About Japan Lookout

Japan Lookout tracks what’s changing for travellers in Japan: tax-free rules, fees, closures, transport changes and new rules, with the date each one starts and what to do about it.

How we check

• Every alert links its official source: a ministry, agency, prefecture, town or operator notice. When the first report came from the press, we link the official notice once we have it, and say when we don’t.
• Before an alert goes up, our editors re-check its date and status against that source. Each alert shows the date it was last checked.
• Many notices are in Japanese only. We translate the key points and mark the language next to the link.
• We report the change, not every detail. Where amounts depend on your case (fees, for example), we point you to the official notice instead of guessing.
• Countdowns are worked out in Japan time, so “in force” and “in N days” are always current.

Corrections

If something here is wrong or out of date, email hello@japanlookout.com with the page and the source. We fix errors quickly and update the “last checked” date.

Not official advice

We are an independent site and not part of any government body or operator. Always confirm with the official source before you make plans that depend on a date or rule.