South Korea Travel Checklist for Japanese Citizens

01 / Entry Requirements

Before You Board

Entering Korea couldn't be easier for Japanese passport holders. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days, and the K-ETA is waived for Japanese nationals through Dec 31, 2026. Just bring your passport.

Official sources: K-ETA · e-Arrival Card

02 / Money

Yen to Won

Korea is even more card-centric than Japan — credit cards work everywhere, including taxis, street stalls and tiny cafés, so you'll need far less cash than you might expect.

03 / If You Need Help

Embassy of Japan in Seoul

04 / Getting Here

Getting Here & Fitting In

Flights: Korea is Japan's closest neighbor — Fukuoka to Busan takes under an hour, Tokyo to Seoul about 2.5 hours, with dozens of daily flights from Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, Sapporo and more. There's even a ferry from Fukuoka (Hakata) to Busan if you'd rather sail. And no jet lag: Korea and Japan share the same time zone.

Culture Notes for Japanese Travelers

The good news: much will feel familiar. T-money works just like Suica or PASMO — tap to ride subways, buses and taxis nationwide (buy one at any convenience store after arrival). Shoes off indoors, quiet subways — same as home. Differences to know: chopsticks are metal, food is spicier, and outlets are 220V round two-pin (Type C/F) — different from Japan's 100V Type A, so bring a plug adapter. Phone chargers handle the voltage; hair dryers won't.

05 / Universal Checklist

Pack & Prep

• eSIM or roamingInstall a Korea eSIM before you fly — cheaper than carrier roaming and works the moment you land.
• Plug adapter (Type C/F)Korea is 220V with round two-pin plugs — Japan's Type A won't fit.
• NAVER Map + PapagoNavigation and translation. Both support Japanese.
• e-Arrival CardSubmit online within 72 hours before landing — it replaced the paper form in 2026.
• Kakao T (optional)Korea's taxi app. Accepts foreign cards.

06 / Japan × Korea

Closest Neighbors

No two countries visit each other more. Korea and Japan are each other's favorite destinations — millions of travelers cross the strait in both directions every year, for weekend food trips, concerts and cherry blossoms. The two cultures have been trading ideas for centuries, and today it flows both ways: K-pop and Korean dramas fill Japanese screens, while Japanese food, film and craft are beloved across Korea. Whatever the headlines say, on the street level this is one of the warmest friendships in Asia — and as a Japanese visitor you'll feel it.

A note from me

A close friend of mine lived in Nishi-Shinjuku, so I flew over to Japan every chance I got — add up all those trips and I've spent more than six months there. ✈️ I grew up on ZARD and X Japan, and I'm still waiting for Hunter × Hunter to continue (Berserk, sadly, we had to say goodbye to). 🎸📚 I've wandered from Hokkaido to Toyama, Nagoya, Osaka, and every corner of Kyushu, and I love Japanese food with all my heart. 🗾🍣 Japan gave me so many good days. 😊 Now I'd love to return the favor — come to Korea, and enjoy it here with me. 🤝