Part of 特定活動 (Designated Activities). The Long-Term Tourism visa is 特定活動告示第 40 号 — one of 20+ sub-types under Japan's catch-all Designated Activities residence status. See the Designated Activities hub for the full list, including the similar-but-work-enabled Digital Nomad visa (#53).
The Long-Term Tourism visa (観光・保養等を目的とする長期滞在者) is Japan's dedicated long-stay leisure visa for wealthy visitors from select visa-exempt countries. Administered under 特定活動告示第 40 号, it extends the standard 90-day Short-term Stay to a total of 1 year — an initial 6 months plus one 6-month extension — for tourism, wellness (保養), and cultural activities. It is explicitly NOT a work visa and NOT a remote-work visa: all paid activities, including telework for overseas employers, are prohibited. That distinguishes it sharply from the newer Digital Nomad visa (特定活動告示第 53 号), which caps at 6 months but permits remote work.
Eligibility is restrictive on three fronts. Nationality must be on MOFA's approved list — essentially the richer OECD economies plus several select Asian countries, with exact inclusions updated periodically. Financial capability is demonstrated through proof of at least ¥30,000,000 (approximately USD 200,000) in liquid assets — bank statements, investment account statements, or an equivalent proof such as a Japanese guarantor. Private health or travel insurance covering the entire stay is mandatory; enrollment in Japan's National Health Insurance is explicitly prohibited for this status, because the visa's premise is that the holder is self-funded and not contributing to the domestic employment base.
Practically, this visa suits retirees and leisure travelers who want to live in Japan at their own pace — a spring across Kyoto's cherry blossoms, a summer hiking the Japanese Alps, autumn in Tohoku for foliage, a winter on Hokkaido's ski slopes, annual onsen circuits, extended tea-ceremony or calligraphy study as hobby pursuits, etc. The principal applicant's spouse may accompany under the same status, though children are not covered separately and would need their own visa. The visa is strictly non-renewable beyond 1 year — the holder must exit Japan at the end of the period, with any re-application typically expected to follow some cooling-off period. Time spent on this status does NOT count toward permanent residency — it is a long-vacation visa, not a settlement pathway.
Who Is This For
- ✓Retired wealthy individuals from Western and select Asian visa-exempt countries seeking extended leisure stays in Japan
- ✓Couples planning a long cultural immersion — onsen towns, cherry-blossom and autumn-foliage seasons, extended tea-ceremony or calligraphy study as a leisure pursuit
- ✓Wellness travelers following annual spa, onsen, and countryside-retreat itineraries across Japan
- ✓Golf enthusiasts, skiers, and cycling tourists wanting to base themselves in Japan for a full season
- ✓Nationals of the ~50 visa-exempt countries whose Short-term Stay maxes out at 90 days and who need more
Requirements
- •Nationality of a country on the MOFA-designated list (primarily Western and select Asian visa-exempt countries — US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany, France, etc.)
- •Liquid assets of at least ¥30,000,000 (approximately USD 200,000 at 2026 rates) — typically verified via bank statements, investment account statements, or a guarantor
- •Enrolled in private travel or international health insurance covering the entire stay
- •No enrollment in Japan\'s National Health Insurance (explicitly prohibited for this status)
- •Purpose of stay strictly limited to tourism, wellness (保養), or cultural activities — no paid work, business, or commercial activity
- •Valid passport with sufficient validity beyond the intended stay
- •Clean criminal record and no prior immigration violations
Full breakdown of Immigration fees, scrivener rates, and all other costs for this visa type.
Required Documents
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility (W form) for 特定活動
- Valid passport
- Proof of liquid assets ≥ ¥30M (bank statements, investment account statements, or equivalent for the past year)
- Private health/travel insurance certificate covering the full stay period
- Detailed travel and activity plan (itinerary, cities, types of activities planned)
- Proof of accommodation in Japan (lease agreement, hotel bookings, or a host\'s guarantor letter)
- For the spouse (if accompanying): marriage certificate
- Photograph (4cm x 3cm, taken within 3 months)
Application Process
- 1Verify your nationality is on MOFA\'s eligible list for this visa
- 2Gather proof of liquid assets ≥ ¥30M and obtain private health insurance covering the full stay
- 3Prepare a detailed activity plan and accommodation arrangements
- 4Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Japan (often via an immigration lawyer in Japan)
- 5Apply for the visa at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your home country
- 6Enter Japan and receive your residence card at the airport (initial 6 months)
- 7Before the 6-month mark, if planning to continue, apply for a one-time extension to 1 year total
- 8Exit Japan by the end of the 1-year maximum (this status is not further renewable; you must leave before re-applying)
Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Once you've chosen your visa, your Japan-side sponsor (employer / school / family) files the COE with Immigration — then you exchange it for a visa at the embassy.