🇵🇫 French Polynesia → 🇯🇵 Japan
Do France passport holders need a visa for Japan? Visa-free
No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Japan for tourism for stays of up to 3 months.
No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.
French Polynesia does not issue its own passport; residents travel on a France passport. See the France passport .
Source: mofa.go.jp (checked July 16, 2026).
Travelling the other way? Japan passport holders visiting French Polynesia : Visa-free.
Japan drives on the left, the opposite side to French Polynesia. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
Frequently asked questions Do France passport holders need a visa for Japan? No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Japan for tourism for stays of up to 3 months.
How long can France citizens stay in Japan without a visa? Up to 3 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.
How far is Japan from French Polynesia? About 9,492 km in a straight line, roughly ~11h 40m nonstop by air.
What currency is used in Japan? Japanese yen (JPY).
What is the emergency number in Japan? 110 / 118 / 119.
Does Japan drive on the same side of the road as French Polynesia? Japan drives on the left, the opposite side to French Polynesia. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
What time zone is Japan in? Tokyo (UTC+9).
What is the nearest airport to Tokyo? Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), about 13 km away.
How many countries can enter Japan without a visa? 117 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Japan visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.
Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.
About French Polynesia French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole overseas country; it is classified as a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia is associated with the European Union as an overseas country and territory (OCT). The total land area of French Polynesia is 3,521 square kilometres (1,359 sq mi), with a population of 282,596 as of September 2025 of which at least 205,000 live in the Society Islands and the remaining population lives in the rest of the archipelago.
Climate in Papeete Warmest April, coolest July, driest September, sunniest September. Best time to visit: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Monthly climate normals for Papeete, 2020 Month High Low Rainfall Sunshine January 28.4°C 24.9°C 386mm 322h February 28.3°C 24.9°C 530mm 297h March 29.1°C 25.4°C 323mm 300h April 29.1°C 25.5°C 176mm 309h May 28.5°C 25.1°C 155mm 303h June 26.9°C 23.4°C 216mm 274h July 26.2°C 23.1°C 294mm 285h August 26.4°C 22.8°C 194mm 327h September 27.3°C 23.3°C 83mm 350h October 26.9°C 23.5°C 254mm 340h November 27.3°C 24.1°C 383mm 313h December 27.3°C 24°C 449mm 275h
Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)
Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.
Travel guide French Polynesia is a collection of over 100 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, halfway between California and Australia. It is an overseas country, the only French territory with this status.
Upcoming public holidays Full source list on About .
About Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, it is bordered to the west by the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk in the north, and the East China Sea in the south. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands alongside over 14,000 smaller islands. Japan is divided into 47 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions, and around 75% of its terrain is mountainous and heavily forested, concentrating its agriculture and highly urbanized population along its eastern coastal plains. With a population of almost 123 million as of 2026, it is the world's 11th most populous country. Tokyo is the country's capital and largest city.
Climate in Tokyo Warmest August, coolest January, driest December, sunniest August. Best time to visit: May, August.
Monthly climate normals for Tokyo, 2020 Month High Low Rainfall Sunshine January 10°C 2.6°C 137mm 193h February 11.4°C 2.4°C 38mm 248h March 14°C 4.9°C 132mm 234h April 16°C 7.6°C 177mm 281h May 22.1°C 15.2°C 130mm 258h June 25.9°C 19.7°C 199mm 239h July 26.8°C 22.2°C 341mm 127h August 31.8°C 25°C 45mm 372h September 27.2°C 22°C 144mm 209h October 20.3°C 13.9°C 240mm 188h November 17.1°C 8.6°C 39mm 238h December 11.1°C 2.2°C 20mm 224h
Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)
Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.
Travel guide
Japan, known as Nihon or Nippon (日本) in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Its insular character has allowed it to develop a unique and very intricate culture, while its closeness to other ancient East Asian cultures, in particular China, has left lasting influence. Despite belonging to a nation long at war, Japan's people have always placed emphasis on inner balance, tranquility and natural beauty. These traditional values have become increasingly important now that Japan has grown to be one of the world's most densely-populated countries, and its legendary work ethic makes life in its cities quite hectic.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Amami-Ōshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Higashi Kairō Himeji Castle Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land Hiroshima Peace Memorial Upcoming public holidays Full source list on About .