Your Guide to - Japan National Tourist Organization

42
Basics for Traveling in Japan
Passport and Visa
Any foreign visitors desiring to enter Japan must
have a valid passport. A visa is not required for
many nationals to visit Japan temporarily as long as
they do not engage in any remunerative activity. Visa
details can be obtained from Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Official Web Site (http://www.mofa.go.jp/
index.html) or from the Japanese Embassy or
Consulate in your country.
Customs
An oral declaration of your personal effects will
suffice except: (1) when you have unaccompanied
baggage; or (2) when you bring in articles in excess
of the duty-free allowance. In the above cases, a
written declaration will be requested at customs.
Customs duty will not be levied on personal effects
as long as their contents and quantities are deemed
reasonable by the customs officer. In addition, the
following items can be brought in duty free: (1) 500
grams of tobacco or 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars; (2)
3 bottles (760 c.c. each) of liquor; (3) 2 ounces of
perfume; (4) gifts and souvenirs other than the above
whose total market value does not exceed ¥200,000.
There is no allowance of tobacco or alcoholic
beverages for persons aged 19 years or younger.
Currency
You can bring in and take out any currency.
However, if you transport currency or other means of
payment in excess of ¥1,000,000 or its equivalent,
you are required to report this to Customs.
The unit of currency is the yen (indicated as ¥).
Coins are ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500. Bank
note denominations are ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥5,000 and
¥10,000.
You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and
other authorized money exchangers. At the
international airports, currency exchange counters
are open during normal office hours. The exchange
rate fluctuates daily depending on the money market.
Traveler's Checks and Credit Cards
Traveler's checks are accepted by leading banks,
hotels, ryokan and stores in major cities.
International credit cards such as American Express,
VISA, Diners Club, MasterCard and JCB are also
acceptable at these major establishments. Major
foreign credit, debit and cash cards can be used at
some 26,000 Post Office AMTs marked with the
'International ATM Servce' and some 15,000 Seven
Bank ATMs that can be found in Seven-Eleven
convenience stores.
Airport Access Connections
Narita International Airport
Haneda International Airport