Japan Tourist Visa: ¥15,000 Application Guide

Do You Need a Visa for Japan?

Start by checking whether you need a visa at all. Citizens of over 70 countries and regions — including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU nations, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea — can enter Japan visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days.

Citizens of India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, and most other developing nations need a visa before travelling. Indonesia sits in between: Indonesians holding an ICAO-compliant ePassport pre-registered via MOFA's online JAVES system (registration is free and valid for 3 years) can enter visa-free for 15 days per visit, while non-ePassport holders need a visa.

If you do need one, the standard route is the tourist (temporary visitor) visa. The actual length of stay — 15, 30, or 90 days — is decided by the immigration officer at entry.

The Fee: What Changed in July 2026

Japan revised its visa fee schedule on 1 July 2026 — the first increase since 1978. For most visa-required nationalities the tourist visa now costs ¥15,000 for single entry and ¥30,000 for multiple entry, up from ¥3,000 and ¥6,000 before. Fees are paid in the local currency equivalent when you collect your passport.

Indian applicants are the notable exception. The Embassy of Japan in India has retained the concessional fee under a bilateral arrangement: INR 500, whether single or multiple entry. The July 2026 increase does not apply to applications lodged in India.

Two things to note. First, the ¥700 transit visa was discontinued in the July 2026 revision — the category was merged into the single/double-entry visa, so if you only need to transit you now apply for a single-entry visa. Second, if you apply through an authorised agency such as VFS Global in India, budget for a service fee on top (around ₹800 at VFS in India).

Application Process

Step 1: Prepare Documents

Passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages)
Visa application form (download from the embassy website, fill in black ink)
Photo (4.5x4.5cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months)
Flight itinerary — Japanese embassies typically accept reservation confirmations, so you do not necessarily need fully paid tickets at this stage
Hotel bookings (ALL nights)
Day-by-day travel itinerary
Bank statements (6 months)
Employment certificate on company letterhead with salary details
ITR (2-3 years)

A cover letter is not mandatory but is recommended for first-time applicants, and if you are staying with friends or family in Japan you will need an invitation letter from your host (MOFA publishes templates for the letter of guarantee and invitation).

On finances: a common guideline is JPY 50,000–100,000 per day of stay, but this is not an official embassy requirement — what matters is a healthy, consistent balance relative to your trip length.

Step 2: Submit at Embassy/Consulate

Japan visas are submitted at embassies or through authorized travel agents. No VFS in most countries — but where VFS does operate, check the appointment rules. In India, since 2 March 2026, walk-ins are no longer accepted at VFS centres in southern India (Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Puducherry) — you must book an appointment online. As of March 2026, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata still accepted walk-ins, but check the VFS Global Japan page before you visit.

Step 3: Wait for Processing

Typically 5-7 working days. Allow longer during peak seasons — cherry blossom (March–April) and autumn foliage (October–November) — and add 2-3 extra working days for courier handling if you applied through an agency like VFS. Apply at least 2-3 weeks before travel, more in peak season.

Step 4: Collect Passport

Pick up passport with visa if approved. The fee is paid at collection.

Important: Day-by-Day Itinerary

Japan is strict about itinerary. Include:

Date
City
Morning/afternoon/evening activities
Hotel name and address
Transportation between cities

Sample Itinerary Format

Day 1 - April 10 - Tokyo

Arrival: Narita Airport 14:00
Transfer to hotel
Evening: Explore Shibuya
Hotel: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, 3-2-9 Nishi-Shinjuku

Day 2 - April 11 - Tokyo

Morning: Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
Afternoon: Tokyo Skytree
Evening: Akihabara
Hotel: Shinjuku Washington Hotel

Common Refusal Drivers

Applications tend to run into trouble for a handful of predictable reasons:

Inconsistent bank statements. Large unexplained deposits shortly before applying look like borrowed money. Regular income patterns over 6 months are far more convincing than a lump sum.
A vague or incomplete itinerary. Missing hotel nights, cities with no accommodation listed, or "sightseeing" entries with no detail undermine the whole file. Japan expects the paper trail to be complete.
Weak ties to your home country. Show reasons to return — employment, property, family obligations — through your employment certificate, ITRs, and cover letter.
No travel history. This is not disqualifying, but if you have stamps from other countries (UK, US, Schengen), include those passports; even one or two compliant trips help.

One hard rule: any paid work — including freelancing or remote work — is strictly prohibited on a tourist visa; violations can mean deportation and a future entry ban. Extensions are also difficult and routine requests to stay longer for tourism are generally refused, so plan your dates accordingly.