US citizens can visit Japan without a visa for up to 90 days as a temporary visitor, for tourism, business meetings or visiting family, as long as they do no paid work. Your passport must be valid for your whole stay; Japan does not require six months of extra validity. As of November 2026 there is no electronic travel authorization to apply for: Japan's planned JESTA system is not running yet. What you should do before you fly is fill in Visit Japan Web, which is optional but faster, and check your medicines, because some common US prescriptions and cold remedies are banned in Japan.
The visa-free stay: 90 days, no paid work
When you land, immigration grants you "temporary visitor" status for up to 90 days. That covers sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, attending meetings and conferences, and similar short visits. It does not cover any work you are paid for in Japan. If you plan to study, work or stay longer, you need the right visa from a Japanese embassy or consulate before you travel.
At the desk you will be asked to scan your fingerprints and have your photo taken, and the officer adds a landing permission sticker or stamp to your passport. Keep your passport with you while you are in Japan: short-term visitors are expected to carry it, and hotels ask to see it at check-in.
Passport validity
The rule is simple: your US passport must be valid for the entire time you are in Japan, with a blank page for the landing sticker. There is no six-month rule. That said, if you are connecting onward to another country in Asia, that country may have a stricter rule, and an airline checks the strictest one on your ticket. Our guide to passport validity covers how to check each stop.
JESTA: not in force yet
JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) will eventually ask visa-exempt visitors, including Americans, to apply online before their trip, much like the US ESTA. Japan named the system in 2026, and its justice minister has said the aim is to introduce it by the end of fiscal 2028, which runs to March 2029. As of November 2026 no application site has opened and no fee or start date has been published.
So for a trip in the near future, there is nothing to apply for. Any website offering to "process your JESTA" today is not an official Japanese government service.
Visit Japan Web: optional, but it saves time
Visit Japan Web is the Japanese government's free online service for arrival paperwork. You register your passport, flight and the address where you will stay, then complete the immigration and customs details. Since January 2024 it produces one QR code that covers both immigration and customs.
- It is not mandatory. The paper disembarkation card and customs form handed out on the plane are still accepted.
- The QR code is what speeds you up. At major airports, including Haneda, Narita and Kansai, it lets you use the self-service kiosks and electronic customs gates instead of the paper lines.
- Use only the official site. Look-alike "agency" sites charge travelers to fill in the form or create the QR code. The real service, vjw.digital.go.jp, costs nothing.
Fill it in a few days before departure and take a screenshot of the QR code in case your phone has no signal on landing.
Customs: declare and know what stays home
Every arriving traveler gives Japan Customs a declaration, either through the Visit Japan Web QR code or on the paper form. Japan sets duty-free allowances for alcohol, tobacco, perfume and gifts; check Japan Customs for the current limits if you are carrying more than personal amounts.
The item Americans most often lose at the airport is meat. Japan's Animal Quarantine Service treats all meat, including cooked, dried and packaged products such as beef jerky and sausages, as subject to quarantine, and travelers can rarely get the inspection certificate it requires. Leave it at home. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also restricted by plant quarantine.
Medicines: the rule that catches Americans
Japan's drug laws are stricter than US rules, and a US prescription does not make a banned medicine legal. The US Embassy in Japan warns that travelers who bring a medicine that is illegal in Japan risk arrest and detention, even with a valid prescription.
- Stimulant ADHD medicines. Amphetamine-based drugs such as Adderall are prohibited under Japan's stimulants law. Other ADHD medicines are handled under separate rules with quantity limits, so ask about your exact medicine before you go.
- Some cold and allergy remedies. Medicines containing more than 10% pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in US decongestants such as some Sudafed products, are not allowed, and Vicks inhalers are also on the US Embassy's list of products to leave at home. Codeine products are also restricted.
- Quantity limits. Without a permit you can generally bring up to a one-month supply of prescription medicine and up to a two-month supply of over-the-counter medicine for personal use. More than that needs an import certificate called a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, applied for before you travel. Approval can take several weeks.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) answers questions at yakkan@mhlw.go.jp. Send the active ingredient, the brand name, the dose and the quantity. Carry a copy of your prescription and a doctor's letter for anything you do bring. Our guide to flying with medication covers packing and security on the way out.
Arriving: Haneda or Narita
Tokyo has two international airports. Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo; Narita is farther out in Chiba. The entry process is the same at both. Compare flights to Tokyo Haneda or routes such as Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita when you plan the trip.
Quick checklist
- US passport valid for your whole stay, with a blank page.
- No visa and no JESTA needed for a short visit as of November 2026.
- Visit Japan Web completed and the QR code saved.
- Medicines checked against Japan's rules; Yunyu Kakunin-sho applied for if needed.
- No meat products in your bags.
