The service also includes tax-free shopping functions. You can create a tax-free QR code for use at participating shops, and from November 1, 2026, Visit Japan Web will also be available for part of the new tax-free departure procedure at several major international airports.
This guide explains how to create your account, register your trip, prepare immigration and customs information, use your arrival QR code, and understand the tax-free features that may be useful during your stay.
What Is Visit Japan Web?
Visit Japan Web is an official web service operated by Japan’s Digital Agency for travelers entering or returning to Japan.
International visitors can use it to prepare several procedures online, including:
- Immigration information
- Customs declaration
- Information about an upcoming trip to Japan
- Tax-free shopping procedures, when applicable
For foreign visitors who complete both immigration and customs registration, Visit Japan Web provides a combined QR code for those arrival procedures. You do not need separate immigration and customs QR codes.
Visit Japan Web is a web service rather than a conventional smartphone app. You can access it through a browser on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Open the official Visit Japan Web service
Do You Need to Use Visit Japan Web?
Visit Japan Web is not the only way to complete Japan’s arrival procedures, but preparing your information online is convenient for most international visitors.
Using it before departure allows you to enter your immigration and customs information at your own pace and have the required QR code ready when you arrive.
For a first trip to Japan, it is generally easier to complete the registration before leaving home rather than waiting until you reach the airport.
Before You Start
Have the main details of your trip ready before you begin.
- Your passport
- Your flight information
- Your accommodation address in Japan
- An email address
- A smartphone or computer with internet access
If you are staying in several places, enter the accommodation information requested for your arrival registration. Check the details shown in Visit Japan Web carefully, especially if your first night’s accommodation or arrival flight changes.
If you are still preparing the rest of your trip, our Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors to Japan explains the main decisions to make before you arrive.
Step-by-Step Registration Guide
Start by creating a Visit Japan Web account with an email address and password.
You will need access to your email to complete the verification process. Once the account is ready, sign in and begin registering your information.
Do this before your departure day if possible. You will have more time to check your passport, flight, and accommodation details if anything needs correcting.
Next, register your personal and passport information.
Check that your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and other details match your passport exactly.
Visit Japan Web can use your smartphone camera to scan passport information. If you enter information manually, check every field before moving on.
Some registered information can be reused on a future trip, but you should still confirm that your passport and travel details are current each time you visit Japan.
Create a record for your upcoming trip to Japan.
You will be asked for travel information such as your arrival date, airline or flight details, and accommodation in Japan. Follow the fields shown for your itinerary rather than relying on information saved from an earlier trip.
After registering your trip, complete the entry procedures that apply to you.
Immigration
Foreign visitors complete the information required for immigration clearance, including the details requested on the foreigner entry record.
Customs Declaration
You can also complete Japan’s customs declaration online. Answer every question according to what you are actually carrying into Japan.
Examples include questions about prohibited or restricted items, commercial goods, and items or currency that need to be declared.
For foreign visitors completing both procedures, Visit Japan Web now displays a combined QR code for immigration clearance and customs declaration.
After arriving in Japan, open the entry/return procedure for your trip and display the QR code when instructed.
For foreign visitors, the same combined QR code can be used for immigration clearance and the electronic customs declaration process. Follow the signs and instructions at your arrival airport, as the exact equipment and route through the terminal can vary.
Using Visit Japan Web for Tax-Free Shopping
Visit Japan Web is not only for entering Japan. It also includes a tax-free shopping service for eligible visitors.
Using a Tax-Free QR Code at Participating Shops
After entering Japan, eligible visitors can register the information needed to create a tax-free QR code. The current Visit Japan Web procedure includes passport information and information from your landing permission.
At a shop that supports Visit Japan Web tax-free QR codes, you can show the QR code so the store can obtain the information needed for the tax-free purchase procedure.
Not every tax-free shop supports this function. Check that the store accepts Visit Japan Web tax-free QR codes before relying on it.
From November 1, 2026: Tax-Free Refund Procedures When Leaving Japan
Japan’s tax-free shopping system changes for purchases made from November 1, 2026. Under the new system, eligible visitors will generally pay the tax-inclusive price at the shop and receive the amount equivalent to the consumption tax after the required customs confirmation when leaving Japan.
At Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai International Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, Fukuoka Airport, New Chitose Airport, and Naha Airport, travelers will also be able to use Visit Japan Web for the procedure within designated areas of the international departure lobby where dedicated Wi-Fi is provided.
This departure procedure is separate from the immigration and customs QR code you use when entering Japan.
If you are claiming a tax-free refund under the new system, keep all relevant tax-free purchases with you until the required customs procedure is complete. Do not check luggage containing those items first, because customs may need to inspect them.
The airport tax-free process and refund rules are different from ordinary Visit Japan Web arrival procedures, so check the latest official instructions before your departure from Japan.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems are easier to fix before you reach the airport. Before departure, check that:
- Your passport details are correct.
- Your current trip and arrival information are registered.
- Your accommodation information is up to date.
- You can sign in and display your arrival QR code.
- Your phone has enough battery for your arrival procedures.
Visit Japan Web also supports some offline use when prepared in advance, but not every function works the same way offline. In particular, tax-free QR code registration and its initial display require an online connection.
Official Information
- Visit Japan Web
- Digital Agency: How to Use Visit Japan Web
- Visit Japan Web Instruction Manual
- Japan Tourism Agency: Tax-Free Shopping Refund Method for Travelers
Last verified: August 20, 2026 (JST)
Visit Japan Web screens, supported procedures, and tax-free functions may change. Check the official service before an important trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?
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No. Visit Japan Web is an online way to prepare arrival procedures, but it is not the only way to enter Japan. For most international visitors, registering before departure is convenient because much of the required information can be prepared in advance.
- Can I register after arriving in Japan?
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You can access Visit Japan Web in Japan, but completing the arrival registration before your flight is usually more practical. It allows you to check your information and prepare the QR code before reaching immigration and customs.
- Do I need separate QR codes for immigration and customs?
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Foreign visitors now use a combined QR code for immigration clearance and customs declaration. Display the QR code from the entry/return procedure for your registered trip and follow the instructions at the airport.
- Do children need to be registered?
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Children also need the appropriate arrival procedures completed. Visit Japan Web allows family members traveling together to be registered within the service, so follow the family-member instructions that apply to your group.
- What if my hotel or flight changes?
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Log in again and check the information for your registered trip. Update any fields that Visit Japan Web allows you to change so that the trip record reflects your current itinerary before you arrive.
- Can I use Visit Japan Web for tax-free shopping?
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Yes. Eligible visitors can create a tax-free QR code and use it at participating shops that support the Visit Japan Web tax-free service. From November 1, 2026, Visit Japan Web will also be available for part of the new departure tax-free procedure at seven major international airports.
- Is Visit Japan Web available in English?
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Yes. Visit Japan Web and its official guidance are available in English as well as several other languages.
