✈️ Before You Go: Passports, Flights & Entering Japan
🌏 Let’s Get You Into Japan!
Y’all…
You can’t get into Japan with a driver’s license and good intentions. 😂
Let’s make sure you’ve got everything ready BEFORE we leave.
🛂 Passport
Your passport is your golden ticket!
✅ Make sure you have one.
✅ Pull it out TODAY and check the expiration date.
Although Japan only requires your passport to be valid for the length of your stay, T&T Travel strongly recommends renewing your passport if it expires in 2027 or sooner.
Passport renewals can take several weeks (sometimes even a few months), and we’d rather spend our time planning Japan than stressing over paperwork.
💡 Make two photocopies of your passport before your trip.
Keep one copy in your luggage and leave another with someone you trust at home. It’s also a good idea to save a photo of your passport in your phone or secure cloud storage in case it’s ever lost.
🎉 Great News… No Visa Required!
One of the best things about visiting Japan as a U.S. citizen?
You do NOT need a tourist visa! 🙌
If you’re traveling on a U.S. passport and staying 90 days or less, simply bring your passport and you’re good to go.
That’s one less thing to spend money on!
If you’re traveling on a passport from another country, please check Japan’s entry requirements for your nationality before traveling.
📱 Visit Japan Web (Everyone Should Complete This!)
While you don’t need a visa, everyone should complete Visit Japan Web before departure.
Think of it as your digital arrival form.
Instead of filling out paper forms on the airplane, you’ll complete everything online before your trip.
Visit Japan Web allows you to:
✈️ Complete Immigration
🧳 Complete Customs
📱 Receive QR codes for arrival
🚶 Get through the airport faster after landing
We’ll remind everyone when it’s time to complete it and help anyone who needs assistance.
The official website is:
⚠️ Only use the official Japanese government website.
It’s completely FREE.
Please don’t pay a third-party company to fill it out for you.
💉 Vaccines
Good news again!
Unlike our Africa adventure…
😂 No special vaccines or immunizations are required for travel to Japan.
Just bring your excitement!
(Of course, make sure you’re up to date on your routine vaccinations and bring any prescription medications you’ll need during the trip.)
✈️ Let’s Talk Flights
Yes…
Flights to Japan can be expensive.
BUT… they don’t have to be!
💳 Get Your Points Game Up!
Several of us are flying to Japan FREE!
How?
Travel rewards.
I shared my American Express referral link because the welcome bonuses can be HUGE.
Several members of our group have already earned enough points to cover their flights simply by using their cards responsibly.
Remember…
Points are your friend!
✈️ Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative
Sometimes the cheapest flight isn’t from your hometown.
Try searching flights from different cities.
For example…
I’m planning to fly to Seattle the day before, then use my Delta SkyMiles to fly nonstop to Tokyo in a premium cabin.
Believe it or not…
That’s fewer points than flying from Atlanta!
Don’t be afraid to play around with different departure cities.
🛫 Nonstop Flights to Tokyo (Haneda)
You can fly nonstop to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from several U.S. cities, including:
✈️ Atlanta
✈️ Seattle
✈️ Los Angeles
✈️ San Francisco
✈️ Honolulu
Depending on the airline and season, additional nonstop routes may also be available.
Sometimes a positioning flight to one of these cities can save you hundreds of dollars or thousands of airline miles!
📅 When Should I Buy My Flight?
Nobody knows exactly when airfare will be cheapest…
But generally speaking…
👀 Start watching prices about 6 months before departure.
✈️ Many travelers find great cash fares 3–6 months before travel, while airline award seats are often released even earlier.
Don’t panic if prices seem high at first.
Airfares change all the time!
💙 T&T Travel Flight Tips
⭐ Compare cash prices and airline miles.
⭐ Compare several departure airports.
⭐ If you’re using airline miles, book as early as possible.
⭐ Consider flying into another U.S. gateway if it saves money or points.
⭐ Set fare alerts and be patient.
⭐ Double-check that the name on your airline ticket matches your passport exactly.
🌸 You’re Almost There!
Once your passport is ready…
Your flight is booked… Let ya girl know via txt:
- Airline
- Flight numbers
- Arrival & Departure Dates
- Arrival & Departure Times
And your Visit Japan Web registration is complete…
You’re officially ready for one of the most unforgettable adventures of your life.
Japan is waiting…
And we can’t wait to experience it together! 🇯🇵✈️