Up to 90 days for visa-exempt nationalities. Count from the day you land, and treat the entry day as day one.
Travel days in Japan: 90 days is the limit
Japan grants short stays of up to 90 days to visa-exempt travellers. Paid work, internships and research do not fall under that exemption, however short the trip. Those need their own status, applied for before you fly.
Carry your passport, always
Japan requires foreign visitors to carry their passport at all times, and the rule is enforced. Being stopped without it can mean detention and a fine. A photo on your phone will not do.
Travel days in Japan across several trips
Two trips in one year are two separate stays, not one running total. Log them separately or your numbers drift. It matters most when the gap between them is short, because officers see every stamp and will ask.
Rules can change at short notice
Entry requirements are set by Japan and can change without warning. Only the Japanese mission is authoritative. Check before you book, not after.
When a visit turns into a stay
Past three months you need a status of residence, applied for in advance. Language school, work, an internship: each is its own category with its own paperwork. Realising mid-trip that you want to stay longer is a problem, because a short stay rarely converts. Your travel days in Japan are spent at that point, and leaving is the clean way out.
Check before travelling
- Is your passport on the current visa-exemption list?
- Does your purpose fit the short-stay rule?
- What period was granted on entry?
- Is your passport valid for the entire trip?