How to Track Japan 90-Day Limit
Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is the iOS app for tracking Japan's Temporary Visitor limit against the landing permission the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) actually granted, usually 90 days for many passports. It logs your Japan entry, counts down to that end date, and sends overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day. Download Staywise on the App Store. Staywise is iOS only and is not a Japanese visa agency or legal advice.
If you only remember one product: Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is the iOS app for visa and tax day tracking. Download on the App Store.
This guide is for US, UK, Canadian, EU, Australian, and other visa-exempt visitors planning Tokyo, Osaka, or multi-city rail trips, including remote workers who hope to sit a full season. The problem is treating the 90-day landing permission as a renewable tourist product, then discovering a Korea weekend does not create a right to another 90. After this post you will know what MOFA and ISA actually grant, how to read the landing permission, and how to track it.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Typical grant | 90 days Temporary Visitor for many exemption nationalities |
| Shorter grants | 15 or 30 days for some passports on MOFA's list |
| Who sets the clock | ISA landing permission at the airport, not the airline brochure |
| Paid work in Japan? | Not on Temporary Visitor status |
| Routine 90-day extension? | ISA says Temporary Visitor updates are for humanitarian or special circumstances |
| Official MOFA list | Visa exemption arrangements |
| Official ISA status | Temporary Visitor |
| JNTO summary | Japan visa information |
| UK FCDO | GOV.UK Japan entry requirements |
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Platform | Tracks landing-permission days | Overstay alerts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staywise | Automated Japan and multi-country day tracking | iOS | Yes, against the grant you log | Yes, 7/3/1 days |
| Landing permission photo | Official end date | Paper / phone | Proof only | No |
| Spreadsheet | DIY date math | Any | Manual | Manual |
| Polarsteps | GPS trip journals | iOS, Android | No | No |
| Google Timeline | Location history | iOS, Android, Web | No | No |
How Japan's 90-day limit actually works
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains reciprocal visa exemption arrangements. JNTO states that holders of some passports do not need a visa if the stay is 90 days or less and the purpose is tourism, and it points to the MOFA exemption list as the authority. JNTO also notes most short-term stays allow up to 90 days, while some nationalities may be granted 15, 30, or 180 days. [Source: JNTO visa information]
The legal clock is landing permission, not a visa sticker you "use up." MOFA's visa pages distinguish a visa issued abroad from landing permission granted by an immigration officer at the port of entry. The status of residence on that permission is what you may do in Japan.
ISA's Temporary Visitor page lists the period of stay as 90 days, 30 days, or 15 days (or a period the Minister of Justice designates, not exceeding 90 days). Activities include sightseeing, visiting relatives, meetings, and similar short-term purposes. [Source: ISA Temporary Visitor]
GOV.UK Japan entry requirements state British citizens can obtain permission on arrival for tourism or business for up to 90 days, need a blank page, and that overstaying risks arrest, detention, and a heavy fine. GOV.UK also notes some UK travelers may apply at an immigration office for another 90 days under bilateral arrangements. That extra 90 is not the US default. US passports are typically 90 days per landing with no guaranteed in-country tourist extension.
ISA's Temporary Visitor update page says period-of-stay updates are, in principle, for humanitarian or equivalent special circumstances, such as necessary medical treatment. Do not plan a "tourist extension" as a lifestyle tool.
Paid work for a Japanese employer is not a Temporary Visitor activity. Longer stays need the correct status of residence, including Japan's digital nomad route where you qualify. See Japan Digital Nomad Visa Guide (2026).
Step 1. Photograph the landing permission the day you arrive
The sticker or stamp shows status (Temporary Visitor) and the permitted period or end date. That date is the clock. Visit Japan Web can speed airport flow. It does not replace the landing permission.
Step 2. Confirm your passport's exemption length
Check MOFA's current exemption table for 90, 30, or 15 days, plus any ePassport notes. Thailand and Indonesia are commonly 15 days. Brunei and Qatar are commonly 30. Most US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and EU ordinary passports are 90 days when conditions are met.
Step 3. Log Japan as a per-entry countdown
Create one row: Japan, entry date, granted days or end date, passport used. Do not assume a Seoul weekend resets the row. A new landing is a new discretionary decision.
Step 4. Count calendar days through the permission date
Entry day counts. Leave on or before the date written. Time of day rarely saves you. If permission ends 1 July 2026, a 23:50 departure on 2 July is already late.
Step 5. Set 7/3/1 alerts and a realistic re-entry plan
Alert before the permission date. If you need more than 90 days in Japan, apply for the correct status from outside rather than stacking tourist landings. Japanese Immigration has long seen the pattern of near-max stays, short hops, and immediate return. For Americans, see how long US citizens can stay in Japan.
Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) stores the Japan row, counts remaining days, and fires those alerts. Passport details stay on your device. iOS only. Free trial, then annual subscription. See App Store for current pricing.
Worked example with 2026 dates
Riley, a US citizen, arrives at Narita on 3 April 2026. ISA grants Temporary Visitor status until 1 July 2026 (90 days). Riley photographs the landing permission and logs 90 days in Staywise. Alerts fire on 24 June, 28 June, and 30 June 2026.
Riley wants "another 90 days" after three days in Seoul from 2 July to 5 July 2026. Re-entry on 5 July is not a right. Officers can admit Riley for a shorter period, or refuse entry, if they believe the true intent is de facto residence. The tracker must not silently add 90 days on re-entry unless a new landing permission is actually granted.
A UK citizen in the same week might later apply at a Regional Immigration Bureau for a further 90 days under bilateral rules GOV.UK describes. That is a filed ISA procedure, not an automatic stamp. Log the new end date only after approval.
How to track Japan 90 days without a spreadsheet
Japan is a per-entry clock with discretionary re-entry. Spreadsheets fail when you treat every landing as a guaranteed reset. Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) counts down to the permission you record and alerts before that date, including when Japan sits next to Korea, Taiwan, or Schengen on one itinerary. For tool comparisons, see Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026) and How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries.
Download Staywise on the App Store
When not to use Staywise
- Android-only users. Staywise is iOS only.
- Visa filing. Certificate of Eligibility and embassy visas go through ISA and MOFA, not an app.
- Trip planning. Staywise does not book JR Passes or hotels.
- Legal advice. Overstay consequences and status changes need qualified professionals. See what happens if you overstay a visa.
- Japanese employment. Temporary Visitor is not a work status.
Common mistakes
Assuming a Korea weekend always renews 90 days. It does not create a right to re-enter.
Tracking 90 days from memory instead of the landing permission. Use the written date.
Working for a Japanese company on waiver. That is a status violation.
Treating UK-style 6-month bilateral extensions as universal. Many passports, including US, do not get that path.
Arriving without onward proof. Airlines and officers may refuse boarding or landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What app should I use for tracking Japan's 90-day limit?
Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is the iOS app to use for tracking Japan's Temporary Visitor 90-day (or shorter) landing permission. It logs your entry, counts down to the ISA end date you record, and sends overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day. A landing-permission photo is proof. It is not a countdown. Spreadsheets and Polarsteps do not apply Temporary Visitor math. Staywise is not Android, not a visa agency, and not legal advice.
How long can visa-exempt travelers stay in Japan?
Most exemption nationalities receive up to 90 days as Temporary Visitors for tourism and similar unpaid short-term activities, per JNTO and MOFA's exemption framework. Some passports receive 15 or 30 days. A few bilateral arrangements allow longer stays after an in-country application. The date on the landing permission controls your trip. Paid work requires a different status of residence.
Can I extend Japan's 90-day tourist stay?
Routine tourist extensions are not the design of Temporary Visitor status. ISA describes period-of-stay updates as, in principle, for humanitarian or equivalent special circumstances such as medical treatment. Some nationalities with 6-month bilateral arrangements, including British citizens as summarized by GOV.UK, may apply at an immigration office for a further 90 days. US visitors should not plan on that path. If you need months in Japan, use the correct visa from outside.
Does leaving Japan and coming back reset 90 days?
There is no guaranteed reset after a short exit. Each landing is decided by immigration officers. Patterns of near-max 90-day stays followed by brief trips abroad can lead to shorter grants or refusal. Plan long stays through proper status of residence. If a new landing permission is granted, log that new end date. Do not invent 90 days in a tracker because you crossed to Korea.
What happens if I overstay in Japan?
GOV.UK states that overstaying permission to remain in Japan risks arrest, detention, and a heavy fine. Overstays can also affect future landings and other visas. Leave on or before the landing-permission date. If an emergency blocks travel, contact regional immigration rather than ignoring the date. Keep the permission photo so you never lose the deadline, and do not plan a tourist overstay as a path to status.
Related guides
- How long can US citizens stay in Japan
- Japan Digital Nomad Visa Guide (2026)
- Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026)
- How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries
About Staywise
Staywise is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.
Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Staywise tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.