Skip to content
¥ Japan Trip Math

Japan trip checklist: the money and paperwork questions, answered with sources

The money and paperwork decisions to make before a trip to Japan, each with the page on this site that works it out from official sources.

1. Does the JR Pass pay off for your route?

Decide whether to buy a Japan Rail Pass or regular tickets for the Shinkansen legs you plan. A 7-day Ordinary pass is ¥50,000 on the official online service and ¥53,000 at overseas agents for purchases from 1 Oct 2026.

  • Source: Types and prices | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation). Per the JR Group release of 9 Apr 2026, online prices stay unchanged 'for a limited time' after the 1 Oct 2026 increase; the end of this price freeze will be announced later (no end date published as of 2026-10-26). validFrom is the date of the previous price change named in that release.
  • Source: Price Changes for the Japan Rail Pass (April 9, 2026, JR Group) (JR Group) · Verified on · Overseas JR-designated sales offices/agencies (Exchange Order), for purchases on or after 1 Oct 2026 (local time at the place of purchase). The same amounts are shown on https://japanrailpass.net/en/purchase/price/ .

2. How will you get from the airport?

Pick the train or bus from your arrival airport to your first hotel, and whether the JR Pass covers it.

3. Is your suitcase too big for the Shinkansen without a reservation?

Check whether your suitcase size needs an oversized-baggage seat reservation.

4. How much accommodation tax will you pay?

Estimate the local accommodation tax for each place you stay. Our tables cover 29 verified city and prefecture rules.

5. How does tax-free shopping work on your dates?

Know which system applies to what you buy: for goods bought on or after 1 Nov 2026, you pay the tax at the till and get it back after the customs check at departure. The minimum is ¥5,000 (tax-excluded) per store per day.

6. Is the departure tax in your ticket?

Check that the departure tax is included in your airfare. The International Tourist Tax charged on each departure from Japan is 3,000 yen from 1 July 2026. It is normally added to your airfare or ship ticket.

7. How will you stay online?

Choose an eSIM, SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi, and how much data you need.

8. How would you pay for medical treatment?

Check what your travel insurance, home insurer or credit card covers in Japan, and whether it pays the hospital directly.

9. Which tours do you book in advance?

Decide which tours or activities to book before you arrive, and check their terms.

10. Which 2026 rule changes affect your trip?

Look through the changes to fares, taxes, entry and attraction fees. We track 12 changes, each with its official source.

FAQ

Do I have to pay Japan's departure tax at the airport?

The International Tourist Tax charged on each departure from Japan is 3,000 yen from 1 July 2026. It is normally added to your airfare or ship ticket. Details and exceptions are on our 2026 rule changes page.

Does tax-free shopping still work at the till?

For goods bought up to 31 October 2026, the tax comes off at the till. For goods bought on or after 1 Nov 2026, you pay the tax-inclusive price and the consumption tax is refunded after customs confirms at departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.

Where do the numbers on this checklist come from?

From the official pages of rail operators, municipalities and government agencies, as listed on each linked calculator and guide with the date we checked them. Where a number could not be confirmed on an official page, it is not shown.

All sources on this page

Sources for the figures quoted above. Each linked page lists the sources for its own numbers.

We use Google Analytics to count visits and clicks on partner links. Accept to allow analytics cookies, or decline to keep using the site without them. If you decline, no analytics cookies are set from then on. Privacy