Japan for German passport holders: visa-free entry, direct flights, navigating Japan's cash culture
German passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days — no application, no cost. Lufthansa, ANA, and JAL all fly direct Frankfurt to Tokyo in 12 hours. Japan is uniquely cash-dependent among developed nations — DKB Visa with 7-Eleven ATMs is the essential financial combination.
Visa requirements
German passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days per stay — no registration, no fee, no application required. Present your passport at immigration. The 90-day allowance is per visit; there is no combined Schengen-style counter. Working on a tourist visa is prohibited.
Documents required
- ✓Valid German passport (6+ months validity)
Flights from Germany to Japan
Money, cards & forex fees
Best German card for Japan — zero forex EUR→JPY, works at 7-Eleven ATMs
Pre-load JPY balance — useful for planning Japan cash budget
Zero forex weekday EUR→JPY
ATMs in Japan
Best ATMs: 7-Eleven ATMs and Japan Post ATMs accept foreign cards. Most Japanese bank ATMs (MUFG, SMBC) do NOT accept foreign cards.
Typical surcharge: ¥110–220 at Japan Post and 7-Eleven ATMs
Withdrawal tip: Japan is significantly cash-based despite growing contactless adoption. Withdraw ¥30,000–50,000 per week from 7-Eleven. Many restaurants, shrines, and rural businesses are cash-only. IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for trains works like tap-to-pay.
Top cities in Japan
Tokyo
The world's largest city — a fusion of ultra-modern and deeply traditional. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Asakusa, Harajuku, teamLab, and some of the world's best food at every price point. Get a Suica card for the train network.
Kyoto
Japan's ancient capital — 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, traditional geisha districts (Gion), bamboo groves (Arashiyama), and tea ceremony culture. Best in spring (cherry blossom, late March-April) and autumn (fall foliage, November).
Osaka
Japan's food capital — takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, and izakaya culture. Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan, and the vibrant Namba district. More casual and lively than Kyoto. Easy day trips to Nara (deer park) and Kobe.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
One of Japan's most powerful historical sites — the Peace Memorial Park and Museum are must-visits. The floating torii gate at Miyajima Island (30 min ferry) is iconic. Hiroshima also has excellent oysters and okonomiyaki.
Hokkaido
Japan's northern island — world-class skiing (Niseko, Furano) in winter, stunning summer landscapes, and the Sapporo beer and food scene. The Furano lavender fields (July) are famous. Hakodate's morning fish market is excellent.
Japan's cash culture: what German travellers need to know
Japan stands apart from almost every developed country in its cash preference. Many restaurants, temple entry fees, smaller shops, and vending machines (there are 5 million in Japan) are cash-only. This is changing slowly — contactless and QR payments are growing — but cash is still essential. German travellers should plan to carry ¥5,000–10,000 at all times. The solution is 7-Eleven ATMs: available at every 7-Eleven convenience store (thousands across Japan, open 24 hours), they accept Visa, Mastercard, and international debit cards, charge ¥110–220 per withdrawal, and can dispense up to ¥30,000. DKB Visa charges zero forex on the withdrawal — you pay only the ¥110–220 Japanese ATM fee, which is negligible.
On-arrival tips
- 1Get your Suica IC card at the JR office or via Apple Wallet iPhone — load ¥3,000–5,000 for trains, convenience stores, and vending machines
- 2Japan Rail Pass: buy before leaving Germany for best rates — validate on day of first use at a JR office
- 3ATMs: 7-Eleven ATMs accept all major foreign cards — find them at any 7-Eleven convenience store (open 24h)
- 4Many restaurants are cash-only — always carry ¥3,000–5,000 cash
- 5Download Google Translate with Japanese language pack offline
Key takeaways
- ✓German passport: 90 days visa-free in Japan — just present your passport
- ✓Lufthansa/ANA/JAL direct Frankfurt to Tokyo in 12 hours
- ✓DKB Visa: zero forex EUR→JPY + free withdrawals at 7-Eleven ATMs
- ✓Japan is significantly cash-based — always carry ¥5,000–10,000
- ✓No tipping in Japan — ever
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.