A first trip to Japan from the UK

Konnichiwa, written with a double n, is a Japanese greeting meaning good day, and more loosely hello. A first trip to Japan from the UK means checking a few rules before you pack.

This page is a free travel guide. It has no connection with Konichiwa Agency Ltd or any company of a similar name, and it sells nothing.

Your passport and the visa

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) writes its advice for people travelling on a full British citizen passport. It says You can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days. You do not need to apply before you travel.

Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay, and you need a blank page for the visa stamp. The FCDO adds that working in Japan without the correct visa is illegal, however informal or temporary the work.

Japan's authorities set and enforce the entry rules. The FCDO suggests the Japanese Embassy in the UK for questions about how they apply to you.

Medicines to check before you pack

The FCDO warns that some common prescription and over-the-counter medicines are illegal to carry in Japan, under its strictly enforced law on anti-stimulant drugs. Its list includes Vicks inhalers, medicines for allergies and sinus problems, cold and flu medication containing pseudoephedrine, and some over-the-counter painkillers containing codeine.

The FCDO says foreign nationals have been detained and deported for these offences. It advises anyone travelling with medication to check its status with the Japanese Embassy in the UK.

Food and cash

The FCDO says it is illegal to take meat products, including sausages, bacon and ham, into Japan without permission from the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service. The penalties include a heavy fine and prison.

The FCDO also describes Japan as a mostly cash-based society. Cards issued outside Japan can be hard to use. The FCDO names the cash machines that take some foreign cards during business hours.

Planning the trip

The Japan National Tourism Organization runs a website for visitors from the UK. For vaccinations and medical entry rules, the FCDO points travellers to TravelHealthPro's Japan page.

A few words of Japanese first

For a few words before you go, the Japan Foundation London has free online resources for learners. It also has a database of private tutors around the country.

Useful links