Essential info
Insider TipJapanese passport holders visit visa-free for up to 90 days. No ETIAS required yet.
Getting there
Direct flights from Tokyo to Rome and Milan on ITA, ANA, JAL. JPY 100,000-200,000 return. 12-13 hours.
Money
JPY 160-170 per euro. Italy is cheaper than Japan for food and wine. Cash is still used but cards increasingly accepted.
What Japanese travellers love
- Art and architecture complement Japanese aesthetic appreciation
- Food culture is taken as seriously as in Japan
- Espresso culture rivals Japanese coffee dedication
- Fashion and design resonate with Japanese style
- Leather goods appeal to Japanese quality standards
- The beauty of Italian light and landscapes
What catches you off-guard
- Trains are not quite Shinkansen-punctual (close, but not Japanese-level)
- Shops close for long lunch breaks
- Customer service is warm but less formal
- Cleanliness varies (not Japanese standards everywhere)
- Public toilets lack bidet seats
- The pace is slower - Italian time vs Japanese precision
Food tips
Italian food shares Japan philosophy: quality ingredients simply prepared. Sashimi and carpaccio, udon and pasta - different traditions with similar respect for ingredients. You will feel at home in Italian food culture.
Useful phrases
What will surprise you
How relaxed Italians are about time. In Japan, a 1-minute-late train makes news. In Italy, 10 minutes late is normal. This relaxation extends to everything - embrace it as holiday from Japanese precision.
Bottom line
Italy welcomes Japanese travellers warmly. Embrace the Italian pace, eat everything, and you will leave planning your return trip.