Japan in 10 facts: a first-trip primer that skips the fluff

Japan is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel in once you’re on the ground, and one of the easiest to get slightly wrong before you arrive. None of the mistakes are dramatic. You’ll just pay more than you needed to, or stand at a ticket gate with the wrong card, or find your hair straightener running oddly. Here are the ten facts that actually change how you plan. Our Japan country page has the live currency rate, holidays and plug data in one screen.

1. Cash still matters, but less than it used to

The old line that “Japan is a cash society” is out of date, but not entirely wrong. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry now publishes a cashless payment ratio each year. For 2025 it reported 58.0% on its new domestic measure, or about 46% on the international comparison measure (summary). That’s big-city hotels, chains and department stores taking cards happily, while shrines, small restaurants, rural buses and market stalls still want yen.

Carry some cash, and know where to get more. JNTO’s currency guide and credit card page explain which ATMs take foreign cards; convenience-store ATMs are the usual answer. A multi-currency card such as Wise Partner can keep the exchange margin down, but check your own card’s foreign ATM fees first.

2. Get an IC card before you touch a ticket machine

Rechargeable IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and others) work on trains, subways and buses across the big cities, and at convenience stores and vending machines too. They work across regions, so a Suica bought in Tokyo will also get you through the gates in Osaka. JNTO’s IC card page lists the options.

The chip shortage that stopped sales of physical cards in 2023 is over. JR East resumed Suica sales in March 2025. iPhone users can also skip the plastic entirely with JR East’s Welcome Suica Mobile app, launched in March 2025 and topped up through Apple Pay.

3. The sockets look American, and the voltage is lower than almost anywhere

Japan uses Type A (two flat pins) and Type B (two flat pins plus a round earth) sockets at a nominal 100 V (IEC World Plugs; country table). If you’re coming from North America, your plugs fit. Many older Japanese sockets are two-pin only, so a three-prong plug may need a cheap two-pin adapter. Everyone else needs an adapter.

Voltage matters more than shape. Phone and laptop chargers labelled “100-240V” are fine. Single-voltage 230 V hair dryers and straighteners from Europe, Asia or Africa will run weak or not at all on 100 V. Leave them at home.

4. The country runs on two frequencies

East Japan runs at 50 Hz and west Japan at 60 Hz. The boundary follows the Fuji River in Shizuoka and Itoigawa in Niigata. Tokyo, Sendai and Sapporo are on the 50 Hz side; Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka are on 60 Hz. The split goes back to the 1890s, when Tokyo bought German generators and Osaka bought American ones (The Japan Times).

Does it matter to a visitor? Rarely. Chargers marked “50/60Hz” don’t care. It matters for mains-timed clocks and some older motor-driven appliances, and it explains why a Japanese hotel kettle label may list both frequencies.

5. The JR Pass got much more expensive in 2023

On 1 October 2023 the Japan Rail Pass price went up sharply. JNTO’s JR Pass guide lists the ordinary pass at 50,000 yen for 7 days, 80,000 for 14 and 100,000 for 21. Green Car (first class) passes start at 70,000 yen. The seven-day pass used to cost 29,650 yen (JR Pass price history), so the old rule of thumb that “one Tokyo–Kyoto return pays for it” no longer works.

Price your actual journeys as single tickets first. A Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Tokyo loop over two weeks is often cheaper on point-to-point tickets. Regional JR passes, sold by the individual JR companies, can beat the national pass if you stay in one area. The official sales site is japanrailpass.net.

6. Tax-free shopping changes on 1 November 2026

Until 31 October 2026, eligible visitors can show a passport at a registered shop and pay without the 10% consumption tax. From 1 November 2026, Japan switches to a refund model. You pay the full tax-inclusive price, then claim the tax back after customs confirms the goods are leaving the country. The Japan Tourism Agency’s traveller FAQ sets out the details:

• The customs check happens at the airport or seaport, before you check your bags. Keep the goods in your hand luggage or somewhere you can get to them.
• The refund goes back by the method the shop offers (card, bank transfer, app or cash).
• The purchase must be taken out of Japan within 90 days of buying it.
• The 5,000-yen minimum per shop per day stays, and the old upper limit on consumables is scrapped (japan-guide.com summary).

If your trip straddles the date, expect the rules to depend on when you bought the goods. Ask the shop.

7. Entry: check MOFA, register on Visit Japan Web, and ignore JESTA for now

Many passports can enter Japan visa-free for short stays. The authoritative list is MOFA’s visa-exempt countries page, reached from the MOFA visa hub. The Digital Agency’s Visit Japan Web lets you fill in immigration and customs details before you land and get QR codes for the arrival desks. It’s optional, but it saves time.

You may have read about JESTA, Japan’s planned electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, which works like the US ESTA. The Diet passed the enabling law in May 2026 (VisasNews), and most reporting points to a launch around 2028. At the time of writing it is not operating, and you can’t apply for it. Be wary of any site offering you a “JESTA” today.

8. The departure tax tripled in July 2026

Japan’s International Tourist Tax, charged on every departure, rose from 1,000 to 3,000 yen from 1 July 2026 (Japan Tourism Agency notice; JNTO explainer). It is normally built into your air or ferry fare, so you won’t pay it at the airport. It does explain why a Japan fare quoted in 2025 may look slightly off now.

9. Don’t tip, and mind the small rules

JNTO is plain about it: tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis, bars or hotels. Leaving cash on the table usually means a staff member runs after you to return it. The etiquette that actually matters is smaller and more constant (JNTO customs and etiquette):

• Queue on the platform markings.
• Keep phone calls off trains.
• Take shoes off where you see a raised step or a rack of slippers.
• Carry your rubbish until you find a bin, which can take a while.

At onsen, wash before you get in, and check the rules on tattoos before you go.

10. Sort data before you land

Free Wi-Fi exists in stations and many cafés, but maps, translation and transit apps work best on mobile data. Your choices are a pocket Wi-Fi rental, a physical SIM, or an eSIM installed before departure, such as Airalo Partner. An eSIM is the least hassle if your phone supports it and is unlocked. Whatever you choose, download offline maps for the areas you’ll visit.

If you’re flying in from Europe, London Heathrow to Tokyo Narita is about 9,590 km great-circle. Our site’s block-time estimate of roughly 12 hours is a floor, not a schedule: real flights run longer, and routings around closed airspace can add more. Check the airline’s timetable.