Japan for Israeli passport holders: visa-free 90 days, Tel Aviv routing, kosher food tips
Israeli passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days. El Al operates the most direct Israel-Japan service. Japan has limited kosher food infrastructure — advance planning is essential for observant travellers. Wise or Revolut provide the best ILS-to-JPY rate.
Visa requirements
Israeli passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days. No registration required.
Documents required
- ✓Valid Israeli passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Return or onward ticket
Flights from Israel to Japan
Money, cards & forex fees
Best ILS→JPY rate
Zero forex weekday ILS→JPY
Israeli bank card for Japan
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.
Kosher food in Japan: what Israeli visitors need to know
Japan has very limited kosher food infrastructure. The main resource is Chabad of Tokyo, which operates at several locations and can arrange Shabbat dinners and basic kosher provisions — contact well before arrival. The few kosher-certified restaurants in Tokyo are concentrated in the Shibuya and Roppongi areas. Most observant Jewish travellers to Japan bring sealed kosher packaged food in their luggage (Japan customs allows sealed packaged food). Fresh fruit, vegetables, fish (with visible fins and scales — common in Japan's sushi culture), and eggs can be sourced locally. Travellers keeping strictly to Chalav Yisrael dairy will find essentially no options — bring from home. The situation in Osaka and Kyoto is more limited than Tokyo.
On-arrival tips
- 1El Al is the most direct Israel–Japan carrier
- 2Kosher food is very limited in Japan — bring supplies or contact Chabad of Tokyo in advance
- 31 ILS ≈ ¥41 — Japan is moderately priced for Israeli visitors
Key takeaways
- ✓Israeli passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 90 days
- ✓El Al flies direct Tel Aviv to Tokyo — most convenient Israel–Japan routing
- ✓Kosher food is very limited — contact Chabad of Tokyo before arrival, bring packaged provisions
- ✓Use Wise for ILS→JPY — standard Israeli bank cards charge 3%
- ✓7-Eleven ATMs nationwide for cash
- ✓Never tip in Japan
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.