visit japan web minors

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A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, visit japan web: how to register your arrival in japan (step by step).

Japan has finally re-opened its door to tourism, an event that I’m sure many of you have long awaited.

With thousands of people entering Japan every day, you can imagine things can get chaotic quickly, so you’ll want to minimize the stress by doing all the immigration and customs processes before your arrival to Japan. And yes, you can do all that online.

Read on to find out how you can simplify your immigration entry to Japan!

PS: I entered Japan twice while COVID protocols were still in place. It was a painful experience. If you have a morbid curiosity what it was like to enter Japan while all the COVID protocols were still in place, you can read my experience here .

What is Visit Japan Web?

Is visit japan web required to enter japan, step 1: register for a visit japan web account, step 2: register details of visitors who will be visiting japan, step 3: register for a trip to japan on the visit japan web, (optional) adding your child to your visit japan web account, step 4: immigration clearance, step 5: customs declaration.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Japan Web is Japan’s online service for immigration procedures and customs declarations, launched in November 2022. While Japan was still dealing with the pandemic, Visit Japan Web also doubled as a way to verify COVID-19 vaccinations.

After Japan scrapped its COVID-related entry requirement, it became a place where visitors could complete their immigration and customs procedures before arriving in Japan. It does make the airport formalities quite efficient!

What is Fast Track?

Now, what is Fast Track ? Fast Track was a way to handle COVID-related quarantine procedures on Visit Japan Web. After registering for an account at Visit Japan Web, you could upload your vaccination document to have it pre-verified before you arrive in Japan. As of 29 April 2023, this process is no longer required .

No, Visit Japan Web is NOT a requirement to enter Japan . You could just rock up to Japan without completing Visit Japan Web.

However, you’ll have to do the same things you do on Visit Japan Web when you check in for your flight. Then when you land at the airport in Japan, you’ll need to fill in the immigration card physically on paper if you have not done Visit Japan Web.

The information you need to fill in on the physical card is the same one that you would have provided on Visit Japan Web. So might as well prepare it before you arrive. It’s free and fast. And as a bonus, if everyone uses Visit Japan Web, it will make immigration faster for everyone.

Visit Japan Web procedure step-by-step

The process of completing Visit Japan Web thankfully can be done online. To prevent any confusion, I’ll cover exactly how you can utilize Visit Japan Web to make your arrival in Japan easier:

If you don’t have a Visit Japan Web account yet, you can register for an account here .

Account registration is free and very straightforward. Just create an account with your email address and a password. You’ll need to verify your email but that’s easy enough to do – they’ll send you a 6-digit code via SMS (text message) to your phone that you need to input on the Visit Japan Web before you can proceed to step 2.

💡 Save your Visit Japan Web account credential! You can use the same account again for your future travels to Japan, so make sure to save your Visit Japan Web credential.

From my understanding, every adult needs an account for themselves, but kids under 18 can be added on to their parent/guardian. With that said, I have heard of instances where people added their spouse/parents to their account and were able to go through immigration just fine. I’ll go over how to add other people to your account in Step 2.

Once you have your account set up, proceed to log in with the password you’ve set in Step 1 before.

Then, provide your details by clicking on the button that says “ Your details ” and start filling in the form. Again it’s quite straight forward so I won’t go into too much detail here.

The only thing I would say is, please make sure your passport number is correct and that it matches the passport you’d be using to enter Japan!

If you’re traveling with children under 18 : Once you’ve registered yourself, you can also register your kids to your account. I’ve written in detail about registering children to Visit Japan Web below .

Next, you’ll need to register your trip to Japan by clicking on “ + New registration “.

You can do this for each trip you’ll be taking to Japan if you’re planning to go more than once. Make sure you give a unique name for each trip so that you can manage multiple plans if you need to.

Again, if you’re traveling with children and have provided their details in the “Details of family members traveling with you” section, you can indicate that the child will be traveling with you on this trip. The child’s name will come up as a dropdown that you can toggle later on. I’ve written in detail about registering children to Visit Japan Web below .

If you’re traveling with children, you can add them to your Visit Japan Web account as long as they are under 18 ! If you do this, they’ll be able to skip quarantine even if they are not fully vaccinated, as long you (the parent) are fully vaccinated.

Here is how:

1. Add your child’s details to your Visit Japan Web account

Once you’ve registered yourself on Visit Japan Web, you can register kids who are under 18 in your account by clicking on “ Details of family members traveling with you “. You’ll need to provide their passport number and personal details, similar to what you’ve done for yourself when you provided your details.

2. Include your child as a family member traveling with you

Once you’ve provided their details, you’ll be able to select your child’s name when you’re registering a trip plan. Make sure they are selected under “family members traveling with you”, and make sure they show up on the confirmation page when you register the trip plan.

If you forgot to include them when creating your trip, you don’t have to start over. You can just edit the existing trip plan and make sure the blue box next to their name is checked!

Now the big question: Can you also add other family members who are not your child to your Visit Japan Web?

From my understanding, every adult needs an account for themselves. However, I have heard many instances where people signed up their spouse or parents with their account under “Details of family members traveling with you” and were able to go through just fine. However, please bear in mind that each adult will still need to provide their vaccination certificate and obtain the blue screen.

If you do this, just ensure each adult has a screenshot of their QR code upon landing.

If you are a resident of Japan, you do not need to complete this step.

But as a visitor, the next thing you can do is complete your immigration clearance by filling out the disembarkation card. This is the exact same procedure for entering Japan as it has always been, even before COVID, except it’s no longer done by writing down your info manually on paper.

You could still do this when you land via the paper way, but it literally took me seconds to do it online and I don’t see why you shouldn’t just do it now.

When you’re done, you’ll be provided with a QR code that will be scanned when you are in the immigration queue, so I recommend screenshotting this QR code for immigration later. You’ll still receive your passport stamp as usual at immigration.

Similar to the disembarkation card, you can also do your customs declaration online so you can just breeze through when you’ve landed. Again, this is the same procedure as it has always been for entering Japan, just digitized now!

When you’re done, you’ll be provided with a QR code you can use when you arrive at the airport. Again, screenshot this QR code !

After clearing immigration, you’ll see a machine at the baggage carousel area to register your passport and QR code for customs declaration. The machine will also scan your face. Go ahead and do this, and then you can simply walk out of the airport using the facial scanner machine at the exit.

(Optional) Travel insurance and emergency contact

If you have travel insurance, you can also provide the information here, as well as your emergency contact in case something happens to you while you are in Japan. But this step is completely optional.

(Optional) Tax-Free QR

Japan allows tax-free shopping for purchases above 5,000 yen on a single receipt at participating stores. Normally, you’ll need to show your passport upon purchase. If you obtain the Tax-free QR from Visit Japan Web, then you don’t need to show your passport. However, it is still recommended to carry your passport or an ID with you.

And that’s all!

Frequently Asked Questions about Visit Japan Web

Still have questions about entering Japan? Here are a few questions I get asked a lot:

1. When should I complete the disembarkation card on Visit Japan Web?

You can start the process as early as you want, as long as you complete it no later than 6 hours before you arrive in Japan. I’ve done mine 3 weeks before my arrival, as well as 12 hours before arrival for an emergency visit, and both times things went according to plan. No drama!

2. Can I travel to Japan if I have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or if I am not considered fully vaccinated?

Yes, you can enter Japan! There are no more requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations to enter Japan.

3. Can I travel to Japan with kids who have not been vaccinated against COVID?

Yes, you can! There are no more requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations to enter Japan.

4. What should I do if I’m only going to be in Japan for a layover?

Many people have asked me about what to do if you’re only in Japan for a layover and don’t have a hotel booked because you won’t be staying overnight, and thus won’t have an address to fill out with.

While I must preface this by saying I am not sure since I haven’t experienced this myself, based on the accounts of other people on Reddit , it seems that you should be able to use Visit Japan Web to fast-track even if you’re only there for a layover. Simply use the address and phone number of the airport you’re going to be flying out from.

What else should I do or prepare before my travel to Japan?

Visiting Japan is no doubt one of the most exciting travel experiences. Here are a few more tips to make your travel smoother!

• If you are traveling alone, you can look into  getting a prepaid SIM card .
• If you are traveling in a group, or have multiple devices, another option is to rent a pocket Wi-Fi,  which you can get here
• If you like my writing style, you can check out all my posts related to Japan to prepare for your visit to Japan.

And that’s all about fast-tracking your arrival in Japan! Let me know in the comment below if there is anything more you need to know 🙂

257 Comments

• April 3, 2024

Everyone talks about the procedures for entering into Japan. What about the process when we leave Japan? Do we need to update the information online as well or do we just go through the normal process at the counter? Thanks

Hey CK, what information are you referring to?

Hi Melissa,

I am just wondering what is the immigration process when a tourist leave Japan. If I remembered correctly, we used to complete the disembarkation card and then line up to have our passport stamped. With the digitilization of the entry process, has the exit process change?

You still need to get your passport stamped again on the way out but there’s no more disembarkation card

• January 16, 2024

Do I need to register for the Tax Free QR code if I want to have tax-free shopping? It seems impossible to take a picture of my passport that the website will accept when in comes to this QR code, but if I select the option in which I say I don’t need the tax free code, everything goes smoothly. Can’t I just present my passport at stores or when retrieving the JR Pass?

Hey Carol, you don’t have to. I didnt and just showed my passport and it still worked.

• December 2, 2023

I just registered my 17 years old son to my upcoming trip as himself and not adding him to my account. Do you think it’s okay or he needs to be under mine since he’s under 18?

• December 4, 2023

should be fine as long as he can produce the QR at immigration

• December 5, 2023

Thanks Melissa for the response. He has his own QR code. Do I just need to fill out one e-custom form for three of us or each one of us has to do it since we have to show the QR code?

Hey Andrew, I think you can do for each. On arrival, there is a machine that scans the custom QR before you can exit the airport.

• December 6, 2023

Thanks Melissa for the update. I will get the QR code for each one of us and try to scan just one as a family at the scanner and see what happens. I appreciate your responses.

• November 27, 2023

Thank you for your post! I was looking on how early or how late I can fill-up the embarkation form and information was provided.

It said on the Japan website that you can do it up to 6hrs prior to your departure. I saw some people posted that they did it as far as 2 months before their departure and they had no issue.

• November 13, 2023

Just want to say “Thank you” for this post, it is very helpful article.

• November 6, 2023

For the “Intended address in Japan” under the Register planned entry/return section, if I am staying in multiple hotels, do I just fill the first hotel in? Thank you.

• November 7, 2023

yes i would fill in the first one

• November 2, 2023

Hi there! I’ll depart from Indonesia to Hongkong then Hongkong to Japan, I am wondering for the flight number which one I should write? Is it the Hongkong to Japan flight? Thankss

Hey Vin, use the Hong Kong to Japan one

• September 24, 2023

I’m in the process of doing the Visit Japan registration. We are doing a 10 day Bike Tour of Kyushu. We are travelling to different places each day. The site asks for Accommodation details of where we are staying. Do i just put in the first address of the Hotel?

yeah i would put the first one

• September 12, 2023

My husband has completed his own registration on the VJW and came across the question ‘how many family members are you travelling with’ giving the option of ‘over 20 years old’. Should he select 1 as he’s travelling with me (I’ll be doing my own VJW) to have my own account/QR code but wasn’t sure if that option was for adding someone to your account or simply saying how many people you are travelling with! Hope that makes sense?!

We’re coming on our honeymoon so want to make sure we’re doing it right!

Thanks so much!

Hey Amy, there have been people saying they were able to add their spouse to their VJW account. You will each get assigned QR code. Just make sure you have your QR for each of you ready at immigration.

• September 2, 2023

Hi Melissa! If I do VJW, does that cause any issues with getting the “temporary visitor” sticker needed for activating my JR Pass? I was in Japan in 2018 and remember needing that sticker to show eligibility for the JR Pass. If you use VJW, you still have to see an immigration officer at NRT, correct? Thanks!!

• September 3, 2023

yup, no change to the previous immigration process, except you no longer need to fill out the arrival card in the airport

• September 4, 2023

Thanks so much! I’ll be there with my wife next April. We land at NRT at ~4pm local time, so praying that the immigration line isn’t terrible. I’ve heard it is not as bad now since they eliminated all of the Covid-related procedures … how much time do you think doing VJW saves you for the whole immigration/customs process?

• August 12, 2023

Hi Melissa, I would like to know if I need to submit VJW only once or thrice for my trip? I already have an existing account. Every new entry, I’ll have to use this account and new Trip name?

Sin – Osaka (5days) Osaka – Hokkaido (5days) Domestic Flight Hokkaido – Osaka ( 2 days) Domestic Flight

Thank you for your kind help.

Hey Lav, you only need to submit VJW once every time you enter Japan from another country (international flight). You don’t need to do it for your domestic trips. Judging from your itinerary, you only need to do it once for your Sin – Tokyo flight.

Hi Melissa, Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

Cheers! Lav

• June 29, 2023

Hi, I’ll be flying from Istanbul to Tokyo with Korean Airlines and I have a layover at Incheon Airport, Seoul. For the “Last Flight Number” in the immigration clearance part, I wrote the flight number from Incheon to Narita. Is this correct?

And in the customs declaration part should I add “Incheon” as my point of embarkation or “Istanbul”? I will not be going through customs at Incheon airport because I will be staying in the transfer zone as a transfer passenger. But I will be taking the 2nd flight from Incheon airport which will be the last flight. Since I wrote flight number of the flight from Korea to Japan, is it better to choose Incheon? I’m sorry for the long question, I’m really confused.

• July 3, 2023

1. I would write the flight from incheon to narita as well 2. for customs, i would still put istanbul

• June 21, 2023

Hi there, the website asks to put the main flight number in case of codeshare flights. Is this the flight number i booked through or the operating flight?

Hey Ahmad, I would put the flight number of the operating flight.

• June 20, 2023

Is it a must to fill in Visit Japan Web to enter the country? When should I fill in and any suggestions on that? tq

Hey Jeffrey – it’s not a must, but it will make it easier when you land since all they have to do is scan your QR at the immigration

That means once i landed in any airports in Japan, I could cut the queue without waiting ?

U mention that you’ll have to do the same things you do on Visit Japan Web when you check in for your flight. I have no idea regarding filling any documents while checking in for the flight. Could you pls explain more for this? thanks and appreciate it

Hey jeffrey, if you didnt do VJW, you’ll have to: 1. Fill in an arrival card at immigration point 2. Join the queue 3. When you get to front of queue, Immigration officer will need to check your details and process your entry, then she/he will give you the immigration sticker and let you in

with VJW: 1. You still have to join the queue 2. When you get to front of queue, immigration officer will just scan your QR, then she/he will give you the immigration sticker and let you in

So it cuts down the time you spend getting in to Japan. And if everyone does VJW, it cuts down overall time spent in queue as its faster for the officer to process everyone’s entry.

Hope that explains.

Hi, I would like to ask whether Malaysians are required to fill in visit japan web? Since Japan authority no longer needs vaccination approval?

• June 18, 2023

As is described, upon entering your details on the VJW, it is advised that the passenger gets a QR code. Excuse my ignorance, what do I do with this QR code ? Do I print the page showing the QR code and take it with me to show the Japanese Officers ? Please assist. Thanks.

Hey Samir, you don’t need to do anything. Immigration officer will scan it when you go through immigration in Japan. I would screenshot it to make sure you have it when you get to Japan.

Hi Melissa, In your reply, you say immigration officer will scan the QR code. Scan it ” from where” ?? Thanks in advance. Samir

Usually from your smart phone

• December 27, 2023

Hi , I will have connecting domestic flight. Indonesia-Haneda-Hiroshima. The Flight Number is from Indonesia to Haneda? Hotel address will be at Hiroshima ,is it ok?When I arrived at Hiroshima I need to fill up new Japan visit Web again or only show only the one that I will show at Haneda? Thanks

Yes, Indonesia to Haneda only. and yes, an address at Hiroshima will be enough. You only need to do VJW once to enter Japan. They wont ask you in Hiroshima since that is a domestic flight.

• June 15, 2023

hi, may i know..is this the same with visa?

Hi Santi. Visit Japan Web is not visa. You are still required to obtain visa from the Japan embassy in your country. Once you get the visa, you could input the visa information to your VJW account to make immigration easier

• June 14, 2023

HI , I WILL ARRIVE IN JAPAN BY CRUISE SHIP,AND LEAVE AT HANEDA AIRPORT, ON THE VJW APPLICATION IT DOESNT SEEM TO ALLOW YOU TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION AS YOU CANNOT STATE YOUR ARRIVAL PORT, ONLY LISTS AIRPORTS,SO IS THIS SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MY SITUATION???

Hey Lee, it seems that VJW is only for airports for now

• June 10, 2023

Hi, just working through the japan web stuff. It asks for flight but only numbers if the prefix for my flight is D7, do I include the 7 or just the other 3 numbers? Don’t want to stuff it up. Thanks

Hey Sam, I believe D7 is the airline carrier code. If I were you I would just include the other 3 digit after selecting the airline carrier from the dropdown

• June 8, 2023

Hi, I have a question – do each traveller need to complete this form to enter Japan. My husband registered and added me to his entry form. Thank you!

Lori, technically each traveller should complete their own, but I have heard it’s ok to include family members on your account. At immigration, they only care to scan your QR code

• June 6, 2023

On the first page you are given the option to register for a QR code to help reclaim VAT taxes. This requires you take a picture of your passport. For the life of me no matter what device or lighting I used the website kept saying my picture was too dark. It seemed just fine to my eye but maybe with a US passport’s underlying patterns It is impossible for the machine to read it. In any event I was despairing finding a solution but then checked the “no” box for the VAT (not sure that’s the actual name of it in Japan). When I did that it took me on into the website where I could manually input my info as clearly spelled out in the article. Previous to that I couldn’t get by the first screen and there was no indication that the passport photo requirement was only for the VAT QR code. Whew! Thanks so much for all the useful info!

Thanks Helen for sharing this useful information!

• May 31, 2023

I am going to hire a car with Toyota and I saw their conditions are that I must have the immigation arrival stamp in my passport in order to to hire….Could you clarify that with the Visiot Japan Web QR codes I will still pass through the normal immigatation and get the stamp… thanks Geoff

yup you will still get a stamp

• May 28, 2023

Thank you for all the usefull infos!

• May 24, 2023

Hi Melissa, This is very informative! I have a question, we are travelling from Canada, landing in Tokyo, 2h20 lay over, next flight to Osaka, then board a cruise ship. My question is, do we clear customs and immigration at our first stop Tokyo, or in Osaka? We have 4 hours to get to ship. I googled the distance between airport and port, it is 30 mins away, from what I read. I’m wondering if we clear customs at our first stop. This would make it easier Osaka. Thanks so much for your help.

Hey Collette, I think you will go through customs in Tokyo since the Osaka leg is a domestic leg. Was it booked under one booking? Maybe asking your airline would be the best bet

• May 23, 2023

Thank you for the advice. However, I have a problem using JAPAN WEB. I created an account on my personal computer and all worked OK, but when I tried logging on using my mobile phone I can’t – message says loginID or password are incorrect. So using my phone I go through the “change my password” process but type in the exact same password as on my PC. This is accepted and I can now logon, but not from my PC getting the exact same error message. So I change the password again on my PC to the exact same password again – this is accepted and I can logon again from my PC, but not with my phone. The issue seems to be the different keyboards for my personal computer and the mobile phone generating different code for the required special characters in the password.

• May 15, 2023

Great post, very informative! Thanks for sharing this helpful info.

• May 5, 2023

Hi I completed the procedure on Japan web prior to change of rules and received QR codes for immigration and customs. Do I need to go back and update as there is an additional bit about tax free shopping. I don’t particularly wish to avail of this facility.

you don’t need to do it if you’re not going to do tax free shopping in Japan

• April 30, 2023

I followed your advice to fill out Visit Japan Web. It was very helpful, thank you.

• April 29, 2023

I’ve just visited the Japan Wen and found something that you may be interested and may want to update your readers. [Quote] Anyone entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023 is no longer required to show a valid vaccination certificate or a test certificate obtained before departure. With the above change, the “Quarantine procedure (Fast Track)” icon was removed on April 29 at 00:00 JST. [/Quote]

Two question. 1. Visit Japan Web – Can I complete all the process for the Vist Japan Web in advance before flying to Japan or are there certain parts where I have to complete only when reaching immigration 1) registration of Japan Web account 2) immigration information (ie, disembarkation card information), 3) customs information (ie, customs declaration)

2. Collection of JR Pass – Understand that only those who have passports bearing the Immigration stamp or sticker can exchange and use a JR Pass. Does that mean that we cannot use the Immigration E-gates?

Thanks Cae, I have updated my post to let people know vaccination is no longer required

1. You can complete all before arrival 2. Yes, this is correct. though I was not aware tourist (who qualify for JR pass) can Use E-gates?

Hi Melissa, thanks for the reply.

1. Just to clarify, can i complete the entire Visit Japan Web (including customs info) a week in advance? 2. How do i check if i can use the e-gates.

1. Yes you can, as long as you know your flight info. I think one of them asks for seat number if I remember correctly but I cannot remember if it was because of COVID. You can try and let me know! 2. I found this re: JR pass “When you use an automated gate at the airport, no stamp/sticker will be stamped or put on your passport. Therefore, you need to either use a manned automated gate or ask a clerk to apply a stamp/sticker in your passport. However, a customer who has a “registered user card” under the Trusted Traveler Program will be required to show the card to confirm the “Temporary Visitor” status.” ( Source )

• April 25, 2023

I believe Japan has now lifted any Covid vaccine requirements for entry. Effective May 8, 2023, you will no longer need to show Covid vaccination proof.

• April 26, 2023

Hey Nigel! Yep, you are right – just saw the news. VJW will still have the immigration and custom QR though, which will help expedite processes on arrival.

How about including elderies (patents) in the same Visit Japan Web account? Does it work? Or still need to register separately?

The reason being they are not tech savvy like us. So m thinking to include them in the same registered account.

Yes you can include them. But be prepared to flash their blue box on arrival!

• April 13, 2023

Hai, saya mau tanya , saya dan suami sudah mendapatkan barcode dan halaman biru untuk bagian sertifikat vaksin, namun anak saya yg berusia 1tahun masih berwarna merah , pdhal sudah saya kaitkan dalam anggota keluarga saya , apa yg harus saya lakukan ? terimakasih

• April 18, 2023

Hey Winona, buat anak yg berwarna merah tidak apa2, asal orang tuanya punya box biru.

• April 11, 2023

Hello! Does a Booster count as a third vaccination? Thank you for your helpful information 🙂

Usually it does, yes.

• April 10, 2023

Thank you for the very helpful write up.

I will be visiting Japan with my hubby. Wonder if I could just create one VJW account and input both our details (instead of having to create separate accounts). Would it work?

i have heard people do this and it works for them as long as you both receive the blue box on your respective profile

I will submit my vaccination certificates but it shows: Registration procedures: Time remaining to complete registration: 00 hours 00 minutes

And I can’t click the Register vaccination certificate button.

Anything I can do?

Hey it seems that you have exceeded the time given to complete the VJW process. Can you double check the arrival time you’ve provided? It should have expired 6 hours before your arrival. You can create another trip and redo the process.

• April 28, 2023

A bit confused here. Does that mean the whole registration thing have to be done on the flight as it will expire 6 hours before arrival?

Or is there a portion that I can do before flight take off and a portion that I need to do after touchdown.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Hey Mich, You can complete all before arrival. Btw, vaccination is no longer required to enter Japan

• May 6, 2023

Any idea if I were to travel to Tokyo, stay for a few days, then fly to Sapporo, then fly back home.

I just registered with the Visit Japan Web and updated a trip on Tokyo. Do i need to do another for Sapporo, so that I have a QR for “Immigration” and Customs again? And another for exiting Japan to fly back home?

Hey Mich, you only need to do it once when you enter Tokyo.

Hey, trying to register my trip and when I click it it asks for my VISA application info, but I don’t need one since I’m from the USA (just an overnight layover in Tokyo) heading back to LA from the Philippines. Not sure what to do as I don’t see any FAST TRACK info options at this point or anywhere else. Any ideas on what to do?

Hey Naundi, by visa, I assume you mean the “link VISA” option inside the trip detail on the VJW website? the visa part is a new step and it’s optional. If you won’t need a visa to Japan, then just skip that part and do the rest of the steps. right below it is the “Quarantine procedures (Fast track)” button that you’ll need to complete as detailed on the article above.

• April 8, 2023

Received attachment file vaccination healthcert.oa from Notarise email, is this the file to upload to Visit Japan Web?

I received my vaccination certificate on email from notarise but unable to save it as psf file, click on the printer icon nothing show up and I wonder is it because i read it on handphone not pc. Pls help. Thanks.

Hey Ronald, you can try uploading screenshots if you cant save it as PDF

• April 7, 2023

Thank you for sharing, I followed your steps and all gaps were so easy to fill up. One note: now it is possible to attaché 2 or more photos of vaccination certificate. Waiting for approval of vaccinate because I have only first dose Janssen and Pfizer booster. Wish me luck, All the best to you!

• April 6, 2023

Hi Melissa, what do i have to do?, I have a vaccination certificate and i cant load it, it turned yellow and says ” review completed”. I must have pushed wrong button while doing the process. Please help. Thanks

Hmm you can create a new trip and try submitting the vaccine certificate again? make sure you are meeting Japan’s requirement for vaccination

• April 4, 2023

I filled everything out and was accepted on the Visit Japan site, but I never got a QR code. Where is it? It didn’t appear when I did it on my computer, and didn’t appear when I did it on my phone.

Hey Stan, I need more info. Did you follow the steps I outlined above? there is no longer a QR code for the trip. You just need the blue box in the trip detail. For immigration and customs, the QR is inside the trip detail page.

• May 22, 2023

Same happend me , so is it a separate line for those who got the QR code ? O how is this going to work with out QR code , How can I see the QR code ? Inside my trip details .

Hey Carolina, Starting 29 April, you no longer need to provide covid vaccination. You only need Visit Japan Web to do immigration and custom procedures. To get QR code for those, you just need to click on the “display QR code” button inside the trip detail (scroll down to see it)

• April 2, 2023

Hello, if I will travel from Milan to Tokyo with a landing on Abu Dhabi (and wait 4 hours there), should I insert MILAN as Point of embarkation in custom declaration?

Furthermore I always used the Flight No./Name of Vessel of Abu Dhabi – Tokyo flight.

Hope I did the right thing 🙂

Thank you for your guide, it is amazing!

I am sorry if I do another question, but what is an Unaccompanied article? I don’t understand if I should include my luggage!

Thank you in advance, regards.

• April 3, 2023

Hey Zac, it usually means the luggage you check in vs the one you’re bringing on board

• April 27, 2023

Unaccompanied is not your check-in luggage, but other luggage you have sent separately to retrieve on your arrival. That’s my understanding, anyway.

Hey Zac. Yes i would do as you have stated – Milan as point of embarkation and the Abu Dhabi flight for the flight number

Just want to say, I love your post! Its very useful.

• March 27, 2023

Hello Melissa,

The last two legs of my flight have Japanese cities as destination: the first one to Tokyo and the next to Osaka (from Tokyo). For the purposes of VisitJapan, which one should I choose: the one that lands in tokyo (being the first to land in Japan), or the last flight which is actually from Tokyo to Osaka?

• March 28, 2023

i’m guessing you have to go through immigration in Tokyo then go to the local terminal to take your Osaka flight? If so I would put the Tokyo one. If you go through immigration in Osaka, then I will put Osaka one.

• March 26, 2023

Hi there thank you for the amazing information. Question for you. Is there a time limit on the booster? Meaning as long as it’s done before you leave it’s considered valid?

Also. If I choose to test instead. Do I just do everything I can and wait until I arrive in Japan or do I submit my test once I have results?

Hey TJ I think there is no time limit. I don’t see this requirement on the website. To be safe it should be done 14 days before your arrival in Japan though.

If you decide to test, submit it as soon as you have the result to VJW. But the test must be done within 72 hours of your arrival to Japan, not any time earlier.

Can you clarify VJW?

VJW = Visit Japan Web

• March 22, 2023

Hi there I need some help. After modifying some passport details I have been advised that the QR codes need to be updated as they do not update automatically. Could you please advise on this matter? Unfortunately nobody is answering my query on the Visit Japan chat.

Hey Violetta, where did you hear that you need to update the QR?

• March 23, 2023

Hello Melissa:)

Thank you for getting back.

A disclaimer appears right after the passport information changes are made. It says the following:

“Editing passport details will cancel your pre-registered quarantine Fast Track and will require details registered again. The created QR code is not automatically updated so update the QR code after checking the details registered”.

After that no further instructions are shown. I did refill the quarantine Fast Track details again, and also received an approval. However I’m afraid the QR codes might not work.

I also tried asking through the chat but had no answer.

Do you think I should erase my application and re-apply?

When you refill the fast track, did you do it through a separate trip? if so, it should be fine since the QR code would have been generated via the new passport detail

Thanks you for the detailed info. It’s been so helpful especially the updates. My query is – I have registered the whole family under one account so 2 adults and under 18 kids. I -as the primary account holder- have filled out one disembarkation card for foreigner and declaration of personal effects. Do I need to fill it out for the other adult and kids too? Thanks you.

Hey May, yes you have to fill out the card for each adult and kids too. You can do it via Visit Japan Web – you just need to select your kids names from the dropdown, which will allow you to access their disembarkation card too.

• March 21, 2023

I am currently filling in my fast track but what do I do if we are staying in multiple addresses in the one trip? Do I then need to add in each place we are staying in the trip?

You can just fill in the first address that you’ll be staying in

• March 20, 2023

This step by step is brilliant, thanks Melissa. It’s our first trip to Japan from Australia (April 2023). I registered all 4 of us using my iphone only (husband, 18, 16 yr olds) and have received blue boxes for all. All happened within a few hours. Very grateful to peruse this website and confirm I was doing it right. Easy once you get the swing of it, I anticipate our arrival will be much less stressful with all this sorted.

Hi Ellyanne, Thanks for the comment! I hope you’ll have a lot of fun in Japan, April is a great time to visit. Make sure everyone has their QR code screenshot on their mobile devices so that it will be easy to show! Once you have the Blue box, you should not be waiting in line at all and should proceed to immigration. There might be a line at immigration though.

• March 19, 2023

Thank you for the information on this page, it was very useful. I uploaded my Vaccination Certificate and the review was completed in 8 minutes! I was impressed.

Hey David. I’m glad you were successful! Have fun in Japan.

• March 18, 2023

I hope you can answer my question. I am travelling with my 2 boys -age 8 and 4. They do not satisfy the 3 vaccine COVID requirement so I put “will not submit” in the Fast Track section. I understand children under 18 have exemption as long as the accompanying parent/adult meets the covid requirements. Question is do I also put “No” under “Do you wish to do prior registration of a test result certificate taken less than 72 hours before departure” OR do I leave this bit unanswered- which means it will remain “Yellow” with the wording “Please register”.?

You can put No or leave it blank, it will remain yellow eitherway. They will be ok as long as you have the blue box!

On the vaccination certificate submission page, it wants a list of vaccine names and manufacturers, and then asks for the date of “third” vaccine. I have received 4 doses altogether as I have had a booster dose in February this year. Wondering if I should put the date of the latest 4th vaccine as the “third” one they are asking for.

Hey David. You can just put the date of the third one. It doesn’t matter when, they just want you to have at least 3 doses.

• March 16, 2023

Hi Melissa, how did you do the customs part one for the family? My mom, brothers and I will each have our own accounts on VJW, is there a category/part that we can list all our names for customs?

• March 17, 2023

Hey Eve, when doing the customs part, one of you just need to declare that you’re traveling with 2 other adult family member. Then you can all use the same QR code for customs.

I followed your steps to the letter and even completed the disembarkation and custom declaration portions. However when I clicked on quarantine procedures (fast track), I get this big blank space with a grey line going in circles. I have left it running for hours, even overnight and nothing happened. I have tried returning to the previous page and starting again and yet I am stuck at that blank page. I cannot get to the page to upload my vaccination certificate. Did I miss a step somewhere? I need to complete this quickly within the next few days. I would hate to have to join the long queues to do it manually at Narita. Help!

Hey Jeanie. Have you tried using a different browser or different device?

Thanks for the tip. Tried it on my tablet and it is working (being reviewed).

Awesome! Hope you get the blue box soon.

Hi Melissa! This is probably a very simple question, but wanted to confirm. When you filled out the Disembarkation card for foreigner, on the section for Immigration information to Japan– asking about “Last flight number”, is that referring to just my flight number? the word “last” is what confuses me. Thanks!

Hey Nica, they just mean the flight number you take to get to Japan. It’s possible some people take multiple flights to get to Japan and they just want to make sure you provide the flight number of the last leg

• March 14, 2023

Hi,we are flying to Tokyo and starting a cruise straight away. What go we enter as our address in Japan – the ship or the port?

• March 15, 2023

hmm! I would put the ship if they have an address

• March 13, 2023

Hi. Just want to ask do I need to do declaration of personal effects and unaccompanied articles for my child?. in the no of family member page its not allowing me to modify and because of that it says there 1 adult and 1 child travelling with my child. it should be 2 adults.

I can’t see how to make a comment so I thought I’d get my question in by doing this! The visit japan web just won’t accept my password no matter what I try and there is no answer that I can find to help me. All suggestions as to how to resolve this welcomed.

Do you mean when you’re creating an account or are you trying to log in to an account you’ve previously created?

Hey Jean. Is this for the customs declaration?

Hi. Yes melissa the customs declaration. is it optional for children?

For customs I have always just filled out one for the family, and my husband and toddler just goes with me

• March 11, 2023

Hi Melissa, thank you for your very clear guidance on the VJW. I have a bit of a problem. The name on my vaccination certificate is different from that on my passport. That is because my vaccinations were done in Hong Kong using my HK ID Card which bears my maiden name. My passport which was issued in Canada is in my married name. Recently, I made a sworn declaration before a government official in Hong Kong that both names refer to the same person. Should I upload that declaration along with my vaccination certificate? I’m sure there are others who are in a similar situation and wonder how they overcome this problem. Thank you.

Hey Monica, usually they are quite specific about having the names match. I suggest checking out this fb group and asking your question there: https://m.facebook.com/groups/913769919120863/

• March 12, 2023

Thank you Melissa. I just stumbled upon this in the Fast Track FAQ of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Q. What should I do if my family name changes due to marriage, etc., so the name on the vaccination certificate does not match the name on my passport? A. On the vaccination certificate, please use a pen or pencil to clearly write your name as indicated in your passport. Please upload an image of the certificate that clearly shows the full name you have written. Please note that your document might not be accepted if the names in the vaccination certificate and passport differ significantly (for example, neither your first nor family name actually matches between the two documents).

This might be the solution to my problem. I’m sending you this for the information of others who are in a similar situation.

hey Monica. Thanks for this info! It does indeed sound like it would solve the issue. let us know if you’re able to get through with this.

Guess what? I uploaded my vax certificate “as is” without putting my passport name on it and they accepted it. I suppose it’s because my first and middle names are exactly the same. Thanks for bearing with me!

that’s great to hear! Have fun in Japan!

• March 10, 2023

Hello! We took our PCR in the morning but our departure is 3:45 pm. When it says 72 hours, is that specific that we need to take it in the afternoon instead. I registered it and got completed. It gave me a blue color. That does mean I don’t need to take the PCR again? I was thinking to take it again. Please advise! Thank you so much 🙏

hey ana. if it’s more than 72 hours i would take it again. the airline might check when you are checking in for your flight.

• March 9, 2023

it was fabulous help thank you for registering.on Japan web.How do I use my registration when I arrive at the airport in Tokyo?

Hey Anna, if you have followed all the steps above, then all you need to do is show the Blue box when you land in Tokyo. Then if you complete the steps for immigration and customs, then you just need to show the QR codes for those.

• March 7, 2023

Hello, thank you for this information. But would just like to check, I already had 3 covid-19 vaccines but may last vaccine was January 2022 and I will be travelling this June 2023. Do I still need to provide negative RT-PCR test when entering Japan? Thank you very much.

Hi Jen, as long as you provide the 3 vaccine certificates and get the blue box as I outlined in the blog post, you won’t need to provide negative RT-PCR.

Hi I have just received Email to say ‘we have re received and accepted image ‘ for our quarantine but I had logged out of system and I don’t know how to get back in for taking a screenshot It seems to come up that you have to register Thanks

Hey jennifer, you can login here with the password you’ve created before https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/main/#/vjwplo001

What if I don’t have a vax certificate? I only have vaccination cards. My country is inefficient and my shots cannot be found in their system.

You can take photos of the vaccination card and upload them to VJW, as long as your name, date of birth, the name of the vaccine, and the date you received the vaccine are clearly stated on the card. You can review the requirement here: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html

• March 6, 2023

Hi. Thanks for sharing this. I will be filling this up later. So from what I read above, there will no more QR code for the quarantine portion of the procedure but we can still do Fast Track. Am I right?

yes! you just need to submit your certificate or covid test and wait for the box to turn blue and you’re good

Hi I will be picking a JR pass which will need a stamp on my passport. Using the fast track system for everything including immigration and customs will I miss getting my passport stamped since everything is automated with the QR code or will there be an immigration officer that stamps the passport after checking your QR codes. Thanks!

hey AK. you’ll still get the stamp. They will just scan the QR on immigration.

Thanks for confirming!

Today 06-march-2023 I checked this site ( https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ ) but it doesn’t have an option to upload certificates anymore.

“Notice No longer required to register your passport and answer the questions on the web for the Quarantine process (Fast Track) from Dec. 28, 2022. Due to these updates, QR code for Quarantine will not be shown any longer. The “Fast Track” service for quarantine procedure has been available in Visit Japan Web from November 1st, 2022.”

Hi Keenan, QR code is no longer generated but you can still do fast track online. in order to do fast track, you need to sign up for an account and upload vaccination certificate there. Please read the blog post from Step 1. It will tell you step by step what you need to do: https://girleatworld.net/visit-japan-web-how-to/#step-1

• March 4, 2023

Thank you so much for this detailed page explaining EVERYTHING. This was extremely helpful. My trip to Japan is in about 2 weeks (arrival on March 17). I started doing the “Quarantine Fast Track” yesterday. Submitted around 2pm USA Eastern Time. Later in the evening, around 8pm, my info was accepted. Living in the US, I have had the first 2 Pfizer shots, the first booster shot, then the second booster shot last September. I have 2 CDC cards, front and back. This gave me 4 jpeg files to upload. I used Adobe to combined the 4 jpeg into 1 pdf file, compressed it, then submitted it. It seems that you can only upload 1 file on Visit Japan Web. I was incredibly stressed about this part. Hope this helps my fellow USA residents. The rest (Disembarkation Card and Declaration) was super straightforward. Happy travels everyone!

Hi Phuong, thank you for this update and thanks for the tip about combining everything into one PDF!

Hi Melissa. Thanks so much for your detailed page. I am heading to Japan on coming April 20th. Can I just register for the Immigration Clearance & Custom Clearance weeks ahead together with the Quarantine Fast Track? Or they can only be registered on my fly day ? Thank you.

You can register everything with the fast track!

Hi! I am going to Japan on March 14th. My vaccines certificate has a front and back. When I went to upload them there were two places where I could upload vaccine certificates, so I uploaded the front card and the back card. Now my screen has been ” thinking ” for over 10 minutes. You know the little circle that keeps spinning. I am beginning to wonder if that is because I uploaded two separate files. I almost put them in one file, but when there was a place for two of them I went ahead. Now I am wondering if I should close out the screen and upload a collage of the front and back in one file? What do you think? Another question, I read in a different post that children 13 and up should complete their own account. Well the parent should complete their account registration on visit Japan web. Here I see it is 18 and above. Has anyone registered their 13 year old child on visit Japan web as a family member traveling with you? Because hotels in other organizations in Japan consider 13 and above as an adult fee, I thought that might apply here as well per the other post. Hoping someone has personal experience. Thank you so much! Getting nervous about this!

Hey Vicki, your 13 year old does not need their own account. You can add them to your account.

Hello, Thank you for all the details and clarifications. A question for traveling in Japan. If you travel with only two vaccines, will my friend have a problem entering temples, restaurants and going on public busses and the bullet train? Regards, Hanne

Hey Hanne, once you’re inside Japan, vaccine is not checked. But to enter Japan you’ll need a negative COVID test if you only had two vaccine shots.

• March 3, 2023

Thanks for the great info. When entering info regarding where we are staying. We are staying at multiple hotels do we just list the first one? When asked telephone contact number do we list our cell number or the hotel’s number

yes, I was staying in multiple places too and I just list the first one. I think for contact number it’s the accommodation’s number too.

• March 2, 2023

Thank you for your post, it definitely helps me a lot! Just a quick question, I accidentally uploded my Vacinnation document under my husband’s name and is now being reviewed. There is no button to cancel or edit. How can I amend this? Thank you.

Hey Shiqah, I think you just need to wait until the review is done. When it is rejected, you should be able to provide the correct certificate.

• March 1, 2023

Hi. When you move on to pre registration for quarantine procedures and scroll down past NOT YET REGISTERED and then past name and passport and arrival date.

there is a message saying

REGISTERING QR CODE FOR QUARANTINE PROCEDURES UPON ENTRY TO JAPAN IS NO LONGER REQUIRED. QR CODE IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED HERE.

Doeas this mean that the whole thing is a waste of time??

Hi. Is it still worth doing this as it is no longer mandatory?

It’s really easy to do, so I think it’s still worth it. You never know the situation when you’re landing. If they have a lot of people to check, it might take awhile. PS: VJW was never mandatory after border reopened.

Hi Melissa, We are almost finished with the quarantine portion and only need to send our 72 hours certificate in. The only problem, it says we timed out. Any suggestions.

Hey David. Did you input the correct arrival date and time to Japan? It should not have timed out. In this case all you can do is start over a new trip in VJW

But it says it won’t show a QR code

It won’t show QR code, but they will still check whether you have the blue box on top of your page. You could just show a screenshot of this though.

• February 27, 2023

Hi Melisa, thank you for the detailed guide. But just wondering, is this step compulsory prior to entering Japan?

• February 28, 2023

Hey Joanne, no completing VJW is not compulsory. However when you check in for your flight to Japan, you still need to provide your COVID vaccine certificate or a negative COVID test result 72 hours before your flight. Upon landing, you’ll be checked for these too. Otherwise, you would need to quarantine.

• February 24, 2023

I plan to bring my niece which is 15 & 16 years old to Japan. Both of them only 2 doses mean not fully vaccine. Can I add them to family travelling together in VJW if they are not my children? As of above , can my niece exempt from the 72hrs pcr test?

The VJW FAQ doesn’t specify they need to be your kids, so should be fine to add your nieces https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/faq/fasttrack-en.html

thank you for explaining it so perfectly clean. I have got also a question: I followed all of your steps and received my blue screen for the Fast Track. We are flying on the upcoming Sunday, 26th February 2023 at 1.30 pm Germany Time. In my Web its states that the Review is only valid until the same day (26th February 2023, 3.10 pm.) but because of the time difference we will land in Japan on the 27th February at 10.30 am Japan-time. Will the blue screen turn into another color or and will it loose its validity once it surpasses the validation time?

Thanks in Advance

Hey Angi, the countdown on VJW should be tacked on to your arrival in Japan. So your departure time should not matter. So if you had specified on the trip info that you’re going to land in Japan on 27 Feb at 10:30am, then the blue screen will stay throughout. Can you double check what you’ve specified on the trip?

yes, I wrote that we due to the time difference we would land in Japan on the 27th February 2023 at 10.30 AM. The VJW has had this information since we booked in December, nothing has changed then. So it should stay blue past the expiry date, which was mentionned in my Web? And what color would it turn from blue in case it wouldn’t be valid anymore?

Thanks in advance again

Thank you for this descriptive informations. I have done mine like 3weeks ago and I haven’t gotten BLUE on my quarantine part. I wonder how long does it usually take for it to turn to blue?

Hey Vincent, what does the status say on your vaccination certificate? If any of those has been approved, it will turn blue. Approval doesn’t take long, usually only 2-3 hours after you submit the certificate.

• February 22, 2023

Hello Again Melissa,

(1) Many thanks for your extremely prompt and helpful response – the whole process is much clearer now.

(2) You mentioned taking a screenshot of the blue box – is there any good reason why I shouldn’t do the same for the ‘immigration’ and ‘customs’ QR stages as well? This way, I wouldn’t have to worry about internet access at all.

Many thanks,

• February 21, 2023

Thank you so much for all your valuable information and inside knowledge. Your descriptions and explanations are admirably clear. I have a few rather elementary queries for you:

(1) How do I download a ‘Visit Japan Web’ app onto my iPhone? It isn’t listed on the official Apple App Store. (2) Perhaps I don’t need an app at all, in which case how do I transfer the QR codes (on my desktop computer) into my iPhone? (3) When I arrive in Japan, will I need access to the internet in order to show my QR codes? (4) I don’t understand the purpose of the ‘off-line’ facility. (5) In a nutshell, I don’t understand the overall ‘modus operandi’ of the whole system. I cannot find any such explanation anywhere else, so I’d be very grateful for a clear exposition.

Many thanks.

(1) It’s a web app, so just go to the URL I have above on Step 1 (2) You open the website on arrival and show to them the Blue box (3) Yes you will need internet access. That’s why most people just screenshot the blue box they received (4) I am not sure what you mean by off line? (5) The point of Visit Japan Web basically, for now, is a way to get everyone checked on their COVID vaccination status or COVID test so that they can enter Japan without quarantine. That is all!

• February 20, 2023

Hello Melissa

Thank you for this incredibly clear and complete documentation of the VJW and Fast Track. I could not figure out how to get from the registering step to the Fast Track itself. Your post saved the day. I had no clue that the “name” of the trip was a button to click to move on to the next step.

Just to be clear, after receiving the blue screen in fast track, you are done except for the disembarkation card/immigration clearance and the customs declaration?? Thanks for your help!

Yes! once you’ve go the blue screen, take a screenshot of it (because you might not have internet as soon as you land) and just show that screen and you’re good to go! I do recommend doing the disembarkation card and customs declaration though. it is optional in terms of the fast track, but you’ll still have to do it when you land anyway.

I’m really glad the post helped 🙂 I did find the Japanese app UX are often a little weird to those who are not used to how they think and operate!

• February 19, 2023

The immigration QR is in Yellow color, is it correct ? Or it has to be blue?

it needs to be blue

Hey Corin, sorry I just went back to this and realized you’re referring to the Disembarkation Immigration QR code. You are correct, that one is yellow. When I talk about blue screen, I’m only referring to the quarantine process.

Hello, i had been registered my daughter (15 years old) under my account as family member, did she need to register or fill-up the quarantine procedures, immigration clearance and customs declaration by individual to get the QR code?

I’m already registered and get the QR code for my self.

Hey Ivy, if you have added your daughter to your visit Japan Web account and declared that she will be going with you when you created the trip plan, then you can select her name from the dropdown. Upload her vaccine certificate if any. If not, just select that she will not submit certificate. Do the same for the covid test step. Her box will be yellow if you don’t submit certificate or covid test, but she will follow your quarantine status (which should be blue if you provide vaccination certificate or test negative for yourself)

• February 17, 2023

Hi Melissa, Can I check for the vaccination cert to be uploaded, can I just provide the QR code or need to be the full digital certificate? My trip is in 4 weeks time, when the earliest I can register for fast track entry? Thanks

• February 18, 2023

You have to upload the full certificate with your name, passport number and the vaccine name. You can already do fast track starting from now

• February 23, 2023

Have done exactly what you have shared. All is good & gotten the blue quarantine page & 2 QR code as required. Thank you so much 😊

Hi Melissa How can i register if I only land and depart in Japan on same day, so without an actual address (I fly into Narita and make my way to Haneda same day to fly onwards to Thailand)? It is required in the app, do i put in the address and phone number from Haneda Airport? Thank you Ward

Hey Ward, Yes it seems some people do this and succeeded. Let me know how it goes for you!

• February 16, 2023

Hi Melissa, thank you very much for this blog post! I already submitted my vaccination information and the screen turned blue as well but I‘m a bit worried as the countdown saying „time remaining to complete registration“ didn’t stop counting down. Is there anything I missed doing or isn’t it related to the validity of the blue screen?

Hey Marla, you don’t need to worry about the countdown. If the screen has turned blue, you’ll be fine. Double check that you have entered the correct date of arrival, because the countdown is tied to your arrival. If i remember correctly, it counts down to 6 hours before your plane lands.

• February 12, 2023

Hi, I am heading to Japan this coming June 2023. First of all, Your content is very helpful and detailed indeed. Kudos and it helps me with my confusion about their procedure. I am truly grateful.

I have a question about the section under register planned for Entry/Return. I have input the entry portion but it did not state any return info in it. Please advise if is only input only 1 time as entry? If we are heading back to Singapore, do they still need to see the fast track?

VJW is only for entry to Japan. There is no need to worry about the exit.

• February 11, 2023

If I want to enter Japan for a 12 hour layover and don’t have an accommodation could I still use Fast Track? The “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles” ask for ” Address in Japan (Accommodation) “

Hey Andy, I’m actually not sure about this. It should be treated like any arrival card that you fill in in other countries. I have seen people’s account on reddit of putting the address as the airport’s address since they’re just transiting, so you could try that.

• February 1, 2023

Can confirm that you can add another adult to your application as family member. Did it last week and today 1Feb23 both our quarantine boxes turned blue. Got the other 2 QR codes for each of us immediately last week and took about a week for the quarantine one to be approved. Oh by the way thanks for the useful information on this page.

thank you Richard for this very valuable update!

• April 14, 2023

Hi Richard,

so you only needed 1 account for all your family including yourself? how did you/spouse/child show the QR to the officer since the checking done for each person? thank you

• January 29, 2023

Hi Melissa! Thank you for your information in this article; it helped me, but I want to ask several questions because it is the first time I have been going abroad by plane.

If I want to go to Fukuoka from Jakarta but with one transit in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) before Japan : 1. Is The “flight number” the first number plane before transit (plane number Jakarta-Ho Chi Minh City) or the plane after transit (Ho Chi Minh City-Japan)? 2. In “Preparation for customs declaration,” the country point of embarkation, in my case, is Jakarta or Ho Chi Minh City?

Thank you very much

• January 30, 2023

Hi Alya, I would do: 1. The flight number that enters japan, aka HCM – Japan 2. For this one, it depends whether you crossed immigration in HCM or not. If you just transited and changed plane, then I would put Jakarta. But if you went out of immigration in HCM and then back in to catch the next plane, then i would put HCM.

• January 27, 2023

How do I check for my registration status to know whether it has turned blue?

Hey Ezati, you go back to your VJW account and click on the trip name you made before.

Hi Melissa. I have a pdf document issued by NHS for 4 vaccinations. Do I upload the pdf or scan and upload 3 of the certificates?

Hey Carole, you upload whichever document states the name of your vaccine and when it was taken.

Hi again. They both do. I didn’t know whether the document(s) had to be in pdf format or a scanned pic. I haven’t started to fill in any of the forms, I am trying to collate all the documentation in the required formats before I begin. Thanks for your help.

Hey Carole, then the PDF is fine, no need to scan.

• February 6, 2023

Hi Melissa. Great post, bery helpful.

Just wonderinf if you have the answer to this query that I have. I have registered my parents under my account and get the blue box for all of us. While i understand from your post and previous comments that we can screenshot this blue box to get pass the quarantine check point, what about the QR code for immigration and customs clearance? Should I screenshot the QR code as well?

• February 7, 2023

Hey Wan, if you can get wifi / data in Japan, you don’t need to screenshot. Otherwise, yes, please screenshot those QR codes as well.

• January 23, 2023

I was wondering, how fast is the fast track produce actually? On average maybe if it’s hard to say.

I am used to the whole immigration process (from deboarding the aeroplane until arriving in the freely accessible arrivals terminal where all the shops are) taking at least 1.5 hours.

I’m just not sure how excited I should be for the Fast Track procedures 🙂

• January 24, 2023

the fast track eliminates the need to queue to get your vaccine / PCR test documents checked before the actual immigration process starts. i can’t say how much time it saves, depends on how many flights arrives at the same time as you. In my case it was totally worth it bc the line to check docs was quite long.

• January 18, 2023

HI Melissa, I have filled out the Visit Japan Web with the registration complete, however I did not received a QR code. I have gone over the website & faq questions but there is no clear answer. On one of the question & answer it says there is no longer a QR code displayed. I go into the registration again to complete the registration again and it states QR code may not be updated to register again! Do you have an answer?

When I fill out the quarantine questions I get a QR code right after I complete the questionnaire. Is this the same as the Visit Japan Web? Do you need 2 different QR codes or does this include the Visit Japan Web? Just wondering if you have some answers. Thank you.

Hi Kathy, it seems they have done away with QR code, so you don’t need to worry about it. In my experience from December 2022 as long as you show the blue screen they’ll let you through.

• January 16, 2023

Hi, Can i add my parents as family travel with me?Or I can only add infant who are not able to fill out the form? Thank you

I was under the impression that the function is only for kids and each adult needs separate account but i have heard experiences where people register other adults and they are still let through. just make sure your husband each have the blue box screenshot on their phones when you land, so that you can show it easier as you go through the check points.

• January 13, 2023

Hi. I registered and did everything already but I noticed you said to create one account per adult. I only signed up one account for me and I registered my husband under the details of family member traveling with you. You mentioned only kids are added here. Did I do it wrong and should I make another account for my husband still?

• January 10, 2023

Hi! Do I need my physical vaccination card? I submitted a picture of it and it was approved however, I am not sure if I will be able to locate the misplaced card or get a replacement prior to my arrival in Japan

we were never asked to produce the vaccination proof. In Singapore, we only have digital vaccination proof (govt doesnt issue physical card) and they were ok with it.

• January 7, 2023

Hello thank you so much for the information. I have filled in the forms and got the confirmation I don’t need to test to enter Japan due to having 3 jabs. My parents have also been registered with me under the same account. But I’m wondering do my parents need an account or can we share the same as it’s been approved already for each person.

Hey Dominic. I was under the impression that the function is only for kids and each adult needs separate account but i have heard experiences where people register other adults and they are still let through. just make sure your parents each have the blue box screenshot on their phones when you land, so that you can show it easier as you go through the check points.

• December 29, 2022

My Pre-registration for quarantine procedures is blue has “Review Completed” for Current Status, but no QR code. Do I need a QR code?

Thanks Melissa

This message is from the Quarantine Documentation Center (QDC) in Japan.

If you register on/after Dec 28 (Japan time), no need to register passport and Questionnaire Web online. So their is no QR code required for Quarantine Procedure,please present the top page of Quarantine pre-registration procedure when arrival.

Thanks Luke. You are correct. We now only need to provide vaccine certificate and that’s it! I will update my blog post accordingly.

• December 19, 2022

Hi Dear Melissa, if I have 2 covid vaccines + the 72h test before departure would it be possible to complete the registration?

• December 24, 2022

Yes, as long as the test is negative

Hi Dear Melissa, all helpful and clear. Just one question: if I have 2 covid vaccines + the 72h test before departure would it be possible to complete the registration?

• December 20, 2022

Yes, submit all the docs and see if your screen turns blue

Hi Melissa! Thanks so much for the helpful info but are you sure it’s at least “3”? For those who got Johnson Johnson (Janssen) it was only 1 shot and they didn’t need to get another after 6 months. Then those people were allowed to get a moderna booster a year later. Which would make the total 2 shots – not 3. Are you positive they only let you in if you had 3 total?

I see Janssen as needing 3 shots in the official requirements link: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html

Maybe you can try submitting your vaccine certificate anyways and see if your QR turns blue?

• December 21, 2022

sorry! i just noticed the footnote that says

* For the JCOVDEN intramuscular injection/Janssen and CONVIDECIA/CanSino Biologics only in case of primary series, one dose is considered equivalent to two doses.

Thanks so much Melissa! You’re amazing.

• December 15, 2022

thank you so much dear…all of the information is so helpful..finally managed to complete my son vaccination cert issues..thank u very much

glad I can help 🙂

• December 11, 2022

How about the Insurance part? We should fill in also if we have travel insurance?

• December 13, 2022

Yup, you can fill them in if you have an insurance but it is not required.

• December 10, 2022

I have received four covid vaccines, three in 2021 and one in 2022. Are they still valid to be recognized on Visit Japan Web? I am planning to take the fifth one in January 2023. Thanks.

You’ll be fine as long as you’ve taken 3 shots, no matter how long ago. Also check the type of approved vaccines – i’m not sure which one you took.

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Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

A Guide to the Visit Japan Web app and Japan Entry Procedures

While it’s recommended to use the Visit Japan web app, it’s not mandatory. In fact it may be quicker to use the standard paper immigration forms on arrival in Japan.

There are now no Covid protocols for Japan. The Japanese government still recommends that visitors to Japan use the Visit Japan Web app, which replaces the paper arrival card and customs declaration, but you DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE VISIT JAPAN WEB APP.

On our last entry to Japan in October 2023, those not using the app actually moved faster through immigration and customs. So, it’s really up to you: use the app or just go old school and fill out a paper arrival card and customs declaration (and if you don’t get them on the plane, you can pick them up at immigration and customs).

Visit Japan Web

Time required to fill out and instruction manuals

When you first download the app and look at the instruction manual, you may get the impression that it’s going to take a long time to complete Visit Japan Web. In practice, it takes about 15 minutes and is pretty intuitive. I suggest using the simplified manual and quarantine section manuals linked below.

Three parts to Visit Japan Web

Note, Visit Japan Web actually consists of three parts: 1) immigration information (ie, disembarkation card information), 2) customs information (ie, customs declaration), and 3) tax-exemption section. When you successfully complete these sections, you will receive three QR codes. The first two you will show at the airport upon arrival. The third you will show at shops that offer tax-free shopping to tourists.

Important tip

You will need a charged smartphone with internet access for Visit Japan Web to work at the airport when you arrive. Japanese airports have free wifi, so connectivity is not an issue, but be sure to charge your phone before flying. Just in case something goes wrong with your phone or you cannot get online at the airport, it’s a good idea to do two things to print out your immigration and customs QR codes to show at the airport.

Important Visit Japan Web Links

• Here’s the Visit Japan Web download site .
• Here’s a detailed manual for using Visit Japan Web.
• Here’s a simplified Visit Japan Web Manual (scroll down for instructions).

Kyoto Vacation Checklist

• For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
• Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
• You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto , Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
• Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
• See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
• Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport . Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
• Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
• If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
• A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
• World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world

Kyoto District Map

• Central Kyoto
• Northwest Kyoto
• Northern Higashiyama
• Southern Higashiyama
• Downtown Kyoto
• Kyoto Station Area
• South East Kyoto

Disclosure: InsideKyoto.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Visit Japan Web: The Online Registration Before Arriving in Japan

Japanese customs: mysos replaced from november, 14,  2022.

During the Covid pandemic, entry procedures in Japan have changed a lot, which created some confusion. It is still somewhat the case after the reopening to tourism since October 11, even if a focus has been placed on easing the procedures especially through digitalization , to minimize human interactions and subsequent contamination risks.

Until recently, the Japanese government asked visitors to install specific app on their smartphones:

• MySOS, for advance registration of information regarding vaccine status / PCR test, for faster airport procedures in Japan (the "fast track" system)
• COCOA, an app to track contact-cases and infected persons, but it was discontinued in September 2022.

MySOS was not mandatory but highly recommended . Travelers who could not use the app were directed upon their arrival in Japan to a specific line in order to complete the necessary steps (showing a valid vaccination certificate / PCR test, etc.) which lengthened their time at the airport.

New website available since November 1st, 2022

In mid-October 2022, a new change in the procedure has been announced for all entry in Japan from November 14 included : every traveler (tourist, foreign resident and Japanese citizen alike) can register in advance on the Visit Japan Web site.

Visit Japan Web is a free, single portal to group formalities related to:

• Covid-19   🦠 ( quarantine , vaccination certificate, PCR test); The Pre-registration for Quarantine Procedures section collects the information that were previously filled in the MySOS app ("Fast Track" function);
• Immigration : the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner that was formerly handed in the plane  ✈️ just before landing (does not concern Japanese citizens and foreign permanent residents);
• Customs  🛂 , with the Declaration of Personal effects and Unaccompanied Articles , to fill upon arrival, formerly either on a paper form or on the Japanese government’s Zeikan shinkoku app (税関申告アプリ).

In the facts, registering on the website has been possible since November 1, 2022 , for any arrival in Japan from November 14 in one of its largest airports:

• Tokyo -Narita,
• Tokyo-Haneda,
• Osaka - Kansai (KIX),
• Chubu ( Nagoya ),
• Fukuoka ( Kyushu ),
• New Chitose ( Hokkaido ) and
• Naha ( Okinawa ).

Travelers arriving in Japan before November 14, 2022, can still use the MySoS app to fill their Covid related data and are not the target of the Visit Japan Web.

1 blue screen and 2 QR Codes to show on a smartphone

Like with MySOS previously, each step of the registration process is ended by a change in the page display that includes:

• A blue screen , for a successful quarantine procedure registration,
• and the creation of 2 QR Codes for customs and immigration procedures.

Once all the steps are completed, a visitor’s smartphone  📱 will display first a blue screen, then 2 QR Codes to show at each checkpoint.

Starting April 29, 2023 , according to March 10 and April 26 latest announcements of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, some of the borders restrictions will be lifted and the Covid-19 quarantine procedure (blue screen) will not be required anymore .

It is highly recommended to register before departing for Japan : at the latest 6h prior to the flight’s departure, and ideally within the 10 preceding days , in order to allow time for the review of the submitted documents. Reviews are sorted by date of arrival in Japan . Visit Japan Web is available in English.

Whether you are fully vaccinated or not, consider using Visit Japan Web to make sure to board your flight to Japan, as airlines reserve the right to refuse passengers who may potentially be banned at the Quarantine Procedures step.

The necessary documents are:

• A valid email address (will be used as a user ID to each access to Visit Japan Web);
• Until April 29, 2023 , Covid vaccination certificate or negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before departure and translated in English (use the Japanese-English form provided by the Japanese Ministry of Health here );
• An address in Japan (for example, of the first accommodation you will be staying at).

If traveling with underage children , it is possible to register them on the same Visit Japan Web account (up to 10 travelers). Dependent or handicapped adults who cannot go through the procedures alone can also be registered in the Family members traveling with you section. However, each of them has to have their own passport or equivalent immigration document.

Each member of the family registered on the same account will also have their blue screen and 2 QR Codes, to show at checkpoints at the arrival airport in Japan.

Like with MySOS, registering with Visit Japan Web is not mandatory , however it helps going through the entry procedures in Japan faster, and reduces the hurdles of tedious formalities after 12 hours of more spent in a plane.

On April 5, 2023, Kono Taro, the Japanese Minister of Digital Affairs, announced that travelers are no longer required to show any document at arrival airport’s quarantine in Japan . However, filling information forms for immigration and customs is still a requirement.

Additional tips and advice

An Internet  📶 connection is required to use the Visit Japan Web site, especially to create the account, fill in the user’s information, and their family’s when applicable (name, passport number, etc.), the forms regarding vaccination or PCR test and create the first QR Code. The digital Disembarkation Card for Foreigners and custom procedures can be completed offline and the QR codes created upon arrival at the airport.

Creating a Visit Japan Web account is possible on a computer (Chrome browser is recommended) or on a smartphone (Chrome browser recommended on Android). In any case, before departure, make sure to be logged in only on the device you will use to travel (a smartphone ideally), and check that all information is up-to-date.

Questions asked at immigration and customs procedures are the same than on the paper forms. In any event, official Japanese sources (the Embassy of Japan or the Border Control page of the Japanese Ministry of Health for example) are the ultimate references regarding entry procedures in Japan and should be checked frequently.

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How to Fill in the Visit Japan Web (VJW) : Handy Guide to Entering Japan:

Starting November 1, 2022, you can use Visit Japan Web, short for VJW, for express entry into Japan. All handwritten information that was previously required, such as immigration information and customs declaration forms, can be filled out in advance through Visit Japan Web, reducing the time required for entry into Japan.

We have already explained how to create a VJW account in this article ( New Rules for Japanese Immigration: mySOS to be retired in favor of VJW . If you need it, please click the previous link to see it. This article will lead you step by step to fill out the VJW.

In addition, Visit Japan Web can only be used at several major airports in Japan: Narita International Airport (Tokyo/Chiba), Haneda Airport (Tokyo), Kansai International Airport (Osaka), Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya), Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka), New Chitose Airport (Hokkaido/Sapporo), and Naha Airport (Okinawa). If the airport you plan to land at is not one of the above seven airports, you cannot use VJW for expedited customs clearance and must use paper documents instead.

All picture from VJW Official Website・デジタル庁

Table of Contents

Visit Japan Web User Registration Procedure

Registration of your details.

Click “Your Details” on the “Home Screen”, and register your details using Visit Japan Web.

Differentiate between entry/return procedures

Answer the question of  entry and return procedures.

※ Confirmation of re-entry permission If you have a long-term visa to Japan (e.g., for study, employment, permanent residence, etc.), which means you will enter Japan with a re-entry permitselect “Yes”. If you are traveling to Japan, then select “No”.

Passport details in Visit Japan Web

Intended address in japan (optional).

Visit Japan Web Registration complete

The display shows “Registration complete” to complete the registration.

Register your planned entry/return trip to Japan in Visit Japan Web

Register the information required for entry/return procedures when arriving in Japan here.

New registration for planned entry and return

Click “New registration” on the Home Screen, and proceed to “Register Planned Entry/Return – Planned Entry/Return Screen”.

You can register a maximum of 5 entries.

If there are more than 5 reservations, the oldest reservation in “Arrival in Japan” will be deleted.

Registering Planned Entry/Return

Enter your planned entry/return.

The follows are required fields:

• Planned arrival date in Japan
• Airline company name
• Flight number (numbers only)
• Boarded flight number

Intended Address in Japan

Enter your intended address in Japan.

• Postal code
• Hotel name, place of stay
• Contact phone number

Select family members traveling with you

If you have family members accompanying you, select “Family member accompanying you”.

Confirm the entered details

Registration of planned entry/return complete

Visit Japan Web: Entry/return procedures

Quarantine procedures (fast track), disembarkation card(as of december 28, 2022, abolished).

Updated April 28, 2023

Starting from April 29, 2023, individuals entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023, are not required to present valid vaccination certificates or pre-departure testing certificates. In accordance with the above-mentioned regulations, the “Quarantine Procedures (Fast Track)” button will be removed from midnight on April 29 (Japan time).

Click “Quarantine Procedures (Fast Track)” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure Screen”, and proceed to the “Quarantine procedures (Fast Track) Screen”.

Disembarkation Card For Foreigner registration

Registration of foreigner’s entry record is required for landing application.

For Japanese nationals and foreign residents re-entering the country (i.e., permanent residents, holders of work visas, or study visas, etc., and foreign nationals holding a residence card), the “Disembarkation Card For Foreigner” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure” will be grayed out, and no data entry is required.

After registering the foreigner’s entry record, you can present the QR code to the immigration officer for landing.

Basic information

• Date of Birth

Immigration information to Japan

• Purpose of visit
• Specific purpose for visit
• Last flight No.
• Intended length of stay in Japan (number of years, months, days)

Intended address in Japan

If you are staying at a friend’s house, you can ask him/her how to fill in the address, or if you have a hotel reservation, you can send an email to ask how to fill in the hotel.

Finally, there are some questions to fill out

After confirming all the information, you can finish filling out the form.

Customs Declaration

Preparation for customs declaration.

Click “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure Screen”, and proceed to the “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles – Operation Selection Screen”.

Fill in the following basic information

• Passport number
• Date of Arrival
• Name of flight (ship)
• Point of embarkation

If you are traveling with someone, please select the number of people you are traveling with.

After confirming all the information, you will finish filling out the form.

Preparation for entry into Japan

Show the QR code (different from the above QR code for quarantine!) to the immigration officer at the time of entry. You will be able to clear customs quickly.

※Update January 25

GetAround Japan is your number one travel guide, providing the latest information on visiting and living in Japan, with tips on what to eat, things to do, and places to stay. Whether you’re planning for a trip far in the future, or already in Japan in need of some fresh ideas, our archive of posts will help you find the best way to fill your time and get the most out of your travel experience. We provide you updates on serious policies that affect visitors and foreign residents while also keeping things light and fun with articles on quirky trends and pop culture. How do we know how to provide visitors the information they need? Our affiliate company CDJapan Rental provides WIFI and Sim Card rentals to thousands of visitors to Japan every year. In other words, we are constantly in touch with and listening to the voices of our customers, and infuse our blog with the information they ask us for. For inquiries, contact us here =Company Information= CDJapan Rental (Neowing Corporation) 1-10-15-3F Nihonbashi Horidome Chuo, Tokyo 103-0012, Japan

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Children Passports Fast track visit Japan web registration - Japan Forum

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Children Passports Fast track visit Japan web registration

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The adult passports registered fine but both kids won’t successfully scan. The kids are 9 and 13 year old - should do their application? And if they are on their own application they have had 2 vax doses (not he 3) so how would they be exempt because, even though they are travelling with a fully vax parent, they would be on different forms?

24 replies to this topic

Being unable to scan passports is not a big deal. I had the same problem (though not for a child) and I skipped it, completed the rest, and submitted my application. It was approved a few hours late with a note saying to show my passport at immigration. I don't think you have an issue.

I haven't gone yet. Leaving in a couple of days.

Good luck. Any chance you would be ok to share your experience?

I'll post how it goes going through NRT in a few days. I'm hearing NRT is really quick but not so in HND.

I tried uploading my kids vaccination docs but because they are only double not triple vaccinated the system rejected it for one child and it’s still pending a decision for another child. The rejection email said if not triple vaccinated to select ‘will not submit’ a COVID vaccination certificate which I did. The system is now saying they need to submit a test within 72 hours.

But children who are accompanying their triple vaccinated parents don’t need to submit a test. It seems that the system doesn’t recognise this ‘exemption’ from the triple vaccination or test requirement.

Children under 18 don't need a vaccine certificate or negative PCR test if accompanied by an adult who’s triple vaccinated or PCR negative. Check will not submit and send your application.

Ok, hopefully it’ll be ok. I think it would be better if for children, the system recognised that the certificates aren’t needed and turned their application blue rather than keeping it yellow.

How did one child get accepted and the other one not if neither are triple vaccinated? I am having the same issue and am worried. When are you travelling?

One was rejected and one was pending. However their vaccine certificates have now both been rejected.

So I have changed the answers to say they will not submit their certificates (this is what it says to do in the rejection email if they’ve only had 2 and not 3 shots).

I’m hoping that they won’t in fact need to do a test but my worry is that the airline will see the ‘yellow’ status they now have and refuse them boarding.

We don’t travel until April. Maybe by then the requirements will have dropped or simplified or the system will be clearer.

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• Traveling With Children
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A little research can help ensure family-friendly fun

Traveling to Japan with children may seem like a daunting prospect and something best avoided. However, the country is surprisingly accessible and with the right preparations, you can avoid the worry and stress and focus on providing young minds with a stimulating and inspiring journey.

Out and about

If you plan to travel by public transport, you'll find priority seating on most trains and buses for passengers traveling with young children. Travel is generally free for children up to the age of five, with half-price fares for youngsters aged six to twelve. When in major cities, avoid traveling with strollers during peak rush hours. During the weekdays, between 7-9 a.m., public transport gets extremely busy.

Child friendly bathrooms and changing areas are generally available—especially in major cities, most stations and sightseeing spots. In bigger department stores and shopping complexes, stroller rental is often an option.

Eating out in Japan is one of the highlights of a trip to the Far East, and while you may find the small counter restaurants unfit for a family meal, the nation offers plenty of "Family Restaurants” offering a wide range of food—including kids' meals—in a family friendly atmosphere. Head to the basement floor in the big department stores as they usually offer lots of different food to taste—a great chance for children to try something new.

Check with your hotel regarding baby beds, and dining options when you book. If you are staying in one of the more traditional ryokan hotels, futons are lined up on the floor for the family to sleep on. Be aware however, that the typically Japanese menu in ryokans might not suit all tastes.

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Be aware that smoking is still very much part of Japanese social culture, and even though designated smoking sections exist in many restaurants, cafes and public facilities, the smoke can drift into the non-smoking areas. However, with a little research, you can find a number of fully non-smoking places where you can lunch and dinner with the family with ease.

For a more comprehensive understanding of traveling to Japan with children, personal research is recommended. Many website offer plenty of useful ideas and tips.

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Wild Junket

Japan with Kids: How to Plan the Perfect Japan Family Trip

Last Updated on March 6, 2024

Japan is a great family travel destination, with its neon streetscapes and kid-friendly amenities. This is my detailed guide to traveling Japan with kids.

There’s nowhere else like Japan. It is ultra modern yet traditional, and highly urbanized yet filled with nature. The multi-faceted country is truly unique in every sense of the word.

I’ve been to Japan three times, and my favorite was definitely the Japan family trip we did with our then 3.5-year-old daughter. It turns out Kaleya is just as crazy about Japan as we are.

Japan is a great destination for kids. T he country is home to psychedelic neon cities, bizarre themed cafes, and ancient towns. The great infrastructure in the country means it’s easy to get around and explore without worrying for your kids’ safety.  For those planning to travel Japan with kids, I’m sharing details of our trip to help you plan your Japan family trip.

Table of Contents

How to Get Travel Insurance for Kids

When to travel japan with kids, how long to travel japan with kids, by public transport, language in japan, what to eat in japan with kids, where to eat in japan with kids, traditional ryokan, what you should know about ryokans, modern hotels, our hotel recommendations in japan, go to the robot restaurant , visit the mori digital museum in tokyo, eat at the kawaii monster cafe, try rainbow food in harajuku, go to a hot spring themed park, wander around the omicho market in kanazawa.

• Try on a Kimono in Kyoto 

Explore the Arashimaya Bamboo Groves in Kyoto 

Feed deers in nara, see the snow monkeys in jigokudani, cost of traveling japan with kids, packing for a trip to japan with kids, final tips for traveling japan with kids, travel resources, japan with kids.

In general, traveling Japan with kids is easy and fun thanks to the great infrastructure and kid-friendly amenities. The whole country is organized, clean and efficient.

Ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) are great places to stay with kids. The tatami rooms have plenty of space for kids to run around. Y ou get to all sleep on futons laid out on the floor, which is a fun experience for kids (though a back-breaking one for adults). Many ryokans have their own onsens (hot springs), which are super fun for both kids and adults alike.

Tokyo is an exception though: Many izakayas (bars) tend to be tiny and not suitable for kids. Most subway stations don’t have elevators, and the Tokyo subway is possibly the deepest underground subway I’ve ever seen. That said, almost everywhere else in Japan is easy and superb for travel with kids.

It’s important to have travel insurance for travel during the pandemic. Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. They cover kids for free as long as you’ve got a plan with them. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before the coverage start date. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are the most popular months to travel Japan due to the mild weather and moderate humidity. Some spots can get overcrowded, especially during the cherry blossom season. Each year, the sakura season varies (usually around April), so make sure you check the predicted dates beforehand.

We traveled to Japan in late September and still found many places quite crowded, particularly Kyoto. During our trip, we experienced mostly warm days of 21-25 deg C, with some rainy days. In the mountainous areas like Takayama and Nagano prefectures, temperatures ranged around 10-15 deg C, but a light jacket was enough.

Winter (December-February) is pretty cold with temperatures dipping to freezing point. But Japan has lots of great ski stations and it’s a good time to see snow monkeys in Nagano.

Japan is a big country and there’s just SO much to see and do, whether your family prefers nature, cities, culture or food. We only had five days on our first trip to Japan and it definitely left us wanting more.

Two weeks in Japan are perfect; though you would probably want to have even more time to see and experience it. In two weeks, we managed to see the best of Japan, but I’ll admit I packed in too much into the itinerary. 

If you want to explore Japan off the beaten path , then you would need at least three or four weeks. Tokyo is a must-see; check out my detailed Tokyo itinerary .

Here’s a summary of our Japan itinerary :

• 3 Days in Tokyo — to experience all the wacky fun experiences
• 2 Days in Hakone — with a stay at a hot spring resort and water park
• 2 Days in Okuhida — to experience nature in the Japanese Alps
• 1 Day in Kanazawa — to eat the freshest seafood
• 3 Days in Kyoto — with day trip to Nara to see the deers
• 1 Day in Shibu Onsen — to see snow monkeys in Jigokudani
• 1 Night in Narita — to catch our flight home

How to Get Around Japan with Kids

We chose to rent a car in Japan as we wanted to explore Japan off the beaten path and see more natural sights. It was also a lot more convenient when traveling with our 3.5-year-old daughter who still needs the stroller from time to time. 

While the Japanese public transport system has an impressive coverage across the country, there are still some places that are only accessible by car or foot. The quaint villages and mountainous areas that we went, such as Okuhida in the Japanese Alps, happened to be my favorite parts of Japan. I recommend driving the Golden Northward route if you’re looking for a scenic route that brings you off the well-trodden path.

It was surprisingly easy to drive in Japan . Most road signs are in both Japanese and English. We could find our way easily using Google Maps since we had a mobile WiFi dongle. Car rentalin Japan is quite affordable. We booked from Discover Car rental and paid US$565 for our two-week rental of a compact Japanese car and a child seat. 

Read all about driving in Japan!

By Intercity Train

Japan is well known for bullet trains (shinkansen) that are ridiculously fast and efficient. I personally think taking a shinkansen is a must-try experience when in Japan! We did it on our first trip to Japan and were blown away. It’s actually faster to travel around Japan by bullet trains than by car. For example, it takes four hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto by train, but it takes seven hours by car.

If you’re traveling Japan for more than a week, I suggest getting a JR Pass to get unlimited travel on JR transportation (including bullet trains, local trains, buses, monorails and ferries).

A 7-day JR Pass costs around US$265 while a 14-day pass costs US$420.  Getting a JR Pass will definitely save you money, as individual trains are super expensive. Kids under 6 travel for free. You can compare individual train prices with the cost of the JR Pass using the handy Japan Rail Pass Calculator .

Get your JR Pass here!

If you’re taking public transport, I’d recommend getting the Pasmo / Suico pass. It’s a prepaid smart card that allows you to use most public transport (metro, trains, buses, monorail) in Japan.

The card also functions as an electronic wallet. You can buy things on trains, in vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants that accept the card. Suica and Pasmo cards can be purchased through ticket machines at any JR stations.

More info here.

English isn’t commonly spoken in Japan. On our first trip to Japan almost 10 years ago, it was quite challenging to travel Japan without any knowledge of Japanese as all signs on the street and public spots were shown only in Japanese.

This time round, we found it much easier as most signs are now in English as well. Japan has definitely become more travel-friendly in the past decade.

Also, free WiFi is easily available in many public places in Japan and you can use Google Translator to translate signs etc. It’s also affordable and convenient to rent pocket WiFi router. We rented our router from GetYourGuide for US$71 that provided us unlimited WiFi for two weeks. 

Many people have the misconception that Japanese food is all about raw seafood and sushi. That can’t be far from the truth. The megadiverse cuisine consists of a huge array of food types: from different kinds of noodles to rice bowls, grilled meat to bubbling stews.

EVERY meal we had in Japan was great — even ramen from vending machines tasted amazing. You really can’t get bad food in Japan. My 3.5-year-old daughter, who’s usually a fussy eater, absolutely loved the food in Japan. Her favorites were edamame (steamed peas) and onigiri (triangular rice balls) as well as udon noodles.

Check out my detailed Japanese food guide, including 40 best Japanese dishes to try.

You can find food everywhere in Japan and they’re surprisingly affordable. A meal in a standard sushi restaurant costs around 800-1500 yen per person, not including drinks. Every restaurant/diner provides free iced water or tea with your meal.

There are also entire restaurants devoted to food that looks like characters such as Hello Kitty or Rilakkuma. Other themed restaurants like Kawaii Monster Cafe and Maid Cafe are also great fun for kids.

If you’re on a budget, seek out the vending machines. You can easily get a ramen or katsu rice bowl for around 500-800 yen. Even convenience stores like 7-11, Family Mart, and Lawson’s have cheap and delicious yakitori (meat skewers), onigiri (triangular rice buns) and bento sets.

If your kids aren’t adventurous eaters, there are plenty of fast-food restaurants, western cafes and bakeries in Japan. The convenience stores also stock sandwiches and other food that are familiar to them.

Here are some of the places we ate at and really enjoyed:

Sushi Dai, Tokyo — Located outside the famous Tsukiji Market, this is indisputably one of the best places to enjoy sushi in Tokyo. You’ll get an affordable taste of the freshest and finest seafood for only a fraction of the price of upmarket sushi restaurants. But it’s a tiny place and might not be suitable for those with strollers/babies. Reserve your table here!

Kisoji, Tokyo — Our Japanese friend brought us to this shabu-shabu (hotpot) restaurant and we had some of the best wagyu beef I’ve had. You can book a tatami room and cook the shabu-shabu or sukiyaki yourself. Book a table here.

Sengoku Buyuden, Tokyo — This samurai-themed restaurant is quite an interesting place to celebrate a special occasion. Alberto booked a seven-course dinner here for my birthday and the food was really good. Book your table here.

Sakura Tei, Tokyo — We absolutely loved this restaurant chain that lets you make you own okonomiyaki and monjayaki (pan-fried pancake batter). It’s cheap and casual, and filled with character. Reserve a table here.

Tenka Chaya, Kawaguchiko — While driving around the Mount Fuji area, we chanced upon this gorgeous roadside teahouse and had an amazing meal there. All of its tables are on tatami floor and the menu is traditional hot broth pot.

Kaseidon Ichiba, Kanazawa — Inside the Omichi market, you’ll find the best spots to try fresh sashimi that the city is famous for. This place serves awesome salmon roe, oysters, scallops and outstanding sushi. Read reviews here!

Sakaguchi-Ya, Takayama — Housed in a Samachi traditional building, this restaurant serves the famous Hida beef in the form of handrolled sushi or beef rice bowl. A little pricey but well worth for the quality food and atmosphere! Book a table here.

Hokkyokusei, Kyoto — Right next to Yasaka Shrine is this cute ‘Western’ cafe that specialises in omurice (Japanese omelette rice), which is one of our favorite Japanese dishes. Kid-friendly and good service. See reviews here.

Where to Stay in Japan with Kids

Hotels in Japan get booked up quite fast, especially during the peak period (March to May). I strongly suggest booking early and confirming your hotel stay a few days before arriving in Japan.

Another thing to note is that many hotels don’t seem to respond to emails promptly – even top rated hotels. So you can often wait a day or two for a response to a simple question regarding your accommodations.

One of the experiences I think every visitor must try in Japan is staying in a traditional ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that usually has tatami flooring, futons as beds, and an onsen (hotspring).

Staying in ryokans gives you the chance to experience how the Japanese traditionally used to live. Plus, they tend to be spacious, which makes it great for families who want to share one room.

Every ryokan provides yukata (simple Japanese robe) for you to wear to the onsen or as pyjamas. In hot spring towns like Shibu Onsen, you can even wear the yukata out to town. Read about our stay at the best ryokan in Hakone .

However, there are some things you need to know about staying in a ryokan. Firstly, ryokans tend to be the same price or even pricier than modern three-star hotels in Japan. We paid an average of around $80-120 per night for a room.

Secondly, you sleep on thin mattresses or futons that are laid out on the tatami floor. We found it quite hard to sleep at first and had backaches after our second night. (I know we sound so spoiled!).

One of the ryokans we stayed at had such bad soundproofing walls that we were kept up all night because of noisy neighbors. It felt like we were staying at a hostel despite the high price we paid.

So take my advice, book just 1-3 nights at a ryokan (instead of 7 nights like we did!).

Recently there was a government crackdown on the use of residential accommodation as Airbnb in Japan. As a result, all hosts must be issued with a permit to offer Airbnb services. This has seen many travellers left without accommodation when their Airbnb was cancelled.

There are several modern hotel chains in Japan that are affordable and have quality facilities. APA Hotels and UNIZO have branches all over Japan and great locations. However, most of these have tiny rooms where you’ll barely have space to walk.

I suggest paying more and booking twin rooms or family rooms if you want to be a bit more comfortable. The APA Hotel we stayed in Tokyo even had an onsen and a rooftop outdoor pool

We wanted to try the capsule hotels, but they turned out to be more expensive than budget hotel rooms (as we would have to pay $30 per capsule and get three capsules). Plus the capsules are divided between men and women, so Alberto would have to be separated from us.

Here are the places that we stayed at and can recommend to family travelers:

APA Hotel Tokyo Nishishinjuku, Tokyo — A modern three-star hotel centrally located in Shinjuku and steps from a subway station. Good quality facilities, including an onsen (hot spring) and rooftop swimming pool. The small double room is tiny; opt for a twin or family room instead. Check latest rates here.

Hakone Kowakien Tenyu, Hakone — Opened in April 2017, this spectacular five-star hot spring resort is a worthwhile destination on its own. Read my detailed review of the hotel here ! All of its rooms have tatami flooring, open-air stone bath and mountain views. The hotel also has an attached hot spring themed park that’s perfect for kids. Check the latest rates here.

Fujino Kirameki Fujigotemba, Gotemba — Possibly the most family friendly hotel we stayed at in Japan, this glamping site has beautifully furnished cabins transformed from cargo containers and huge play areas for families to hang out. Best of all, it has a gorgeous setting high up above Gotemba, with Mount Fuji in the backdrop and a thick cypress tree forests surrounding it. Book here!

Konji Ryokan, Gifu prefecture — Located in the Okuhida hot spring villages, this traditional ryokan is located in the Japanese Alps and close to hiking trails. Sadly it rained the whole time we were there and the nearby Shin-Hotaka Ropeway was closed. Still a gorgeous area to visit. It’s a 1-hour drive to Takayama from here. Book here!

Kaneki Hotel, Shibu Onsen — This ryokan in the village of Shibu Onsen is clean, cute and affordable. It has a nice and brand new private onsen which you can use for your own (which we really appreciate as most other hotels don’t have that). You’ll also get a key to enter the nine onsens that the village is famous for. It’s the nearest village to the Jigokudani Snow Monkeys Park. Check the latest rates here.

Search for Japan hotels here!

Best Things to Do in Japan with Kids

There’s no shortage of things to do in Japan with kids. You can choose from themed cafes, unique museums, cultural experiences and excursions, but these are best booked in advance before your trip to avoid disappointment.

There are also lots of free things to do, for instance most temples in Japan are free to visit. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Japan with kids:

This over-the-top entertainment show is great fun, and kids under three go for free. Take note that it can be very loud and bright for young kids, though they provide noise-cancelling headphones.

Our daughter really enjoyed the crazy show. Note that it’s more of a show than restaurant. You do need to book your tickets in advance (they’re cheaper online as well) as they can sell out.

Book Your Tickets here!

Definitely make some time in your Tokyo itinerary to visit this museum! The newly opened museum is hugely popular thanks to social media, so book your tickets way in advance. In a huge three-dimensional 10,000 square meter space, artworks created by computers move in and out of the rooms freely, creating magical formations.

Personally, the MORI Digital Museum is a MUST-see in my opinion and particularly interesting for kids. There are several areas designated to babies and young kids and lots of interactive artworks for adults.  but be prepared to wait in line even if you have tickets (we only waited for 30 minutes to enter).  Read reviews and tips here!

Bright, whimsical and bizarre, the Kawaii Monster Cafe is a themed cafe is definitely designed for kids. Besides its psychedelic interiors, the food here also comes in rainbow colors.

There’s an entry fee of 500 yen (US$4.40) and you have to order at least 1 food and 1 drink per person. We ended up spending around $40 here for the 3 of us, twice of what we usually spend. In my opinion, it’s way overpriced and only suitable for young kids. Book your table here!

Harajuku is Tokyo’s wacky playground for those who love alternative stuff. There are lots of cartoon comic stores, cutesy boutiques and big-chain lifestyle shops here. Best of all, it’s home to Tokyo’s most innovative foodie experiences.

We highly recommend trying the rainbow-colored cotton candy at Totti Cotton Factory, and rainbow grilled cheese sandwich at the nearby Le Shinier. Kids (and adults) go crazy over these things!

Sign up for a Harajuku Tour!

Yunessen hot spring park in Hakone is not just any typical water park: here you can dip in pools with wine, sake, coffee and tea. It’s a lot of fun for both kids and adults alike. All the pools are fed with natural hot spring water, so they stay warm even in winter. 

Tickets are quite cheap and you can easily spend a whole day here. Entry tickets cost 2900 yen (US$3.30) per adult and 1600 yen (US$1.80) per child. Reserve your ticket here.

Kanazawa is best known for its fresh seafood and out-of-this-world sashimi. The Omicho Market is an excellent spot to bring the family and get a good introduction to Kanazawa’s seafood. You’ll see huge Japanese crabs here as well as larger-than-life oysters, shrimps and sea urchin.

If your kids are adventurous eaters, see if they want to taste some! It costs around 600 yen ($5) to try an oyster or two big shrimps. There are also some interesting things to try like blue beer and gold-leaf icecream!

Try on a Kimono in Kyoto  

What an experience it was to try on the Japanese national costume! We got to see the complicated process of putting it on and then experienced wearing it all over Kyoto. Even Kaleya loved putting on the kimono.

To capture the special moment, we even booked a photography session with Flytographer . The results turned out great and we now have gorgeous family shots.

If you’re interested in booking a photography session, use this link and the code “NELLIEHUANG” to get US$25 credits. You can also combine your kimono rental with a tea ceremony to have a full cultural experience. 

Book your kimono rental here!

In the outskirts of Kyoto, you can find beautiful bamboo forests as well as large gardens and hiking trails in and around the Katsuragawa River. The Path of Bamboos is packed with tourists these days, but it’s still a beautiful area to visit especially for families.

You can even hire a rickshaw to bring you around parts of the bamboo groves that are exclusive to rickshaw riders. More info here.

Nara park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara’s nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city.

Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. The park is big and dotted with temples, shrines and lots of greenery. 

The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is best visited in winter when the Japanese macaques are often seen dipping in the hot springs. However, the monkeys are fed by park staff, so they do hang out in the park year round.

Even if the monkeys don’t interest you, the area is worth visiting for a chance to hike and experience Japan’s nature. Read more about it here.  

The nearest town, Shibu Onsen, is a cute hot spring village that I highly recommend visiting. If you stay at one of their associated ryokans, you’ll get a key to enter all of the 9 onsens in the village for free. These are not scenic onsens, but are rather public baths that villagers use for their daily baths. 

Let’s face it, Japan IS expensive (especially if you want to do all kinds of activities) but it’s still affordable compared to the US or Western Europe. 

The cheapest way to travel Japan with kids is to use local transport and book budget hotels. Transport was the biggest cost for us and we spent around US$1050 on our car rental, toll fees, parking and gas.

You might spend less if you opt for the JR Pass — remember kids under 6 travel for free and kids aged 6 to 11 enjoy half price on the JR transportation.

As for accommodation, expect to pay at least US$65 per night for a tiny 3-star hotel room and around $100 for a traditional ryokan room . Accommodation in small towns (e.g. Shibu Onsen and Kanazawa) tend to be cheaper. Hostels and capsule hotels are around the same price for families as you’ll be paying around $20-35 per person. 

Activities can add up too if you’re planning to book experiences like the Robot Restaurant and sushi-making classes.

Here is a breakdown of our expenses in USD (not including airfare):

Transport: $1050

Accommodation: $1400

WiFi rental: $100

Miscellaneous: $200

Activities:

• Robot Restaurant: $64 x 2
• Harajuku Owl Cafe: $5 x 2
• MORI Digital Art Museum entrance: $28.25 x 2
• Kimono rental: $100
• Kawaii Monster Cafe: $40
• Yunessun hot spring themed park: $10

TOTAL: $3600

The biggest tip I have for those traveling Japan with kids is to pack as light as possible . Japan is very urbanized and you’ll probably be doing lots of walking, using public transport and moving between places. Packing lightly will make getting around easier, especially with kids.

Most cities in Japan are busy and crowded. The subway is often packed and commuters are in a rush. It can be a challenge walking around with a toddler who can’t keep up with the pace. Decide if a stroller is useful as it can be a pain getting strollers in and out of the subway and along busy walkways. 

On this two-week trip in Japan , we traveled with just our day-packs, Kaleya’s Pockit lightweight stroller and our Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 32 wheeled suitcase .

Since it was September and the weather was still warm, I packed mostly t-shirts, thin pants, dresses, and leggings. I also had a cardigan and a thin leather jacket for the chilly days. For Kaleya, it was the same — mostly long-sleeved tshirts, a few dresses and skinny jeans.

Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be walking quite a lot. As it gets quite rainy in autumn, we only packed waterproof jackets for us and a raincoat and rain boots for Kaleya.

The first thing you’ll notice when arriving in Japan is that the Japanese are incredibly polite and respectful. They don’t expect foreigners to follow their etiquette, but they do appreciate it when you make some effort and blend in.

Here are some important things for families to keep in mind:

• The Japanese bow a lot to show their gratitude. You don’t need to do the same if you’re uncomfortable with that. Make sure to learn some basic Japanese words and express some courtesy. “Thank you” is one word you’ll hear a lot: “Arigatō gozaimash ta”. “Hello” is “Kon’nichiwa” and “Excuse me” is “Sumimasen”.
• Japanese toilets are the coolest — both kids and adults are sure to be amused by them! There are plenty of buttons on the side of the toilet, each with a different function (heating, drying, washing etc). However, some places still have the squat toilet (hole in the ground), so get your kids prepared for that.
• Kids would love the fact that it is customary to slurp noodles loudly in Japan to show that you’re enjoying it. My daughter completely embraced it and had slurping competitions with us!

• Keep in mind that placing chopsticks upright in your food, crossing them or passing food with them are what people do at funerals. Just place your chopsticks on the side of your plate when you are not using them.
• Breastfeeding is generally not done in public, though you can find a quiet corner and use a shawl to cover. Many department stores have nursing rooms as well as spacious baby-changing facilities where you can breastfeed in private if you prefer.
• Remember to bring any medication that your child takes regularly (or may need), as Japanese pharmacies don’t sell foreign medications.
• Always remove shoes when entering a private home, temple or traditional ryokan. Some restaurants with tatami mat seating also require you to remove your shoes and use their slippers. Note that they have different slippers for bathroom use, so make sure not to confuse them.

• Japan runs mostly on credit cards, but some places don’t take international cards. It’s best to have some Japanese yen at hand at all times. Many ATMs don’t take international cards either — the best places to withdraw cash are the 7-11 stores.
• There is no tipping in Japan, though of course you’re free to give some spare cash if you want to show your appreciation for their good service.
• No eating, drinking or talking on the cell phone in the train or subway. The Japanese are very considerate to other people, so please try to do the same.
• Always stand on the right side of the escalators.
• It’s extremely rude to blow your nose in public. Try to do that in the toilet.
• Don’t be surprised to see many people walking around with hygienic masks. People who have a cold or illness often wear these to prevent spreading their germs.

Phew! That’s it from me for now. Thanks for reading all the way to the end.

On an ending note, I’d like to remind you not to plan too much when traveling Japan with kids. Because there’s SO much to do, many people end up trying to pack too many places into their itinerary. We made the same mistake and definitely wished we weren’t so ambitious in seeing so many places.

Keep in mind that you’re there to have fun and explore, so slow down and enjoy the beautiful country with your family in a relaxing pace! I hope this guide has been useful. Feel free to leave me any questions or comments you may have below.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies I use and trust. I get a small commission when you click on my links, at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.

Over the years (and traveling to 140+ countries), I’ve learned a thing or two about travel planning. I’ve put together this list of travel resources that I personally use to find the best deals and book travel! For more details, check out my travel tips resource page .

• Booking Flights : Kayak is brilliant for finding the best dates to fly as it allows you to search for the lowest airfares within a 3-day period. Then I use Skyscanner as they’ve consistently given me the lowest airfares.
• Accommodations:  I always use  Booking.com   to book hotels, mainly because of the flexible cancellation policy and good customer service. You can also find short-term rental apartments there (I prefer not to use Airbnb due to the extra charges).
• Travel Insurance:  It’s important to have travel insurance, regardless of whether you’re traveling for a few days or months. Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers any healthcare expenses I may have worldwide. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.
• Health Advice:  I always refer to the travel guides on the   CDC website  for recommended medications and vaccines. You can get them at your travel doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
• Tours:  If you’re looking for all-encompassing tours, I recommend small-group adventure tour outfitter, G Adventures . I’ve traveled with them to Antarctica, Mongolia, Svalbard, and Nepal, and loved every single trip. For day tours, I always book with  Viator  and  GetYourGuide ; they have easy booking systems and free cancellations.
• Car Rental: I always book car rentals on Discover Cars , as they’ve consistently given us the best rates and customer service (with free cancellations). We’ve used them in Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Peru, and Mexico.
• Transportation : Whenever possible, I book local transportation online using  Bookaway and Busbud . They’re more reliable than many local transport websites and cover trains, buses, and car hire.
• Restaurants: TripAdvisor is my go-to resource for restaurant reviews and bookings. I also make restaurant reservations on OpenTable .
• Travel WiFi: I always travel with my Travel WiFi Sapphire 2 device; it’s the most convenient way to get internet data on the go. Instead of getting a local SIM card in every country I travel, I get an internet data package online and the device works immediately when I land.

Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 150 countries across 7 continents. She is a book author and Lonely Planet guidebook writer. As an adventure travel blogger, she has a special interest in unusual destinations and deep experiences. Follow her travels on her Facebook and Instagram .

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The Comments

the Curious Pixie

Absolutely loved this guide. It’s my dream trip to go to Japan with kids. I am a veggie, so the food situation slightly concerns me, but not enough to put me off going.

Thank you! I have a vegan friend who just went to Japan, who said she managed to get by. But I met a vegetarian in Japan and he said he struggled to find things that were suitable for him. So I guess it depends on individuals as well.

madhu sharma

Wow it’s great to know that Japan is kids friendly.i also have 3.5 year old son.n this guide is really helpful

hi Madhu, glad you found it useful! :)

I’d love to go to Japan with my daughter one day. Thanks for the inspiring post!

This is a great guide for adults as well as kids. Or for the kid in all of us. Your final tips are also really helpful.

This is a really helpful guide! I just got back from Japan and stayed 3 weeks, and I rushed it, too. I would agree that it’s important to go at a slower pace and spend more time in Kyoto and Tokyo. It sounds like you had a great time!

Thank you so much !!! ? So helpful and detailed !! All your advices are great, can’t wait to go there with my son and husband !

Malvika Vithani

This was such a detailed guide – thank you! I actually don’t have kids but all the activities still sound amazing. :)

Lesia Joukova

I love reading Japan guides so much. I also think family guides really work out well for me because I’m such a kid that I would totally go to a themed hot springs park and a robot show! Thank you for sharing, really-really loved this post!

hi Lesia, thanks for the kind comment! Glad you like the post!!

Muy bonito reportaje Nellie

Hi – great blog post! I do have 2 kids – 6 & 2 so this definitely helps a ton in planning as most vlogs on youtube chronicle singles or couples with no kids.

Similar to the other commentor above – we are also a family of vegetarians. So it’ll be our added challenge. But at the same time kids do need to know there is a whole world that surrounds us – not just where we live. You have definitely given us enough tips & activities to consider. Thank you for being so detailed!

Carla Hookway

Thanks for posting this – very informative, helpful & interesting – it’s inspired my want to travel to Japan even more!

You are welcome and hope you enjoy Japan with your kids!

Really enjoyed your blog. Planning to do a trip with a 10 and 8 year old probably this November and appreciate all the tips!

Thank you so much Gary! Let me know if you have any questions at all and I’m happy to help if I can!

Wonderful review of your trip to Japan, very useful tips. Thanks for sharing all the detailed information. Can’t wait for us to book our trip.

Pamela Robinson

Love this!! I’ll be following your blog from now on. This is such a helpful guide!!

This is great, we’re going to japan with two toddlers in march and im following your itinerary. Did you Book a JR railpass on this visit or just drive it all? I’m contemplating just driving but not sure about getting into tokyo that way?

hey Laura, good to hear you’re following my itinerary! We drove the whole time, though I used a JR pass on my first trip. During our time in Tokyo, we used a combination of the local subway and our car rental. The subway was useful for busy areas like Shinjuku but we found the car to be useful to go to areas that were further out, like Akihabara, the Tsukiji fish market, and the interactive museum. It can be exhausting walking and taking the subway all day, especially for young kids. Driving in Tokyo wasn’t too stressful, but parking can be expensive (around $10-20 a day) and there are tolls in some parts of the city. It was really relaxing and fun to drive though, especially in the mountains. The car hire companies are so good at explaining everything when you’re picking up the car, and they make sure you’ll clear about the rules and how things work.

Thank you Nellie, this was really helpful. We can’t wait! Definitely want to check out the interactive museum too. I’m actually really relieved to be driving. I couldn’t imagine how stressful dragging two toddlers through the busy subways would be!

we will be going to Japan end of March. We want to take our three kids but are unsure since we’ve never been. They will be 6 months. 3 and 4 years old. In your opinion will three under 5 be too challenging for a first time trip to Japan? We travel state side frequently but this will be our first international with them.

Hey Ariel, I don’t think there’s ever the ‘best’ time to travel with kids. So yes, I encourage you to travel Japan with your kids! Japan is honestly fantastic for kids of all ages – the bright lights, animation characters, interesting food will all make your kids go wow! Plus the infrastructure is great and you can easily get around on public transport. To make things easier, I would recommend going slower so you won’t feel too stressed up and the kids get to enjoy and play more rather than moving around. I recommend spending 5 days in Tokyo and 5 days in Kyoto. That way, you can take your time to see and experience things. We rented a car to make moving around easier and to explore the mountains. So perhaps you can consider that too. It is slightly more expensive than taking the train because of the tolls and parking fees.

Such a great guide! I’m in the beginning stages of planning and this helped alot! Thank you!

Aww thank you! I’m really glad you find this useful. :)

Helen Wearmouth

This has been a fantastic post to read, very informative. Thank you very much. We are considering Okinawa, have you been? If so would you recommend it? Many thanks in advance.

hi Helen, oh we haven’t been to Okinawa but I’ve always wanted to go!

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How to Use Visit Japan Web For Immigration and Customs in 2024?

Planning a trip to Japan is exciting. However, navigating the immigration and customs process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in a foreign country. Fortunately, with technological improvements and the development of travel systems, the Japanese government has introduced Visit Japan Web, a digital service designed to facilitate the entry process for travelers like us. So, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler returning to Japan, Visit Japan Web can be of great help.

International travelers can use the Visit Japan Web service by creating an account with a valid email. After registering their personal information, they can enter their trip information and fill out the Immigration and Customs forms. A QR code for entry procedures is available when all the information is filled correctly.

In this guide, which includes the 2024 changes, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Visit Japan Web , from creating an account to obtaining the essential QR codes.

What is Visit Japan Web?

Create an account, register your information, register family members (if needed), register your trip, fill out immigration and customs forms, other questions about visit japan web.

Visit Japan Web is an online service developed by the Japanese government to facilitate entry procedures for international travelers. It allows visitors to complete immigration and customs forms online before arriving in Japan, saving time and ensuring a smooth transition through airport procedures.

Although using the Visit Japan Web service is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to make your entry into Japan easier and faster. This service replaces the paper forms you must fill out on the airplane or when arriving at the airport.

I was never a huge fan of these forms that you have to fill out using minuscule handwriting in small fields. It is faster and way more comfortable for me to fill in the information online in advance.

How Does Visit Japan Web Work after 2024?

If you used Visit Japan Web before, you probably remember that you needed two QR codes per person: one for Immigration and one for Customs. Most people had a hard time figuring out how to retrieve both QR codes because it wasn’t very user-friendly. Luckily for all of us, this has changed on January 25, 2024!

Hey, check out these recommendations I have for you!

Before going any further, take a look at some of the recommendations I've handpicked for you. I think these are essential items you should have on your trip to Japan. You can check them out and buy them directly from Amazon.

From this date, Visit Japan Web unified both QR codes, and you only require one for both Immigration and Customs procedures. And how does Visit Japan Web work?

To use Visit Japan Web, you need to create an account. Then you register the people traveling with you, and finally, you enter your trip details (dates, flights, address…). Once it’s done, you can fill out the forms for Immigration and Customs procedures and get your QR code required when arriving at the airport.

Since all this can be a little confusing the first time you try it, I will explain all the steps in detail and add some pictures to help you out with the process. If you prefer watching a video, you can check the one below I made for you.

You may also like: Can I Open Tax Free Items in Japan? A Quick And Helpful Guide What Should I Book in Advance For Japan? What’s The Difference Between JR Pass and Suica Card?

Before anything else, you must create an account to use Visit Japan Web. Here are the steps you need to do:

• Open the Visit Japan Web website: https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
• Click on “ Log in/Register ” at the top of the page.
• Click on “ Sign up for a new account ”.
• Read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.
• Enter your email address and password.
• Click on “ Create account” .
• Check your email and enter the validation code to confirm your account.

Now that you created your account, you must fill in your information.

• Click “ Your details ”.
• Answer the yes/no questions.
• Enter your passport details and click “ Next ”.
• Confirm that the information entered is correct and click “ Register ”.

Notice that you can either enter your details manually, or you can scan your passport with the camera. However, I find it easier to enter everything manually because you usually have to try several times to scan the passport correctly, and still have to edit some information.

Yet, to use the Visit Japan Web’s QR code for tax-free, you will need to scan your passport and get a nice shot of your passport photo. But you can also benefit from tax-free without this QR code. For more information about tax-free, check out my article .

If you are traveling with family, you can register them as a family member on your Visit Japan Web account. This is mandatory for children traveling with you, but you can also register your partner, for example. People can register up to 10 family members traveling together and going through Immigration and Customs at the same time.

• Go to your Visit Japan Web account.
• Click “ Details of family members traveling with you ”.
• Click “ Add ”.
• Enter the passport details and click “ Next ”.
• Confirm the information entered and click “ Register ”.

Repeat these steps for each family member you want to add. If you made a mistake, you can edit the information by selecting the family member and clicking the “Edit” button. However, if you want to delete a family member from your account, you have to use the trash icon in front of the concerned family member.

Now, that everyone is registered, let’s enter the trip details. For this, you will need your flight details and your first accommodation address in Japan. Just follow these steps:

• Click “ Register new planned entry/return ”.
• Select “ Proceed to registration without copying details ” and click “ Next ”.
• Fill in your flight details and click “ Next ”.
• Fill in your address in Japan and click “ Next ”.
• Confirm the details entered and click “ Register plan ”.

You can go back to your account and see that there’s now a planned entry. If you need to edit or delete it, you have to click on the planned entry and select “Edit plan” or “Delete” at the top of the page.

One of the key features of Visit Japan Web is the ability to complete immigration and customs forms online. This is the last step before you get the QR code you will be using at the airport in Japan for entry procedures. Please notice that you can fill out the forms way in advance, but remember to edit them before your trip if you change something regarding the items you will carry with you to Japan. Remember that you have to fill out the forms for every person traveling with you , otherwise, you won’t get a QR code for them. To fill out the Immigration and Customs forms, follow these steps:

• Click on the planned trip you registered before.
• Select the applicant using the drop-down menu
• Click “ Quarantine ” and answer the question.
• Click “ Immigration clearance and Customs declaration ”.
• Fill out the basic information requested and click “ Next ”.
• Complete the information required about your accommodation in Japan and click “ Next ”.
• Select the purpose of your visit and enter the duration of your stay.
• Answer all the questions and click “ Next ”.
• In the end, confirm the information you entered and click “ Register ”.
• Go back to the entry procedure, select another applicant, and repeat the steps above for each applicant.
• When done, you can select an applicant and click “ Display QR code ” to get this applicant’s QR code for the entry procedures in Japan
• You have to switch applicants to get everyone’s QR code ( 1 QR code per person ).

Remember to take a screenshot of each QR code and save it on your phone to access easily when arriving in Japan. This way, if you don’t have an internet connection when arriving, you’re still able to show your QR code for the entry procedure.

You can use Visit Japan Web offline to complete the forms and get the QR code, but you will need to connect to the internet to submit the forms and receive the QR code. Complete the procedures before traveling to Japan, and save screenshots of the necessary QR code to show it when arriving in Japan. You can also follow the official offline procedure .

For now, there isn’t an official app for Visit Japan Web, but the website works very well on mobile.

You can create an account at any time and register your personal information, even if you don’t have a trip planned yet. To fill out your trip information, you will need at least your flight details and your first hotel details. This means that you can fill out the procedure as soon as you have booked your flight and hotel. It is recommended that you complete the forms at least 72 hours before you arrive in Japan.

Overall, if you’re planning a trip to Japan and find customs and immigration stuff overwhelming, Visit Japan Web is a helpful tool to simplify the immigration and customs process for travelers visiting Japan. By creating an account, filling out forms, registering family members, and obtaining QR codes online, you can speed up your entry into the country and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience.

Visit Japan Web makes entry procedures easier than ever before, especially since they unified the QR codes on January 25, 2024.

Are you ready to simplify your journey to Japan? Visit Japan Web today and take the stress out of immigration and customs!

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2 thoughts on “how to use visit japan web for immigration and customs in 2024”.

As of 7 March 2024, I believe that the Visit Japan Web URL has changed to https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/ .

Hi Frank, Yes, it has changed, but the old URL redirects to the new one. However, I changed the URL in the post in case they remove the redirection later. Thank you for your helpful feedback! Ana

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12 of the best things to do in Japan with kids

Feb 11, 2024 • 11 min read

Plan your family visit to Japan with these top things to do with kids © kiatthaworn khorthawornwong / Shutterstock

No matter where you go in Japan , you’ll find it’s an easy, fun, safe place to travel with kids.

What’s more, with one of the world’s lowest birth rates, Japan is likely to welcome you and your kiddos with open arms. Many older people, without grandchildren of their own, will dote on yours. While there are certainly some places that are for adults only, most hotels, restaurants and even car rental agencies have equipment and are happy to accommodate families. Add to that the “wow!” factor that your kids will have traveling through a unique, vibrant and fascinating country, and you’re sure to have a trip of a lifetime.

Here are our top tips and recommendations that will make your family trip to Japan a success.

What makes Japan good for kids?

Japan has fascinating festivals to witness (or even participate in!), great restaurants to dine at, interesting museums and temples, and your kids may even know more than you do about Japanese culture – especially if they’re Ghibli fans or enjoy manga and anime. That said, there are some things to be aware of and a few precautions that can make a trip go even more smoothly.

If you’re traveling with really little ones – babies or toddlers – you’ll likely want to bring (or perhaps rent) a small, lightweight stroller. Subways do have elevators, but the narrow escalators can be tricky to safely use with a bulky stroller, and depending on where you go, there may be lots of stairways. Having a stroller that folds up to not much more than an umbrella is a godsend.

Nearly all restaurants and hotels have accommodations like high chairs, but keep in mind that Japan hasn’t had much need to invest in the latest and greatest when it comes to kiddo equipment. While spotlessly clean, these things may be older and more tippy than what you’re used to at home. They’ll still get the job done, but you’ll want to be alert.

Nursing mothers will find that nearly all public areas (such as train stations and airports) have lockable “family” bathrooms that you're welcome to use for changing a diaper or breastfeeding. Open breastfeeding is uncommon, but inconspicuously feeding under a shawl or cloak won’t raise eyebrows.

And Japanese people are pretty easy-going about a noisy kid, too, so you don’t need to be too quick to shush them if they’re getting loud or having too much fun. Playgrounds are found in many parks, apartment complexes and rest areas. They’re rarely private, so in most cases, you can enjoy them at will.

There are two important things a family traveling with kids in Japan will want to prepare for:

• Crowds: If you’re traveling at peak times , the crowds can be mind-boggling, and it’s easy to get separated if you’re not careful. Make sure (in a park or temple) that you’ve set a meeting spot. In places like a subway, you may want to invest in a backpack leash set so your child won’t get swept away by the hordes.
• Quick train transfers: Japan’s trains run on time, always to the minute and sometimes to the second. They do this by opening the doors quickly and shutting them the moment folks have gotten into or out of the cars. If you’re busy wrangling kids and trying to get luggage to the door at the last minute, you may miss that chance to get on or off – or worse, some of you will get out, and some won’t. Plan ahead by keeping careful track of when your stops are, make sure (if you’re a two-parent family) that one parent gets out first and the other gets out last, bookending the kids, and have a plan in place if the train leaves while someone’s still on it. For example, tell your kids to get off at the next stop, find a police officer and wait for you to get them.

Where is best in Japan for kids?

Japan is a playground that kids will adore no matter what age they are. Majestic Mt Fuji will impress young travelers of any age, as will the many castles, temples and Japanese gardens.

Tiny tots will love the goldfish and koi ponds found in almost any temple, the interesting foods, and of course the Pokémon and Ghibli museums. Older kids may love all that too, plus the technological wonders of Tokyo ’s Akihabara neighborhood or looking out at the sprawling metropolis from the famous Skytree .

But there’s so much more: river rafting in the countryside, steaming onsen baths, beautiful temples, hiking and skiing. Best of all, it’s safe and clean.

Best things to do in Japan with babies and toddlers

Enjoy the cherry blossoms.

If you’re in Japan in March, you should bring your baby or toddler to a local cherry blossom viewing . Any major city will have a park or hilltop where the yoshino cherries thrive. In Tokyo, Ueno park and the Imperial Palace are excellent spots. Osaka Castle is also gorgeous at this time of year. It’s so popular that there’s even a cherry blossom forecast so you can plan the right weekend to visit. These gorgeous trees burst with pale pink blossoms in late spring, making for truly stunning photographs.

Bring food and drink and find a place to sit, enjoy the quiet beauty, or make friends with nearby families. And if you can't make it at cherry blossom time, the fall maple leaves generate similar excitement and are just as beautiful.

Reserve your spot at the Ghibli Museum

For toddlers who have seen a Ghibli movie or two, a trip to the Ghibli Museum will probably be a highlight of the trip. They can clamber over a stuffed version of the famous Nekobus, see original artworks, and take pictures with life-size figures of movie characters. There’s even an impressive bronze Laputa: Castle in the Sky robot. (It’s worth noting that just about any fan of Miyazaki Hayao will enjoy visiting, though there’s an age cutoff on clambering around on the Nekobus.)

If this is a key spot for your visit, you’ll need to plan months in advance, as reservations are necessary and will not be changed if you can’t come at the reserved time.

Visit Rabbit Island (Ōkunoshima)

Instead of just going to a zoo, which of course is fun for kids but can be done at home, consider a trip to Rabbit Island (known as Ōkunoshima), in Japan’s beautiful Inland Sea area. Once a location for poison gas production during World War II, this spot now has a number of hotels and literally thousands of free-roaming rabbits that are totally unafraid of people. The chance to see them up close and even feed them is a sweet, safe, fun thing that’s great for little ones. That said, like any wild animal, they can nip – you don’t want to encourage the tots to touch or hold them.

Feed the fish in the gardens, parks and castle grounds

Japanese gardens, parks, castles and museums often have impressive koi and goldfish ponds, and young tots love watching the beautiful colored fish swirl around in hopes of a handout. Often, there are fish-food pellets you can buy, but if not, just letting your child get close and personal with some friendly fish will be a hit. Kyoto’s beautiful Gold Pavilion and the Silver Pavilion have lovely ponds with fish and turtles to look for, but they’re found all over the country.

Best things to do in Japan with school-age kids

Eat well at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant.

Eating takes on a whole new meaning in Japan. Sushi is a ubiquitous staple, and seeing it trucking by on a conveyor belt is a hit with kids who are old enough to watch and only touch items they’re actually going to eat. Chances are there’s a place near your hotel, so ask at the front desk for directions.

Conveyor-belt restaurants are called kaiten-zushi in Japanese, and it’s mesmerizing to see the little plates pass by. Look out for the classic tuna and salmon nigiri , but you may see lots of unfamiliar seafood, too. Grab the ones that look tasty and give them a try. One note of caution: most booths have individual dispensers of boiling water for tea, which can cause a splash. Make sure kids don’t try to use it themselves until they’ve gotten the hang of it.

At the end of the meal, the bill is calculated by counting and sorting the empty plates, which are color-coded to the prices. In seconds, your server will stack and calculate the bill, and you’re on your way.  

Ride Yokohama’s Cosmo Clock 21

For a bird’s eye view of a beautiful cityscape, hit Yokohama (a city near Tokyo) and take a ride on the unmissable Cosmo Clock 21 , a giant Ferris wheel by the waterfront. As you ascend, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of the bay and the city. Interestingly, this was for a time the tallest Ferris wheel in Japan, until it was bested by only 0.5m (1.6ft) by one in Shiga prefecture. Not to be outdone, the crafty Yokohama-ians built a pedestal for their wheel that brought the height up by just enough to keep the title of “country’s tallest.” At least for now.

See the Great Buddha of Kamakura

Whatever your spirituality, the Great Buddha of Kamakura  is a special site that’s worthy of a visit, and impresses even little kids. You can marvel at this enormous copper statue from the plaza in front, which is paved and easy to access with strollers. But the truly inquisitive will also want to go inside the structure (look behind for the entrance). Fascinatingly, this statue has endured typhoons and even tsunamis since the 1200s.

Best things to do in Japan with tweens and teenagers

Hike mt fuji.

Young hikers will want to summit the incredible Mt Fuji, but it’s worth noting that this popular hike shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. You’ll find the peak is much colder than the base, and while you can ascend about halfway by car, the steepest parts of the climb will await you. Those wanting to see the sunrise should overnight partway up the slope, but the view of the asahi (morning sun) is worth it!

Visit an onsen

Japan’s delightful onsen – hot springs – are a treat for teens, tweens and even younger kids, though the latter should be careful as sometimes the water is very hot. You’ll find the most relaxing are those outside in the countryside, where a gurgling stream or chirping frogs might be the soundtrack, but even in Tokyo or Kyoto , you can find baths to enjoy. Note that no swimwear or even towels are allowed in the bathwater – this experience is strictly au naturel .

If you’re bashful about being naked with strangers (usually separated by gender, though there are mixed baths), ask for a “kashikiriburo” at your hotel: these are locked baths you reserve time in (often 60 minutes) and can bathe in private alone or with your family.

Marvel at Tokyo’s Akihabara district

The sheer size of Akihabara is overwhelming, street after street filled with towering skyscrapers selling electronics of every type imaginable. If your kid has been looking for a camera, phone, audio equipment or headphones, this is the place to find them, or at least to see what the future’s going to look like – because in Akihabara, the future is now.

See Hiroshima or Nagasaki

A trip to either of the cities of  Hiroshima  or Nagasaki  will impress on anyone the horrors of nuclear technology, and the strength and courage of the human spirit. There’s no denying this is a somber, grim topic, but the Peace museums in both cities, with iconic structures and artifacts, are vivid reminders of how much we as a global people must work to ensure these awful events never happen again. Though some of the photos are graphic and even upsetting, kids will come away knowing more about the role these two cities played in WWII, and with a deeper understanding of how vital peace is.

Go skiing in spectacular snow

Snow lovers will find great skiing in places like Niseko, Furano or Zao Onsen, and lessons for tweens, teens and even toddlers are easy to arrange at any of the popular resorts. The winter fun doesn't stop on the slopes though: take a tour of the vast snow fields (some of them 6m/20ft deep) or cruise above the strange, gargoyle-like forms of the “snow monsters” – conifer trees that have been covered so much by wind-driven snow that they are unrecognizable. There are also the famous snow monkeys to look for, too!

Planning tips

• Trains are a fantastic way to see the country, and if you’re planning to travel around, consider getting a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). Available for seven, 14 or 21 days, these must be purchased outside of Japan, and the voucher exchanged once you arrive.  Note that they’re not cheap, so you’ll want to do the math. With the pass, you can do all the travel you want, thanks to unlimited rides. It also lets you reserve seats in advance, making family travel that much easier. Note that many city trains and subways are not part of the JR Rail system.
• Many of the nicer hotels and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) will have loaner family items, such as umbrellas, strollers and high chairs.
• If you run out of a product or need to buy additional ones, know that Japanese sizes for some items – such as diapers – can be a little small.
• Be aware that Japan prohibits some common medicines, such as popular antihistamines. If you or your child have hay fever, you may need to opt for a Japanese brand once you arrive.

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Summer travel and summer storms don't mix. What you're owed if your flight is affected.

Summer storms often disrupt flights, which can be a frustrating start or a disappointing finish to a vacation. As many prepare to take to the skies in the coming months, it's a good idea to read up on passenger rights so you can get what you're owed if something goes wrong.

New rules from the Department of Transportation require airlines to provide cash refunds automatically within seven business days if a flight is canceled or "significantly" changed. However, those rules don't go into effect until October, so this summer will still be protected by the old framework. The DOT has a number of online dashboards to help passengers better understand what they're entitled to in the meantime.

Here's what travelers should expect when their flights are canceled or delayed.

What happens if you get bumped? What to know when airlines overbook flights

What happens if my flight is canceled?

Department of Transportation rules  require all airlines to offer customers a refund if their flights are canceled for any reason, but customers may be entitled to additional compensation if a cancellation is within the airline's control. Weather is outside of airline control.

According to the DOT's consumer dashboard , if Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue or United cancel a flight for controllable reasons, they're committed to:

• rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline, at no extra cost
• providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the cancellation results in a passenger waiting at least 3 hours for a new flight
• providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation 
• providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation

Alaska and JetBlue passengers are also eligible for additional compensation.

Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit do not book passengers on partner airlines. Additionally, Frontier does not offer hotel accommodations and related transport.

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What happens if a flight is delayed?

"There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed," according to the Department of Transportation.

However, U.S. carriers have committed to various levels of compensation for significant delays within their control. Each airline, however, defines significant delays differently.

If a flight is significantly delayed for reasons within their control, Alaska, American, Delta, Jet Blue and United offer:

• providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the delay results in a passenger waiting for at least 3 hours for departure
• providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
• providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay

Alaska and JetBlue also offer extra compensation when the flight is delayed by 3 or more hours.

Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian, Southwest and Spirit do not rebook travelers on partner airlines. Frontier doesn't offer hotel accommodations or related transport either.

USA TODAY broke it down by airline: If your flight is delayed, you may be eligible for compensation from your airline

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is experiencing a long delay, the DOT suggests asking airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.

The DOT dashboard reflects airlines' official policies, but many carriers handle compensation for delays on a case-by-case basis and may provide vouchers or other benefits in some situations that are not formally covered.

For example, according to Delta's Customer Commitment , "Delta representatives are empowered with the flexibility and discretion to issue the following forms of compensation for passenger inconvenience when individual circumstances warrant doing so: cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards), travel credits/vouchers, and/or miles for SkyMiles members."

Travel insurance can also help with cancellations and delays. Some credit card companies will also reimburse cardholders for expenses related to travel disruptions, when travel is booked on their cards.

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Best travel insurance: These policies offer the best value

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

Despite a strong field, the Karasuno High volleyball team advances past the preliminary round of the Harutaka tournament in Miyagi prefecture to reach the third round. Despite a strong field, the Karasuno High volleyball team advances past the preliminary round of the Harutaka tournament in Miyagi prefecture to reach the third round. Despite a strong field, the Karasuno High volleyball team advances past the preliminary round of the Harutaka tournament in Miyagi prefecture to reach the third round.

• Susumu Mitsunaka
• Haruichi Furudate
• Ayumu Murase
• Kaito Ishikawa
• 6 User reviews
• 13 Critic reviews

• Shôyô Hinata
• Tobio Kageyama

• Kenma Kozume

• Tetsurô Kuroo

• Kei Tsukishima
• Keishin Ukai

• Yasufumi Nekomata
• Ryûnosuke Tanaka

• Daichi Sawamura
• Nobuyuki Kai

• Asahi Azumane

• Kôshi Sugawara

• Ittetsu Takeda
• Chikara Ennoshita

• Hitoka Yachi
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

User reviews 6

• May 30, 2024
• May 31, 2024 (United States)
• Official Site (Japan)
• Haikyu!! The Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump
• Production I.G.
• Sony Music Entertainment
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $74,830,015

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 25 minutes
• Dolby Digital
• IMAX 6-Track

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