Essential Info for Traveling to Japan: Latest Visa Requirements & Can You Apply for an Independent Travel Visa Now?

Latest Requirements for Applying for a Japanese Tourist Visa

1) Group Tour (Single Entry, Up to 15 Days)

Chinese tourists traveling to Japan generally do so as part of a "group tour" (with a stay not exceeding 15 days)

In group tours, free movement without a guide is not allowed.

2) Independent Travel

Private travel does not require an accompanying leader. There are single-entry and multiple-entry visas available.

Application Requirements & Notes:

Single-Entry Individual (Maximum stay of 15 or 30 days per trip, visa validity is 3 months from issue date, not extendable)

Eligible Groups:

"Individuals with certain financial means and their families,"

"Undergraduate and graduate students (master's and doctoral) currently enrolled in any university officially listed by China's Ministry of Education offering regular degree programs, including students currently enrolled or graduates within three years of graduation."

Multiple-Entry Individual (3-year visa: single stay up to 30 days / 5-year visa: single stay up to 90 days)

① Okinawa Multiple-Entry Visa / Tohoku Six Prefectures Multiple-Entry Visa (Valid for 3 years, single stay of 30 days or less)

Eligible Groups:

First-time visitors to Japan who stay overnight or longer in Okinawa or one of the six Tohoku prefectures (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima), meeting the following criteria:

A. When staying in Okinawa: (a) individuals with sufficient financial means and their families, or (b) individuals with moderate financial means who have made a short-term trip to Japan within the past 3 years, along with their family members

B. When staying in one of the six Tohoku prefectures: individuals with certain financial means and their families

② Multiple-Entry Visa for Individuals with Sufficient Financial Means (Valid for 3 years, single stay of 30 days or less)

Eligible Groups:

"Individuals with sufficient financial means and their families,"

"Individual travelers who have visited Japan at least twice within the past three years under a specific individual travel visa (excluding group tours and university group visas),"

No specific requirement for first-time visitors to Japan.

③ High-Income Earner Multiple-Entry Visa (Valid for 5 years, single stay up to 90 days)

Eligible Groups:

"High-income individuals and their families"

This visa can be used for tourism, business, or visiting family and friends, but cannot be used to engage in income-generating business activities or receive compensation in Japan.

As of October 14, 2022, applicants meeting any one of the following conditions can apply for a five-year Japanese tourist visa:

1. Annual personal income tax payment of over 92,000 RMB.

2. Parents, spouse, or children hold valid five-year visas that have not expired.

I. What are the requirements for applying for a Japanese visa?

1. The requirements for applying for a Japanese visa are as follows:

(1) A passport valid for at least six months; if you are using a newly issued passport, please also provide the old one.

(2) Japan tourist visa application form.

(3) Two 2-inch front-facing, bareheaded color photos.

(4) A photocopy of your ID card.

(5) A photocopy of the household registration book for your entire family.

(6) Proof of employment.

(7) A photocopy of the business license.

(8) A cash deposit of at least 50,000 RMB per person.

(9) Proof of assets; group visa applicants need to provide a 50,000 RMB deposit certificate; individual visa applicants need an annual income of over 100,000 RMB; multiple-entry visa applicants need an annual income of over 250,000 RMB.

2. Legal basis: Article 13 of the Passport Law of the People's Republic of China

An applicant shall not be issued a passport under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Not holding the nationality of the People's Republic of China;

(2) Unable to prove their identity;

(3) Provided false information during the application process;

(4) Has been sentenced to criminal punishment and is currently serving the sentence;

(5) Notified by a people’s court of unsettled civil cases that prohibit departure from the country;

(6) Is a defendant or suspect in a criminal case;

(7) Is considered by the relevant departments under the State Council as likely to endanger national security or cause significant harm to national interests after leaving the country.

II. What is the process for applying for a visa?

The visa application process is as follows:

1. Submit a valid passport.

2. Submit various documents related to the purpose of the application, such as proof of birth, marital status, education, work experience, etc.

3. Fill out and submit the visa application form. Different visas require different forms, most of which must be filled out in a foreign language, along with a personal photo.

4. An interview with officials from the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

5. The embassy or consulate will submit the completed visa application forms and necessary supporting documents to the competent authority in their home country for review and approval.

6. After necessary review by the competent authority of the destination country, the approval decision will be communicated to the embassy or consulate in that country.

7. Pay the visa fee.

○ Visa Processing Time:

If there are no particular issues with the application, the time required from application to visa issuance is five business days, counted from the day after the application is received.

Depending on the Japanese embassy or consulate and the purpose of travel, this period may be shorter.

Conversely, if there are questions about the application content, or if it is deemed necessary to conduct a detailed review at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tokyo), it may take over a month for the visa to be issued.

○ Visa Fees:

The visa fees charged by this office are as follows. In addition to the visa fees listed below, visa agencies designated by this office may charge visa application handling fees (which may include costs such as round-trip airfare and hotel accommodation).

For details, please inquire with the visa agencies designated by this office.

○ Single-Entry Visa: 190 RMB (※1)

○ Multiple-Entry Visa: 375 RMB (※2) (No visa fee will be charged if the visa is not issued.)

(※1) The visa fee is exempted for visits to Okinawa Prefecture or any one of the three Tohoku prefectures (Iwate Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture).

(※2) The visa fee is exempted for stays in Okinawa Prefecture or visits to any one of the three Tohoku prefectures (Iwate Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture) among the six Tohoku prefectures.

Japan has always been one of the favorite overseas travel destinations for Chinese people. Every year, a considerable number of people travel to Japan independently. However, for first-time travelers to Japan, although they may be very familiar with the major attractions, they might not be as acquainted with basic information such as voltage, time difference, consumption tax, how to fill out entry and exit forms, or even how to make phone calls locally. Before you depart, quickly learn some local travel tips in Japan to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable trip.

Before traveling to Japan, check out these little things that netizens often overlook.

I. Basic Information for Traveling in Japan

Japan is one time zone ahead of China, which means you add one hour to Beijing time.

1 RMB is approximately equivalent to 20 Japanese Yen.

The Japanese Yen (¥). Banknotes come in denominations of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, and 1,000 yen; coins are available in 500 yen, 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen, and 1 yen.

Japan's consumption tax is 10% (updated from the original 5%), which is already included in the marked prices—no additional charges are needed. Except for a few duty-free shops at airports and in cities, only large electronics retail chains and department stores offer tax refunds for purchases exceeding 10,001 yen (or possibly 15,001 yen)—but not all stores provide this service, so you must ask the staff in advance.

When making purchases in Japan—whether dining, taking a taxi, or staying at a hotel—there’s no need to give extra tips, as service charges are included in the prices.

Tokyo Skytree is one of the must-visit attractions in recent years. (Image provided by Magnum Edit Team)

On August 5, 2005, the measure for permanent visa exemption for Taiwanese tourists was passed. From that date onward, anyone traveling to Japan for up to 90 days is eligible for visa-free entry.

◎ Notes on Visa Exemption Implementation

Eligibility: Holders of valid Taiwanese passports (only those with an ID number recorded on the passport).

Purpose of Visit: Short-term stays for tourism, business, visiting relatives, etc. (those traveling to Japan for work purposes do not qualify for visa exemption).

Duration of Stay: Up to 90 days.

Port of Departure/Entry: No special restrictions.

Voltage is 100 volts, and the power outlets are two-flat-pin plugs, which are different from those in China.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, beloved by Kyoto enthusiasts. (Image provided by Magnum Edit Team)

II. Japan Entry Procedures

All foreign nationals entering Japan must complete an entry/exit form and a customs declaration form. Independent travelers who do not receive these forms from their travel agency prior to departure should request them from the flight crew on the plane and fill them out as much as possible during the flight. All fields must be completed to avoid delays at immigration.

(1) Foreigner’s Entry Record

1 Chinese surname (Note: Fill in the surname as shown on your passport)

2 Chinese given name (Note: Fill in the given name as shown on your passport)

3 English surname (Note: Fill in the surname as shown on your passport)

4 English given name (Note: Fill in the given name as shown on your passport)

5 Nationality

6 Date of birth (Note: Use the Gregorian calendar)

7 Gender (Mark with a circle)

8 Current place of residence (Only the country and city names are required)

9 Occupation (Please write in English)

10 Passport number (Note: Fill in the number as shown on your passport)

11 Flight number

12 Departure airport

13 Purpose of entry (Please check the leftmost box for “Sightseeing.” If your purpose is not sightseeing, you must hold a visa.)

14 Intended length of stay in Japan (Please fill in the date you plan to leave Japan, using the Gregorian calendar)

15 Contact in Japan (Please provide the name of the hotel where you will be staying)

(2) Foreigner’s Exit Record (Image provided)

16 Chinese surname

17 Chinese given name

18 English surname

19 English given name

20 Nationality

21 Date of birth (Note: Use the Gregorian calendar)

22 Foreigner’s Registration Certificate Number (Not required for tourists)

23 Return flight number

24 Return flight destination

25 Signature (Either Chinese or English is acceptable)