Hey everyone!

A few people asked for our Japan travel recs / planning tips, so I figured I’d put together a big resource email with things we’ve learned over the years traveling there :)

Some things may change a bit by 2026, but overall this should still be super useful.


Traveling to Japan

Passport / Immigration

No visa is required for US travelers, but please make sure your passport is valid.

You’ll also complete an online customs/immigration form in advance to receive a QR code:

https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/

I’d recommend doing this at least 1–2 weeks before travel. It seriously speeds things up at the airport.

Flights

For airlines, we personally prefer JAL. The seats are generally bigger, service is amazing, and the food is surprisingly good lol.

Other common options:

Getting to Osaka

You have a couple easy options:

Option 1: Tokyo → Osaka

Fly into Tokyo (Haneda or Narita), spend some time there, then take the Shinkansen to Osaka.