Japan Trip Checklist: Everything to Prepare Before You Leave

Traveling to Japan takes some planning. Between documents, bookings, and local customs to anticipate, it’s easy to forget an important detail. Here is a structured checklist to prepare your trip with confidence, and how Ryokô Planner helps you forget nothing.

Before booking

• Passport valid at least 6 months after your return date
• Visa if required (most short tourist stays are visa-free for EU citizens)
• Travel dates and duration per city defined
• Budget estimated (transport, accommodation, activities, meals)

Essential bookings

• Round-trip flights (or multi-city)
• Accommodation for each step of your trip
• JR Pass or regional passes if worthwhile for your itinerary: use Ryokô Planner’s built-in calculator to compare
• High-demand activities (some museums, starred restaurants, Ghibli Park…)

2 to 4 weeks before departure

• Travel insurance purchased
• Bank card compatible with international payments
• Translation app and offline maps
• Finalized itinerary in Ryokô Planner with steps, activities, and transport

Departure week

• Check luggage (adapter, comfortable shoes, clothing for the season)
• Print or save hotel confirmations and tickets
• Notify your bank of the trip
• Go through the checklist in the app for final items

In Ryokô Planner

The built-in checklist covers these steps and lets you check off each item as you prepare. Combine it with your personalized itinerary and JR Pass calculator for a stress-free departure.

Download Ryokô Planner and start preparing your Japan trip.