The United States has about 23 cultural heritages declared by UNESCO, among them the Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon National Parks, Taos Town, San Antonio Missions, Independence Hall, just to mention some of these fantastic places.
This fact makes the United States one of the main destinations for vacations by Japanese citizens, who are known to be travelers who invest the most in tourism.
Besides, they are always well received in the United States because they are recognized worldwide for having excellent manners, are respectful, great shoppers and many claims that Japanese citizens are generous as well.
However, for those who have not yet traveled to the United States, you can do so through the electronic travel authorization which allows you to vacation freely in the country.
Steps for Japanese Citizens to Obtain a US ESTA
First, you must know what a US ESTA is. It is a program developed by the United States government in which after filling out an online form and being approved, the Japanese citizen will be able to enter the country for a period of 90 days, where you will be free to do business or tourism in the United States.
It serves as a means to strengthen security measures between the two countries. However, in order to be approved, you must follow a few simple steps.
Step 1
Meet all the requirements which are, to have a valid passport (at least 6 months) of Japanese origin and to have a credit card, debit card or PayPal account available to make payments.
Step 2
Fill out an online form from the comfort of your home where your data will be required, such as passport details, name, surname, place, and date of birth, telephone number, among others.
In some cases, information related to work status is also requested. It is important to note that the application is filled out in English, so it will be convenient to have a translator available only to avoid filling out the application incorrectly.
Step 3
Wait for approval from the US ESTA which generally takes no longer than 72 hours, although in most cases the response can be immediate. If your approval is positive, you will receive an email notification and you will be ready to travel to the United States.
As you can see, applying for electronic travel authorization is a simple, stress-free process that you can do before you purchase your travel tickets. Although it is important to note that if you already have a U.S. visa, you do not require this authorization.
Most popular places in the United States visited by Japanese tourists
The main destination is New York because of the great diversity of activities that can be done in this incredible city.
Japanese citizens love the view of the city from the impressive Empire State Building, celebrate Christmas with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree, skate on the ice rinks, take the ferry to admire the Statue of Liberty and even take advantage of the great offers on Black Friday.
Furthermore, accompanied by the phrase “what you do in Vegas, stays in Vegas” the Japanese enjoy the best hotels, fantastic casinos and impressive tours that only Las Vegas can offer.
Most of them take the helicopter tour from the Mirage hotel to watch Las Vegas from the skies and then go to the hotel theater to see the incredible shows of the Cirque du Soleil. And if you like adventure you can take the jeep tour of Red Rock Canyon, which will feel like you’re visiting planet Mars.
Japanese citizens frequently use their US ESTA to enjoy the UNESCO-declared world city of gastronomy, Arizona.
You will find a mixture of flavors in their delicious barbecues, food of Mexican roots and Texas together, among other traditional recipes that will simply delight your palate. O
On the other hand, the Japanese enjoy the astronomical experience in the different observatories of the city such as Mount Graham International Observatory or Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Besides, Japanese people enjoy the three most recognized parks in the United States, which are Saguaros, Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon National Park.
