🇯🇵 How to calculate entry and exit dates when traveling to Japan (to avoid overstaying your visa)
This is something many people get wrong, so I'm writing it down clearly.
According to international conventions and both Japan and Vietnam, the day of departure and the day of arrival count as 1 day.
So if you count the full number of days, it will be 16 days.
The simplest way to calculate is:
Entry date plus 15 → gives the exit date.
Real-life example from my stamp:
Entry on 02/2/2026, allowed to stay until 17/2/2026.
Counting from 02 to 17 is 16 days if including the day you set foot and get the stamp.
If not counting the first entry day, it would be 15 days.
Therefore, just take entry date + 15 to get the last day you can stay.
Easier example:
If entry on 1/5
Then you can stay until 23:59 on 16/5.
After 0:00 it counts as the next day, and you're overstaying.
In summary, just remember:
Entry day counts as 1 day
Exit day also counts as 1 day
Entry date + 15 → the day you must leave Japan
Don't miscount by 1 day and affect your next visa application. To be safe, plan your itinerary for 13 days or less to fit, sometimes delays due to weather or snowstorms will require explanations
Have fun traveling but calculate the dates carefully 😅
