Tourist Visas

 Visitors from most European countries, Australia and North America are usually issued a 3-month tourist visa on each entry to the country (see below). Nationals from other countries will have to obtain a visa in advance to enter Japan.
Foreign tourists are required by Japanese law to carry their passports with them at all times.
Citizens of nations other than those listed below must apply for a 90-day tourist visa in their home countries from the Japanese embassy  though there is a fee for the visa itself

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Countries that have reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan are:
6 months or less: (An extendable 3-month visa is usually issued on arrival, for further details see Immigration Offices).
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, UK.
3 months or less: (A non-extendable 3-month visa is usually issued on arrival).
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Iceland, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malta, Macedonia, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay.
90 days or less: (A non-extendable 90 day visa is usually issued on arrival).
Barbados, New Zealand and the USA.
14 days or less:
Brunei.

Working Visas

 Visitors to Japan on a 3-month tourist visa are not allowed to work in Japan.
People hoping to find employment in Japan must have a working visa before they arrive in the country. Applying for one will require the cooperation of the the company, university, research institute, board of education or school that will employ them.
Applicants will need to liaise in this process with the Japanese embassy or consulate in their own countries.

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Working Visa Requirements

Visas which allow paid work generally require a Japanese company, school, university or individual to act as sponsor.
Having found work at a school, university or Japanese company, applicants for a working visa will need to fill out an application form from the Japanese embassy or consulate in their own countries.
The following are the usual requirements for obtaining a working visa for Japan: a valid passport, a recent photograph, a letter from your future employer (or sponsor) stating your position and expected salary, a Certificate of Eligibility (the application for which requires documentation from your prospective employer), a curriculum vitae and copies of any necessary graduation certificates.
The Certificate of Eligibility is a vital component of your working visa application. It is issued by the Japanese Ministry of Justice. If the candidate is overseas, the application for it will usually be made by the prospective employer through an immigration office in Japan.
Working visas are normally granted for periods of 1 year or 3 years except for entertainers where the periods are 3 months, 6 months and one year and are usually extendable.