Traveling to a new country can be an exciting experience, but it's important to be aware of the safety considerations that come with it. Japan and Hawaii are two popular destinations for travelers, but there are some special precautions that should be taken when traveling between the two. In this article, we'll discuss the safety considerations that should be taken into account when traveling between Japan and Hawaii. The U.
S. government website is a great resource for travelers looking for official information about travel regulations and restrictions. Members of the military and their family members with SOFA status should contact their chain of command directly for guidance and to follow the processes described in the Foreign Authorization Guide. Currently, tourists with U.
passports do not need visas for short-term visits (up to three months). Because travel regulations and restrictions are complex and subject to change at short notice, U. citizens considering traveling to Japan should carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan. Travelers who are unsure if they are eligible to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional information.
Military travelers arriving in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement should check with their chain of command to ensure that they understand the applicable requirements before starting their trip. The Embassy's ability to intervene on behalf of travelers who are denied boarding at their boarding point or denied entry upon arrival in Japan is extremely limited, and travelers who are denied entry to Japanese ports of entry are likely to be immediately disembarked on flights back to the United States. Travelers entering Japan can use electronic customs declaration doors (electronic gates) for customs clearance, reducing contact between people. Travelers may want to learn more about the program before arriving in Japan - see the Japan Customs website for more information. Currently, there are no COVID-19 testing, proof of vaccination, or quarantine requirements to travel to Japan. However, we highly recommend all U.
citizens carefully review the information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website, which provides official guidance. While COVID-19 testing is not required to enter Japan, a non-exhaustive list of some COVID-19 testing centers can be found on the Embassy's website, in case travelers need to be tested to travel to other countries. Travelers who need to carry more drugs or medical devices than approved by the MLHW must obtain a “Yunyu Kakunin-sho” (import certificate) before traveling and present it along with the prescription to a customs official upon arrival in Japan. All travelers entering Japan with a prescription medication, including medications that are not restricted in Japan, should consider bringing a copy of their doctor's prescription, as well as a letter stating the purpose of the medication. Make sure you carry your passport at all times during your trip to Japan - it's a legal requirement and local police can ask to verify your identification. Your passport must be valid throughout your stay.
If you plan to travel to other countries during your trip, be sure to check the validity of the passport and the visa requirements of each country. The Embassy is ready to help U. citizens replace lost or stolen passports - we will work with you to replace your passport as soon as possible. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has a disaster prevention information website with information on how to respond to a natural disaster in the area - more information can be found on our website. Visas for Japan and immigration information visas for U.
citizens who want to travel, study or work in Japan are controlled by the Japanese government. While the Japanese Government is the highest authority on visas, we include general information on visas for U. citizens to help you with your planning - citizens without a work visa cannot work in Japan (see here for detailed information). The Japan Immigration Services Agency has established comprehensive information centers and consultation centers to handle telephone, face-to-face and email inquiries in Japanese and in foreign languages - the contact information for the centers in different prefectures is detailed here. If you're looking for a unique Japanese hotel experience, stay at a traditional ryokan for a night or two (or more). Originating from the Edo period of the early 17th century, ryokans are Japanese inns where you'll sleep on tatami mats rolled up on the floor, try a traditional Japanese breakfast, and they probably have common bathroom facilities - the latter isn't for the shy or modest; it's a completely nude wardrobe experience where you sit on a stool in front of a vanity and take a bath with a shower nozzle.
We highly recommend this experience for at least one night in Nippon - everyone in Japan is aware of the fact that they share space with others, so it's always appreciated to keep conversations to a minimum and voice levels to a low volume in public. While your tattoos can be an artistic way of expressing yourself, in Japan they tend to be associated with criminals, that is, members of the Yakuza gang. Japan has relaxed its border measures, allowing visitors to enter the country without obtaining a visa - people coming and going from Hawaii must be prepared to undergo a 5-day quarantine upon arrival and closely monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, unless they have participated in the Safe Travels pre-testing program. A Japan Rail Pass can help you save a lot of money, especially if you're planning to travel around a particular region.
