Japan: Business/trade

Commercial holidays

New Year's Day: January 1; January Bank holidays: January 2 and 3; Coming of Age Day/Seijin-no-hi: 2nd Monday in January; National Foundation Day/Kenkoku-kinen-no-hi: February 11; Spring Equinox/Shunbun-no-hi (varies); Showa Day/Midori-no-hi: April 29; Constitution Memorial Day/Kenpou-kinen-bi: May 3; Greenery Day: May 4; Children's Day/Kodomo-no-hi: May 5; Marine Day/Umi-no-hi (varies); Mountain Day: August 11; Respect for the Aged Day/Keirou-no-hi (varies); Autumn Equinox/Shuubun-no-hi: September 23; Sports Day: 2nd Monday in October; National Culture Day/Bunka-no-hi: November 3; Labor Thanksgiving Day/Kinrou-kansha-no-hi: November 23; Emperor's Birthday/Tennou-tanjyou-bi: December 23; December Bank Holiday: December 31.

The period from April 29 to May 5 is called the "Golden Week." The period from December 29 to January 5 is a traditional time for observance of year end and New Year holidays. Many businesses are closed for vacations and holidays during these times.

For more information on specific holidays, see Japan Public & Bank Holidays.

Public holiday celebrations may cause delays in commercial transport of goods. It is best to check with your agent in the country about the extent of business stoppage during holidays.

For information on holidays worldwide, see: Holidays and Observances around the World.

(Last updated on 2024-01-01)

Major trade agreements

• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  • The goal is promotion of global free trade and investment growth.
  • APEC accounts for more than 1/3 of the world's population, almost half of the world's trade, and approximately 60% of the global gross domestic product (GDP).
  • 21 member countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam
• Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), The United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand; phone: 662 288 1234; fax: 662 288 1000
  • ESCAP is a regional commission that is under the administrative direction of the United Nations. The ESCAP promotes cooperation among its member countries in order to achieve sustainable social and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • 53 member countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Vietnam
  • 9 associate members: American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macao, New Caledonia, Niue, and the Northern Mariana Islands
• Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) (oberver) [English: Central American Integration System]
  • SICA is an economic and political organization of Central American countries. SICA promotes economic integration and regional cooperation.
  • Member countries: Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
  • Regional observers: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, United States of America, and Uruguay
  • Extra-regional observers: Australia, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, Morocco, New Zealand, Qatar, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom
• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) (dialogue partner), formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC): IORA Secretariat, 3rd Floor, Tower I, NeXTeracom Building, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius; phone: +230 454 1717; fax: +230 468 1161; email: hq@iora.net
  • IORA was formed in 1995. Members of the IORA are countries that literally mostly form the coastal rim of the Indian Ocean. The IORA strives toward trade liberation and further promotes socio-economic cooperation among the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim.
  • 23 member countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
  • 10 dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
• Free Trade Agreements (FTA) (by country/economy)
  • Scroll down and select "Japan".
  • Japan has signed free trade agreements that are in effect with Brunei Darussalam and Peru.
  • Japan has signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but it is not yet in effect.

For additional information on trade agreements and rules of origin see: Rules of Origin Facilitator.

(Last updated on 2024-04-12)

Other treaties/conventions

• World Trade Organization (WTO), Center William Rappard, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland; phone: +41 22 739 5111; fax: +41 22 731 4206; email: enquiries@wto.org
  • Check list of all Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) and key information on WTO participation of Japan.
• World Customs Organization (WCO), Rue du Marché 30, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium; phone: +32 2 209 9211; fax: +32 2 209 9262
• Int'l Convention to Facilitate the Importation of Commercial Samples and Advertising Material
  • ATA Carnet is available for the duty- and tax-free temporary importation of commercial samples for trade fairs and commercial display. The ATA Carnet is valid for up to one year.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Headquarters, 34 Chemin des Colombettes, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland; phone: +41 22 338 9111; fax: +41 22 733 5428
• Int'l Road Transport Union (IRU), Headquarters, La Voie-Creuse 16, POB 44, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland; phone: +41 22 918 2700; email: iru@iru.org
  • Carnet TIR System: Convention on international transport of goods under cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) for cross border international road transportation.
• Convention on the Inte'l Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Secretariat, Int'l Environment House, 11 Chemin des Anémones, CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland; phone: +41 22 917 8139 and +41 22 917 8140; fax: +41 22 797 3417; email: info@cites.org
• Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), Headquarters, 2 Rue André Pascal, F-75775 Paris Cedex 16, France; phone: +33 1 4524 8200; fax: +33 1 4524 8500
• World Health Organization (WHO), Headquarters, Dept. of Food Safety and Zoonoses (FOS), World Health Organization, Ave. Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; fax: +41 22 791 4807; email: foodsafety@who.int
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Education Outreach Cluster, Outreach Div., Dept. of Public Information, UN Headquarters, New York, NY 10017
• Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for Int'l Carriage by Air (Montreal Convention), IATA Head Office, 800 Place Victoria, POB 113, Montreal H4Z 1M1, Quebec, Canada; phone: +1 514 874 0202; fax: +1 514 874 9632
• Int'l Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Headquarters, 999 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., Montréal H3C 5H7, Quebec, Canada; phone: +1 514 954 8219; fax: +1 514 954 6077; email: icaohq@icao.int
• International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom; phone: +44 20 7735 7611; fax +44 20 7587 3210; email: info@imo.org
• Universal Postal Union (UPU), Int'l Bureau, POB 312, CH-3000 Bern 15, Switzerland; phone: +41 31 350 3111; fax: +41 31 350 3110
• Int'l Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland; phone: +41 22 730 5111; fax: +41 22 733 7256; email: itumail@itu.int
• International Labour Organization (ILO), 4 Route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
• United Nations, New York, USA and Geneva, Switzerland.

(Last updated on 2024-11-13)

Government trade information

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kasumigaseki 2-2-1, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8919 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3580 3311
• Ministry of Finance (MOF), Kasumigaseki 3-1-1, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8940 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3581 4111
  • Japan Customs, Customs & Tariff Bureau, 3-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8940 Tokyo
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism (MLIT), 2-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8918 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 5253 8111
• Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications (MIC), Kasumigaseki 2-chome, 1-2, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8926 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 5253 5111
• Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare (MHLW), Kasumigaseki, 1-2-2, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8916 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 5253 1111
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (MAFF), Kasumigaseki, 1-2-1, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8950 Tokyo
• Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI), Kasumigaseki, 1-3-1, Chiyoda-ku, JP-100-8901 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3501 1511
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Import Promotion Dept., 2-5 Toranomon, 2-chome, Minato-ku, JP-105-8466 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3582 5511; fax: +81 3 3587 0219
• Manufactured Imports Promotion Organization (MIPRO), 6th floor, World Import Mart Bldg., Sunshine City, 3-1-3, Higashi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, JP-170-8630 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3988 2791
• Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), Technical Regulations, Standards & Conformity Assessment Policy Unit, Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry, 1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, JL-100-8901 Tokyo; phone: +81 3 3501 9471; fax: +81 3 3580 8637; email: isojisc@meti.go.jp
  • See ISO membership.

(Last updated on 2022-07-16)

Additional trade information

Refer to updated IMF Country Report.

(Last updated on 2022-04-01)

Traveler requirements (visas, samples, etc.)

Generally, a visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days (exceptions apply, check below). Refer to overview of Japan Visa Requirements.

Check Visa Exemptions for short-term visits (applicable to 66 countries and regions).

Note: Verify visa duration limitation, which may vary according to nationality. Also, an ePassport may be required for some nationalities.

For detailed visa requirements contact:

• Embassy of Japan, 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008; phone (main): +1 202 238 6700; phone (visa): +1 202 238 6800; fax (main): +1 202 328 2187; fax (visa): +1 202 328 2184
• Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT; phone: +44 20 7465 6500; fax: +44 20 7491 9348; email: info@ld.mofa.go.jp
  • Note: Visa inquiries are not accepted by email.

For worldwide visa requirements see: Travel Visa Requirements.

(Last updated on 2019-08-07)

Business customs

An understanding of Japanese business and social practices is of great importance in establishing and maintaining successful business relationships. Indifference to local business practices may indicate a lack of commitment and could lead to misunderstandings on both sides. In building relationships, emphasis should be made on developing mutual trust, confidence, loyalty and commitment for the long term.

Although English is used in meetings, Western social and business norms may not apply. Using a professional interpreter is highly recommended, both for meetings and for establishing contracts. A written contract is essential to meet legal, tax, Customs and accounting requirements. Contractual commitments are perceived as representing long-term relationships.

Bilingual business cards are exchanged to formalize the introduction and establish the status of the parties relative to one another. Japanese bow when greeting each other, but expect to shake hands with foreign executives. A slight bow in acknowledgment of a Japanese bow is appreciated. Japanese executives deal on a last name basis in business relationships, and initial business and social contacts are characterized by politeness and formality.

Gift-giving is expected. Regional gifts or gifts bearing a company logo are appreciated. Quality is important, but the gift does not have to be expensive. The packaging of the gift is considered as important as the gift itself; thus, packaging should be done professionally. Sets of four are considered unlucky (the number 4 is pronounced the same as the word for death). Gifts that can be shared among a group are appropriate.

For business customs, check comments of Cultural Guide - Japan, and refer to Culture Crossing in Japan.

(Last updated on 2019-07-30)