Visit (visa exemption): American citizen in United States → Japan
U.S. citizens can visit Japan visa-free for tourism — no visa is required for stays of less than 90 days; you receive landing permission on arrival.
Short tourism or business visit to Japan visa-free — no visa to obtain in advance for stays under 90 days.
- Validity
- Visa-free entry — no visa is issued in advance
- Entries
- Each visa-free entry is granted on arrival
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 90 days (visa-free short stay)
Before you travel
Start 1–14 days before your travel date.
U.S. citizens need no visa for a short tourism or business visit to Japan of under 90 days.
Your U.S. passport must be valid for the entire time you are in Japan.
Carry your valid passport and proof of a return or onward ticket; immigration grants your visa-free landing permission on arrival.
What you'll need
- Valid U.S. passport — A U.S. passport valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. ✓ verified
- Return or onward ticket — Proof of a return or onward ticket to show your visit is temporary. ✓ verified
- Proof you can support yourself — Evidence of how you will support yourself during the visit — immigration officers may ask for it. ✓ verified
Official entry rules
No visa to apply for in advance: U.S. citizens enter Japan visa-free for a short visit and receive landing permission from immigration on arrival.
Review the official visa-exemption rules (travel.state.gov) →
Fees
| Visa-free tourism entry | varies |
Gotchas to watch
- Visa-free entry is for tourism and business visits — you cannot work on the local economy.
- The visa-free short stay is for under 90 days and is granted at the officer's discretion on arrival — confirm current rules on the official source before you travel.
- If you plan to stay 90 days or longer, or to work or study, you must obtain the appropriate visa in advance.
