Japan's schedule of stay: the strictest itinerary format in tourist visas
Unlike Schengen or the UK, Japan formally requires an itinerary document — the Schedule of Stay (滞在予定表) — with fixed columns: date, activity, contact, accommodation. Consulates reject applications over sloppy schedules, which makes Japan the one destination where the itinerary is not optional garnish but a core form.
How to fill each column
Date: every day of the trip, arrival to departure — no gaps.
Activity: realistic tourist-level detail ("Fushimi Inari, Nishiki market" — not "sightseeing" ×14, and not a minute-by-minute fantasy).
Contact: phone of the hotel or host for that night.
Accommodation: hotel name matching a real booking; consecutive nights can say "same as above". List inter-city moves (Shinkansen, flights) on the day they happen.
Consistency is the whole exam
The schedule must agree with your flight reservation dates, your hotel bookings, and your stated budget. Two weeks across five cities on a shoestring bank statement invites questions; so does a luxury schedule with no bookings behind it. If plans are flexible, book refundable hotels matching the schedule — never leave accommodation blank.
Practical notes
Apply through the consulate serving your region (or an accredited agency where walk-ins are not accepted). E-visa is available for some nationalities — the schedule requirement stays either way. Our generator outputs a day-by-day table you can paste into the official format, pre-filled with your dates.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the schedule of stay mandatory for a Japan tourist visa?
Yes — it is on the official document list for temporary visitor visas, with a prescribed tabular format.
How detailed should each day be?
One or two realistic activities per day plus that night's accommodation and contact. Precise enough to be credible, loose enough to be honest.
Do I need paid hotel bookings for Japan?
Reservations (refundable is fine) that match the schedule. Fabricated bookings discovered at check are treated as fraud.