per night. Check whether your booking includes it; if not, the hotel collects it when you arrive or leave.
Before you fly: Visit Japan Web
Enter your immigration and customs details online to get QR codes for arrival. Its tax-free QR code can also be shown in shops instead of your passport.
Shopping: pay the full price, get the tax back later
From 1 November 2026, spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one store on one day, keep the receipt and register how you want to be refunded.
Leaving: customs kiosk before check-in
Within 90 days of purchase, scan your passport at the customs kiosk with your tax-free goods before you check in any bag. The refund follows a green result.
Costs at a glance
| Item | When you pay | Amount | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESTA | Before travelling, once it starts | Not yet set | No |
| Departure tax | In the flight or ship ticket | ¥3,000 per departure | No |
| Accommodation tax | At the hotel or in the booking | Up to ¥10,000 per person per night, depending on the place and the room price | No |
| Bathing tax | At hot spring hotels and onsen | Usually ¥150 per person per day | No |
| Consumption tax | In shop prices | 10% (8% on food and non-alcoholic drinks) | Yes, on tax-free purchases after the customs check |
JESTA is not open yet
Japan has not opened JESTA applications. A website that takes a JESTA application or payment today is not official. This guide will link to the official site once the government announces it.
Useful before you fly
- Hotels in Japan: Klook · Trip.com
- eSIM for Japan, installed before you leave home: Airalo · Saily · Yesim
- Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags: Klook · Trip.com · Welcome Pickups
- Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight: Radical Storage