Your trip to Japan: entry steps and fees in order
This checklist puts the steps and charges for visitors to Japan in the order you meet them, from booking to the flight home, with links to the details. Checked against official sources on 22 October 2026.
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