Entering Japan

Visa

Foreign nationals who wish to temporarily enter Japan with the purpose of exercising media activities will be required to obtain temporary visitor visas prior to departure. A temporary visitor visa can be applied at the Embassy or Consulates-General of Japan serving your area. It cannot be obtained after you landed in Japan.
Please click here for visa application documents.
Japan currently takes measures concerning the waiver of visa requirements for nationals of 61 countries and regions who wish to stay in Japan for a short term. Nationals of these countries and regions holding valid passports are not required to obtain a visa.

NB: Temporary visitor visas are required for American nationals who wish to enter Japan with the purpose of engaging temporarily in the activities of information media regardless of the visa waiver arrangement.

Immigration

Foreign nationals must hold valid passports with the approved visas for the purpose of entering Japan unless exempt from visas.

New immigration procedures have been implemented since November 20, 2007. In addition to submitting embarkation & disembarkation cards, foreign nationals entering Japan are required to be fingerprinted and photographed (facial photographs) by means of special devices (except for certain exempts), then interviewed by immigration inspectors. If a foreign national who is not eligible for exemption from this requirement refuses to submit his/her fingerprints or facial photographs, he/she will be denied entry into Japan and will be ordered to leave.

• Immigration Bureau

Customs, Accompanying Filming Equipment (regarding ATA Carnet)

It is required to submit a customs declaration form for both accompanied and unaccompanied baggage at customs clearance. If you bring in items or cash exceeding the limit of the duty-free allowances, please follow the necessary customs procedures.

• Customs

In Japan, an ATA Carnet can be used for goods being temporarily imported. If you have filming or other professional equipment, you can use an ATA Carnet for import/export customs clearance. To obtain a carnet to bring goods into Japan, contact your local Chamber of Commerce.

• The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (regarding ATA Carnet. Japanese only)

Quarantine

In order to prevent infectious diseases and situations that may seriously affect the nation's health, quarantine inspections and import/export procedures are undertaken for all persons, food, animals, and plants arriving from abroad.

• Quarantine Office, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Japanese only)
• Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
• Plant Protection Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries