Trip readiness checklist for Japan
Bullet trains, temples, and a culture of quiet consideration — Japan is effortless once you know the customs and pack right.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
Visa-free up to 90 days
Up to 90 days visa-free as a temporary visitor.
- US passport valid for your whole stay (six months' validity is the safe habit; some airlines enforce it at check-in even where the country doesn't)
- Visit Japan Web: register before you fly to get one QR code for immigration and customs — optional, but it turns a 40-minute line into a 5-minute one
- Proof of onward or return travel — a booking on your phone is enough
- Hotel address for the arrival card (Visit Japan Web fills it in)
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Japan is spotless, polite, and full of stairs. Pack light, pack tidy, and bring shoes you can slip off without a wrestling match — you'll remove them more than you'd expect.
Slip-on shoes
You'll take shoes off at temples, traditional inns (ryokan), and some restaurants. Easy on/off saves daily fuss.
Some cash and a coin purse
Japan is more cash-friendly than you'd think; smaller shops, shrines, and some restaurants still prefer it.
A small hand towel
Many public restrooms don't supply paper towels — locals carry their own. So should you.
Comfortable walking shoes
Days easily top 20,000 steps across stations and temple grounds.
When to go
Cherry blossom (late Mar–Apr) and autumn leaves (Nov) are stunning and rammed — book early. Summer is hot and humid; winter is quieter and clear. Avoid Golden Week (early May) and Obon (mid-Aug) unless you enjoy company.
Money & getting around
Japan runs on the yen (¥), and while cards are increasingly accepted, cash still rules at small spots and shrines. Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card — tap it for trains, buses, even vending machines. Tipping isn't a thing here; attempting to tip causes polite confusion, so don't.
Local quirks worth knowing
Japan runs on consideration for the people around you. Watch what locals do for ten seconds, copy it, and you'll be fine.
Trains are silent
No phone calls, conversations at a murmur. It's not a rule posted anywhere — it's just everyone.
Don't eat while walking
Buy the street food, then stand or sit near the stall to eat it. Same for drinks from vending machines.
Carry your trash
Public bins barely exist, yet nothing is littered. Bring a small bag and take it back to your hotel.
Queue on the painted lines
Train platforms have marked queuing spots. Everyone uses them. Everyone.
A week in Japan, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Japan, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, Japan. Three things worth handling now.
- 1.
Visit Japan Web registration
The entry guide says registering before you fly gets you one QR code for immigration and customs, turning a 40-minute line into five minutes. Do it once your hotel address is confirmed, since the form wants it.
- 2.
Medication rules, checked early
The entry guide flags that some common US prescriptions, including ADHD stimulants and some decongestants, are controlled or banned in Japan. Check what you take against the official rules on the Health card now, not the week you leave.
- 3.
Shoes you can slip off
You'll take your shoes off far more than you expect, and Japan is full of stairs. Swap the laces for something you can step out of, and keep the checked bag light enough to carry up a station staircase.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Japan with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Japan — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Japan — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Japan checklist
Add your dates and passport and we build the complete, checkable list: weather-aware packing, crowd forecasts, entry rules for your passport, and free advisory alerts if anything changes before you fly. Free, no sign-up needed.
Start my trip