Japan for European travellers: visa-free entry, European routing options, and EUR card tips
Most EU passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days. Lufthansa, ANA, KLM, and Air France all fly direct from major European cities in 12 hours. N26 or Revolut eliminate the standard 1.75% European bank card forex fee on yen purchases.
Visa requirements
Most EU and EEA nationality holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days (some countries 30 days — check the Japanese consulate for your specific nationality). No registration required. Multiple entries permitted with each stay under the limit.
Documents required
- ✓Valid EU/EEA passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Return or onward ticket
Flights from Europe (Schengen) to Japan
Money, cards & forex fees
Zero forex for European travellers; Metal plan covers Japan's 7-Eleven ATM fees
Zero forex weekday EUR→JPY conversion with Revolut app
Transparent mid-market EUR→JPY rate
ATMs in Japan
Best ATMs: 7-Eleven Bank ATMs (セブン銀行) — available 24/7 at every 7-Eleven convenience store nationwide, accept all major foreign cards. Japan Post Bank ATMs — at all post offices, accept foreign cards during post office hours. Avoid local bank ATMs (MUFG, Mizuho, Sumitomo) as most do not accept foreign cards.
Typical surcharge: ¥110–220 per withdrawal at 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs for foreign cards; many domestic ATMs do not accept foreign cards at all
Withdrawal tip: Japan is heavily cash-based. Withdraw ¥50,000–¥100,000 at a time from 7-Eleven ATMs. Many restaurants, smaller temples, traditional ryokan, and rural establishments are cash-only. ALWAYS carry cash in Japan.
Top cities in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's hypermodern capital — a city that somehow combines cutting-edge technology with ancient shrine culture. Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, teamLab digital art installations, Tsukiji Outer Market, and the world's densest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants all coexist here. Tokyo is the entry point for most international visitors and warrants at least 4–5 nights.
Kyoto
Japan's ancient imperial capital and cultural soul. Kyoto has over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. Fushimi Inari's thousands of vermilion torii gates, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), and the Gion district's preserved machiya townhouses make it the most photographed city in Japan. Go in cherry blossom season (late March–early April) or autumn foliage (November).
Osaka
Japan's kitchen and comedy capital. Osaka's Dotonbori neon district, takoyaki and okonomiyaki street food culture, Osaka Castle, and nearby Nara's free-roaming deer make it an essential counterpart to Kyoto. Osaka residents are famously friendly and direct by Japanese standards. Universal Studios Japan is a major draw for families.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is one of the world's most moving historical experiences — a profound and essential visit. The rebuilt city around it is modern, vibrant, and focused on its peace mission. Miyajima Island (30 minutes by ferry) has the famous 'floating' torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan's Three Views. The Shinkansen from Osaka makes Hiroshima an easy day trip or overnight.
Hokkaido
Japan's northernmost main island offers a completely different experience. In winter (December–March), Niseko is one of Asia's best ski resorts and receives the world's finest powder snow. In summer, Hokkaido's lavender fields around Furano are extraordinary. Sapporo (Hokkaido's capital) hosts a famous snow festival in February and is famous for ramen and fresh seafood. Less crowded than Honshu's main tourist circuit.
European to Japan routing and airline options
Japan is 11–13 hours from Western Europe depending on departure city. The main hubs are Frankfurt (Lufthansa, ANA), Amsterdam (KLM), Paris CDG (Air France, ANA, JAL), and Helsinki (Finnair — one of the closest European cities to Japan geographically). Economy return fares average €700–1,000 from major European hubs. Business class starts around €3,500. Japan Airlines and ANA consistently rank higher for cabin quality than European carriers on this route — worth considering for the price difference on a 12-hour flight.
Japan's cash culture for European visitors
Japan's cash dependence will feel unusual for Europeans accustomed to tap-to-pay contactless everything. The 7-Eleven ATM (セブン銀行) network is your consistent solution nationwide — 24/7, accepts Visa/Mastercard/Amex/UnionPay, ¥110–220 fee per withdrawal. N26 Metal reimburses ATM fees up to 5 times per month. Revolut has a free monthly ATM limit. Withdraw ¥50,000 at a time. The Suica IC card (loaded at station machines) is accepted at convenience stores, station restaurants, and transit — reducing the number of cash transactions for day-to-day spending.
On-arrival tips
- 1European flights arrive at Narita Terminal 1 (most carriers) — 7-Eleven ATM is in the arrivals hall
- 2Pick up a Suica IC card at the airport train station
- 3JR Pass should be purchased before leaving Europe from JRailPass.com or a travel agent
- 4Learn to say 'Sumimasen' (excuse me) and 'Arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you) — basic courtesy goes a long way
Key takeaways
- ✓Most EU passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days — check your specific nationality's limit
- ✓Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and ANA all fly direct from major European hubs in 12 hours
- ✓Use N26 or Revolut for zero forex on JPY — standard European bank cards charge 1.75%
- ✓7-Eleven ATMs are the only reliable 24/7 option for foreign card withdrawals in Japan
- ✓Never tip in Japan
- ✓CBD is illegal in Japan — do not bring EU-purchased CBD products
Related visa guides
Visa information is based on publicly available government sources and official embassy data. Entry requirements, fees, and procedures change frequently — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of Japan before travelling. ForexFee is not a legal adviser.