Staying Over One Month In Japan? How I Do Multi-Month Trips
I’m packing up my bags again. Heading to Tokyo, I am. I’ll be there for a few months to work on some creative projects, make some music and, of course, to travel.
I used to live in Tokyo full-time working as an English teacher. But these days, I come and go as a tourist. But my stints in the Land of the Rising Sun are usually pretty long.
Longer than a typical vacation.
So this is how I do long-term stays in Japan — from one month to three months, or even six months.
Okay, let’s get to it then!
Table of Contents Show
What Is A Long-Term Stay In Japan?
Japan has a number of long-term stay visas, including work visas, a spousal visa, student visas and more.
But for this article, I define a long-term stay in Japan as being anything longer than 1 month and to include the tourist visa.
Spending a whole month in Japan (or anywhere) definitely surpasses your typical vacation time frame. But how much you can push past that one-month mark varies, depending on your goals, passport or visa situation.
So let’s look at some of the main visas to know about for longer-term stay in Japan.
8 Visas to Know In Japan
If you want to stay in Japan a while, you have a few options. You can learn more from Japan’s official visa site here.
But here’s a brief overview:
Working visa. Working as a language teacher is one of the most common visas.
General visa. Cultural activities or a student visa work here.
Specified visa. If you’re a spouse of a Japanese national or a long-term resident.
Professional visa. This is a specialty visa, for highly skilled professionals.
Start-up visa. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build a business in Japan.
A digital nomad visa. This is a new one! You can learn more here.
Special 6-month visa. This visa is for sightseeing and recreation (up to 1 year).
A tourist visa. Details vary by country, but I’m assuming this is what you’ll be doing.
How Long Can You Stay In Japan As A Tourist?
This can vary depending on the country, but if you’re a U.S. citizen you can usually stay in Japan (as a tourist) visa-free for up to 90 days.
If you’re from one of the countries on this list, you don’t need to apply for a visa and should get a short-term visa on arrival (VOA), which means you don’t need to do anything — just show up and you’re good to go!
But you may be wondering, does a 90-day VOA mean can you just leave after your first 90 days and then show up again for another fresh 90-day visa?
Yes and no. It’s tricky, and a bit nuanced.
Technically, you can’t stay in Japan (for tourism activities) for more than 180 days total within a year (dated backward from your last day).
So let’s say you show up for your first 90 days around May, leave for a bit and then come back again around August or September for 90 more days. Technically, you should be fine (I’ve done this a few times).
But if you try to come back for yet another 90 days around November/December, you could run into issues.
Of course, I’m no immigration or legal expert here. So I would dig deeper into the MOFA website or ask an expert if you’re curious to know more.
How I Do Long-Term Stays In Japan As A Tourist (7 steps)
(no, that’s not me…I’m way cheesier)
Ready to make Japan your temporary home?
Epic. Here’s what I do.
1. Decide When You Want to Go
Choosing a time to go is the first decision you’ll need to make.
(I know, duh)
But Japan can offer better traveling during certain times of the year, so it’s something to think about.
For most people, avoiding the super hot summers or the rainy seasons are a priority. While I don’t mind a moody Tokyo rain, the spring and autumn months are usually the best times to visit Japan.
You may also try to avoid flying into and out of Japan during busy holidays (like Golden Week, which is at the end of April, early May). Nearly everyone is on vacation during this time and it can be a zoo to get around (and more expensive).
Finally, just choose a time that works with your plans, personal preferences or goals while staying in Japan.
For example, if you want to hike Mt. Fuji, you’ll want to be here during the summer. And if you’re sensitive to allergies, the Japanese spring could be an issue.
2. Decide How Long You’ll Stay
How long do you want your long trip to be?
One month? Three months? Indefinitely??
Having a good idea of your trip duration will help you budget and plan things easier. And even if you’re more spontaneous (like me), a ballpark number can still help.
If you’re hoping to stay longer than three months (without leaving), and longer than six months (total within a year’s time), then you’ll want to explore other options like getting a work or student visa.
But if you’re really not sure how long you want to stay, consider your travel experience and if you’re the type of person who gets homesick, culture shock or bored easily.
Put another way, if you’re new to living overseas, a shorter trip might be better.
Once you have a better idea for how long you want to stay, you can start doing some budgeting and actual trip planning for Japan.
Recommended: Is Tokyo Expensive? (what I spend)
3. Find A Place to Stay for Multiple Months
I suppose you could stay at AirBnBs and hotels for three months. But I prefer settling in and finding something that’s a little more homey.
Long-term accommodations give you a private room or apartment to call your own and are generally more convenient and cheaper.
For this, I usually stay in share houses.
These are buildings or homes full of other travelers, workers, students and Japanese locals. You usually get a private room but share the bathrooms and common areas (like the kitchen).
They’re pretty common in Japan and are super flexible (i.e., low startup costs and a minimum stay of just one month for most).
Plus, it’s a nice way to network and meet new people.
Just be sure to choose a good location!
A couple of my go-to share house companies are Oakhouse and Borderless House.
Recommended: Where to Stay In Tokyo Your First Time
4. Buy More Than Just A One-Way Ticket
Proof of onward travel means you have a plane ticket showing that you’ll actually be leaving Japan (within the allotted visa time — again, within 90 days for tourists).
You might not always be asked to show proof, but it’s technically required.
It’s proof that you intend to actually leave the country and not just stay here indefinitely or illegally.
Of course, you can always change your plans later, just as long as you leave within the 90-day tourist timeframe.
So I always just pick up the cheapest one-way ticket (usually to Seoul). Sometimes I change the dates around or cancel it altogether to go somewhere else. But that doesn’t matter.
It’s just proof of onward travel for when you land in Japan and fill out forms indicating how long you’ll be staying for.
5. Plan for Some Normalcy
Let’s say you’re planning on spending three months in Japan. Amazing!
But what will you do?
Because traveling the whole time will probably get exhausting (and expensive). And winging it can only go so far.
So I always like to have some normalcy during my long-term stays.
I think this is the point of longer adventures too. You can travel slower and explore destinations more like a local or a resident.
It’s cheaper and less stressful this way. Because, as you know, being a tourist can be exhausting.
So here are some ways to add normalcy into your routine while staying in Japan:
Have a travel purpose or creative project to work on
Plan on doing some work
Rent a place with a kitchen so you don’t eat out everyday
Make friends and find a community
Have a routine
Recommended: Best Remote Jobs for Travelers (what I do)
6. Double Check Your Travel Requirements
I can only speak from my own experience as a U.S. citizen.
But when traveling overseas, always check the official government websites and plan accordingly.
For U.S. citizens traveling to Japan, it’s pretty straightforward (*unless you have special circumstances that require extra documents, etc.).
Here are the things I always prepare when traveling to Japan:
Make sure my passport is up to date. The general rule of thumb is to have at least 6 months left on it, but you can learn more about passport renewal here.
Fill out landing forms beforehand. This isn’t required, but it’s a nice way to avoid paperwork with immigration and customs. You can learn more here.
Travel insurance. Having flexible, long-term travel insurance is crucial if you’re staying abroad for any amount of time, but especially for an extended visit.
Double check MOFA for updates. Although rare, it’s always smart to double check the official sites for any travel changes or new entry requirements.
Check your prescriptions. I don’t fly with medications, but just be sure to check the travel requirements before hopping on the plane.
Recommended: International Travel Essentials Checklist
7. Pack + Go
Now the fun part — packing, going and traveling!
I’m a minimalist traveler by nature, but packing light is a smart move. It saves you space for souvenirs and makes lugging around bags easier.
Plus, Japan will have most everything you need (aside from specialty products or prescriptions).
At this point, it would also probably help to study up on some Japanese language basics and key etiquette to know.
But just know that Japan is super safe and the people here are incredibly warm and welcoming.
It’s definitely a super comfortable and convenient place to have a long-term stay.
Later ✌️
Who says a trip to Japan can’t be multiple months?
I usually spend at least three months in Japan when I visit. Of course, this requires some planning and life flexibility, but it’s an awesome time if you can swing it.
If you’re lucky enough to get a 90-day visa on arrival, you really only need to worry about your accommodations, budget and plans (as well as any other international travel essentials you may need).
But if you’re looking to stay even longer than 3-6 months (in a year), then you may want to consider moving to Japan.
Either way, whether you’re here for just a season or many years, Japan is an amazing place to call your second home.
So enjoy it!
Want More? Okay. Here’s More.
