Safety and security

Crime

Crime remains low in Japan but you should take sensible precautions.

Personal Safety

You should be aware that there have been numerous reported instances of drinks being spiked in certain districts in Tokyo, in particular in Roppongi and Kabuki-cho. Late at night, Western tourists in these areas may be approached on the street and brought to bars or clubs, served strong or spiked drinks, and then either robbed or asked under duress to pay large sums of money. We recommend you exercise vigilance late at night in these areas.

Personal attacks, including sexual assault and rape, are rare, but do happen. Japanese law places a high burden of proof on the victim to demonstrate that the sexual relations were not consensual and committed through assault, intimidation or force.

Reporting crime

If you’re a victim of a crime while in Japan, report it to the local police immediately. Note that the police may initially refuse to issue you with any document which proves a report has been made. Please contact the Irish Embassy in Tokyo if you need assistance.

Counselling Services

Should you require professional counselling services we advise you to contact TELL Japan who offer free, anonymous telephone counselling and support across Japan.

Driving

Like Ireland, driving in Japan is on the left hand side of the road.  If you’re planning to drive in Japan, the roads are well maintained and the rules of the road are broadly similar to Ireland.

If you want to drive:

• Bring your international driving licence and make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance
• There are severe penalties against drink-driving or allowing someone else to drink and drive by, for example, being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver.
• Longer-term residents who wish to drive in Japan will need to obtain a domestic driving licence within their first year in the country. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police website provides useful information about obtaining a Japanese licence.

Vehicle hire

If you’re hiring a vehicle, we advise you not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you’re allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times.

Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract (particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged).

Political tensions/Nuclear and missile tests by North Korea

While the likelihood of an incident remains low, we encourage you to be prepared and to be familiar with established safety procedures.

You can read detailed information about what to do and how to prepare on the Japanese Government’s Cabinet Secretariat Civil Protection Portal site. As in any emergency, the Embassy strongly advises you to follow the instructions of local authorities.

Local laws and customs

Remember, the local laws apply to you as a visitor and it is your responsibility to follow them. Be sensitive to local customs, traditions and practices as your behaviour may be seen as improper, hostile or may even be illegal.

Illegal drugs

Illegal drug use is a serious crime in Japan and can lead to long prison terms, stiff penalties or deportation. We advise against purchasing medicines or other substances from overseas via the internet which can be a crime in Japan leading to prosecution.

Alcohol

Customs and laws concerning the consumption of alcohol in Japan are broadly similar to those in Ireland.  There are severe penalties against drink-driving or allowing someone else to drink and drive by, for example, being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver.

You should also be aware that there have been several reported instances of drinks being spiked in certain districts in Tokyo.

Natural disasters and climate

Earthquakes and tsunamis

Japan is in a very active earthquake zone and earthquakes of various sizes occur frequently throughout the country. Irish citizens travelling to or resident in Japan should familiarise themselves with the measures to take in the event of an earthquake.

The following may also be useful sources of information for visitors to Japan:

• NHK News media outlet (in English)
• Japan Meteorological Agency
• Japan Safe Travel (JNTO)
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, Tourism Disaster Portal
• English language disaster information is available via the notifications feature on the NHK World News App

Restrictions around the Fukushima nuclear power plant

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture. The Japanese authorities implemented exclusion zones around the plant, and illegally entering these zones is a punishable offence. Further information on these areas can be seen on this Japanese government website. The Japanese authorities carry out comprehensive monitoring of possible contamination of water and food and are imposing strict controls where necessary. The situation has stabilised, although it will take decades to decommission and decontaminate the plant.

Elsewhere in the north-east of Japan, the situation has largely returned to normal and there is no reason to avoid or postpone travel to this region.

Typhoons

The Japanese typhoon season runs from June to October, with the period between August and September seeing the most typhoon activity. Typhoons that hit Japan are often accompanied by high tides and landslides that can occur anywhere during continuous periods of heavy rain.

Travellers to Japan (particularly southern regions) should pay attention to local travel information and consult the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which provides information in English. You should also check with your airline or transport operator before travelling.

Volcanoes

Japan has several active volcanoes. You should follow advice given by the Japanese authorities about travelling in volcanic areas. Please check latest volcano warnings on the website of the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

Additional information

Passports

Passports should be valid for the duration of stay in Japan. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.

Visas

A visa waiver agreement between Ireland and Japan is currently in force and Irish citizens seeking to enter Japan for a short stay of up to 90 days (extendable up to 6 months on application within Japan) may do so without first obtaining a visa in advance. However, if Irish citizens wish to enter Japan to take up employment, exercise a profession or other occupation, or engage in public entertainment (including sport) for remunerative purposes, or if they wish to enter for a period longer than 6 months, they will need to obtain a visa in advance of travel though the Embassy of Japan in Ireland.

Irish citizens with Status of Residence in Japan and who leave or have left Japan with a valid re-entry permit are allowed to re-enter Japan subject to entry requirements.

Further information on current entry restrictions can be found in the Overview section of this Travel Advice. For full information, please consult the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Information on extension of short term stays in Japan and other immigration matters can be found on the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Information on Entry Requirements

In accordance with a partial amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, from November 2007, all foreign visitors entering Japan will be fingerprinted and digitally photographed during entry procedures. 

Those refusing to be fingerprinted or photographed will be denied entry to Japan. Persons under the age of 16, special status permanent residents and those performing actions which would be performed by those with a status of residence, "diplomat" or "official government business" will be exempt from these procedures.

Full information may be found on the website of the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice.

Health

There is a risk of sustained local transmission of COVID-19 in Japan. If you are in Japan, you should monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities.

• The Embassy continues to advise Irish citizens in Japan to monitor developments closely and to follow the advice of local and national authorities for details of specific measures in force, in order to assure their own health and that of others.
• Information on COVID-19 in Japan can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: COVID-19 Information and Resources.  Please note that counter-measures may be introduced in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation. 
• Irish citizens in Japan should register with the Embassy via the citizens registration portal
• Follow us on twitter @IrishEmbJapan for further information and updates.

The Japan National Tourism Organization also run a 24-hour hotline (+81 50 3816-2787) which provides support and advice in English for visitors in Japan including on COVID-19.

For specific travel health advice relating to Japan, including on vaccinations, we would advise those travelling to Japan to contact their GP or travel clinic. Check with your doctor well in advance of travelling to see if you need any vaccinations for Japan.

Medication

There are restrictions on the importation of some over-the-counter and prescription medicines and this may include certain types of allergy and sinus medication. If a visit to a doctor is required, there are a number of clinics with English-speaking personnel who widely advertise their services. However, it may not be possible to obtain the same brand-name medication that is available in Ireland. 

Language schools

There are numerous English language schools in Japan recruiting teachers from overseas. The Department strongly advises job applicants to scrutinise the details of the terms and conditions of their prospective contracts and of their prospective agency/ employer, in order to ensure that they are fully satisfied of the good standing of those agencies/employers and that their conditions of employment will be met.

Cash and banking

We advise you to contact your financial institution in advance of travelling to Japan and check that your cards will be valid upon arrival as some visitors experience difficulties accessing funds using cash cards issued in Ireland. It is advisable for visitors to have an alternative means with which to access funds should such situations arise (e.g. a credit card with a cash advance facility or travellers' cheques).