Plan the trip

Plan around the 2026 changes: the JR Pass price, departure tax, tax-free shopping, visa fees and the Kyoto and Hokkaido hotel taxes all moved. Tourist status has no published allowance for remote work, and the nomad visa lasts 6 months at most (see Live and work).

What to sort first

Start with What changed in Japan in 2026: 14 changes in one table, each marked with who it hits. A 7-day JR Pass is $340 (¥53,000) at agents and $325 (¥50,000) on the official site for now.

What are the trip guides?

• Japan trip planning: the full guide Plan in this order: when, how long, entry, money, transport, where to stay, connectivity and safety.
• When to visit Japan Climate by month for six cities; Tokyo averages 5.4 °C in January, and Golden Week 2027 falls on 29 April and 3 to 5 May.
• One, two and three week itineraries Tokyo and Kyoto first, then Nagano and Osaka, then Hokkaido; Tokyo to Kyoto is about 2 h 10 by Shinkansen.
• Entry, Visit Japan Web and customs Most visa-exempt visitors get 90 days, and cash above $6,450 (¥1,000,000) must be declared.
• Cash, IC cards and eSIM Welcome Suica Mobile on iPhone (180 days), TOURIST PASMO on any phone (28 days, no deposit).
• Tax-free shopping Pay the tax at the till, then claim it back at departure from 1 November 2026: $32 (¥5,000) minimum per store per day, within 90 days.
• Shinkansen and JR Pass On JR Central lines a bag over 160 cm total needs a reserved seat or a $6 (¥1,000) fee.
• Airport transfers Skyliner from 41 minutes, Monorail 13 minutes from Haneda to Hamamatsucho, Rapi:t 34 minutes to Namba.
• Tokyo to Hakuba in winter Shinkansen to Nagano, then the Alpico bus at $23 to $25 (¥3,500 to ¥3,800) in 2025-26; the 2026-27 fare is due around mid-November 2026.
• Hotel taxes and where to stay Kyoto charges $1 to $65 (¥200 to ¥10,000) per person per night; Tokyo moves to 3% on 1 April 2027.
• How much a trip costs The 2025 Japan Tourism Agency average is about $1,480 (¥229,000) per visitor per trip.
• Safety and etiquette Police 110, ambulance and fire 119, and the JNTO hotline.
• Travel insurance for Japan Not compulsory, but the health ministry strongly recommends private cover; JNTO cites bills up to $64,520 (¥10 million).
• New Year closures Many sights, shops and restaurants close from 29 December to 4 January; temples and shrines stay open.
• Lift passes 2026-27 Adult day tickets for 11 resorts side by side, and how little multi-day passes save.

Can I…? answers

• Can I use a JR Pass for Tokyo, Hakuba and Kyoto? Yes, and whether it pays depends on the legs you ride.
• Can I bring medication into Japan? Yes, within a one-month supply of an allowed drug; some common drugs are banned even with a prescription.
• Can I rent a car in winter with an IDP? Only a paper 1949 Geneva permit counts.

Safety Police are 110 and ambulance or fire are 119, free and open 24 hours. The JNTO Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, runs 24 hours in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

To verify JESTA, the pre-authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, is reported to have passed into law in 2026. It is not live and its fee is not set, so avoid sites selling it.

Live and work: the longer stay

Can you work remotely on a tourist stay?

No. Visa-exempt temporary visitor status is for tourism, and no allowance for remote work is published. The route is the nomad status, formally Designated Activities. Details: Can I work remotely on a tourist visa?

Tourist stays are usually 90 days, but some passports get 15 or 30. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs list sets each passport’s length.

What does the nomad visa allow?

Per the Immigration Services Agency and JNTO:

• Stay: 6 months, no extension, no residence card. Re-entry only after 6 months outside Japan.
• Income and cover: at least $64,520 (¥10 million) a year, plus private medical insurance with medical cover of at least $64,520 (¥10 million). Sole proprietors are judged on profit, not turnover.
• Work: remote work for a foreign employer, or services and goods sold to people abroad. No contracts with Japanese organisations or individuals.
• Family and tax: spouse and children can come. Income from activity in Japan is exempt under most treaties at 183 days or fewer, if the payer is abroad and a treaty applies.
• Eligibility: only nationals of countries with both visa exemption and a tax treaty with Japan. One report counts about 49; the official list and the visa fee are unconfirmed.
• Apply: at the Japanese embassy or consulate where you live.

Where do you base yourself?

Expect 4 to 7 months of rent upfront on a standard lease, per the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; secondary guides say 4 to 6. Furnished monthly providers advertise no key money or guarantor, their own claim, so read the terms. Coworking runs from $14 (¥2,200) for a day desk in Fukuoka to $350 (¥54,000) a month for a Tokyo membership. Destinations has the regions.

• Digital nomad visa Up to 6 months with no extension; $64,520 (¥10 million) a year and private insurance; Japanese clients are excluded.
• Coworking in Japan Osaka WeWork is $275 (¥42,900) a month; Fukuoka and Tokyo prices as above.
• Wi-Fi, SIMs and eSIMs for remote work povo’s data-only eSIM was 20 GB for 30 days at $17 (¥2,700) in the 2025 listing; the SIM ID rule is unconfirmed.
• Renting a flat: upfront costs Deposit of 1 to 3 months, key money of 0 to 2, an agent fee of 0 to 1, plus a guarantor and insurance.
• Weekday city, weekend mountain From Tokyo, Karuizawa takes about 65 minutes, Echigo-Yuzawa 70 to 80, Nagano 80 to 110 and Hakuba about 3 hours; fares are last known.

Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.