Disclaimer: Please note that we at Sunburst International Risk Management provide the following information as a value-added service to our international clients and visitors of this website. We make every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The readers assume all risks in using information on this page.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport and an onward/return ticket are required.  Passports must be valid for the intended period of stay in Japan.  A visa is not required for tourist/business stays up to 90 days.  Americans cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry.  As a general rule, "visa free" entry status may not be changed to other visa status without departing and then re-entering Japan with the appropriate visa such as a spouse, work or study visa.

Japanese Visas:  For information about the Japanese visa waiver for tourists, Japan's strict rules on work visas, special visas to take depositions, and other visa issues, travelers should consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan at 2520 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 238-6800, or the nearest Japanese consulate.  Our posts in Japan cannot assist in obtaining visas for Japan. 

Passport Validity:  U.S. citizens entering or transiting Japan should ensure that their passports and visas are up to date before leaving the United States.  Many Asian countries deny entry to travelers whose passports are valid for less than six months.  It is not usually possible to obtain a new U.S. passport and foreign visa during a brief stopover while transiting Japan, as tourist passport processing in Japan can take approximately two weeks.  Airlines in Japan will deny boarding to Americans who seek to transit Japan without the required travel documents for their final destinations in Asia.

Expired Passports:  Airlines have mistakenly boarded U.S. citizens coming to Japan, even though that person's passport has already expired.  The U.S. Embassy or our Consulates cannot "vouch for" a U.S. citizen without a valid passport, and passport services are not available at the airport.  In some instances, travelers have been returned immediately to the U.S., while in other cases, they have been issued 24-hour "shore passes" and were required to return the next day to Japanese Immigration for lengthy processing.

Visas for China:  Americans need visas to visit China. Transit visas are required for any stop (even if you do not exit the plane or train) in China.  Americans will be denied boarding in Japan for onward flights to China if they do not have a Chinese visa.  Obtaining a Chinese visa in Japan can be a lengthy and complex process without preplanning.  The Chinese Embassy requires at least one full, blank page to be available in your passport.  The U.S. Embassy and Consulates cannot assist in obtaining Chinese visas.

Citizens and nationals of the United States of America must have either a valid passport or a combination of a valid identification document containing a photograph of the holder issued by the United States of America or any of its states, cities, counties, towns or other political subdivisions, and a document containing proof of citizenship of the United States of America.   

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: While medical care in Japan is good, English-speaking physicians and medical facilities that cater to Americans' expectations are expensive and not very widespread. Japan has a national health insurance system, which is available only to foreigners with long-term visas for Japan.  National health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation or medical care outside of Japan.  Medical caregivers in Japan require payment in full at the time of treatment or concrete proof of ability to pay before treating a foreigner who is not a member of the national health insurance plan.

U.S. prescriptions are not honored in Japan, so travelers with ongoing prescription medicine needs should arrive with a sufficient supply to see them through their stay in Japan, or enough until they are able to see a local care provider.  Certain medications, including some commonly prescribed for depression and Attention Deficient Disorder (ADD), are not widely available.  Please see the section below entitled, "Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and Other Medication," regarding the importation of medicine into Japan.  More information on importing medicines into Japan is also available at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html.  A list of English-speaking medical facilities throughout Japan is available on our web site.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299)

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling outside of the U.S. are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. 

U.S. citizens resident in or visiting Japan are encouraged to sign up for an e-mail newsletter at http://japan.usembassy.gov/acs.  Alien registration formalities required under Japanese immigration law are separate from U.S. citizen registration.  Registration information is protected by the Privacy Act.

All Consular information for all of Japan is now available on a single web site at http://japan.usembassy.gov/acs.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is located at 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 Japan; telephone 81-3-3224-5000; fax 81-3-3224-5856.  Recorded visa information for non-U.S. citizens is available at the following 24-hour toll phone number: 03-5354-4033.  

The U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe is located at 2-11-5 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543; telephone 81-6-6315-5900; fax 81-6-6315-5914.  Recorded information for U.S. citizens concerning U.S. passports, notarials and other American citizens services is available 24 hours at 81-6-6315-5900.