Japan Tourist Visa & eVisa: Daily Schedule of Stay (Koteihyo), Flight & Hotel Guide

By ReservationPoints Asia-Pacific Visa Desk

When you apply for a Japan Temporary Visitor Visa—whether online through the Japan eVisa portal (used by foreign residents in the UK, US, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Brazil) or in person via VFS Global and accredited agencies (in India, the Philippines, and Indonesia)—one document sits at the centre of the consular review: the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Schedule of Stay, known in Japanese as the Taizai Yoteihyo (滞在予定表) or Koteihyo (行程表).

Unlike consulates that accept free-form cover letters alone, Japanese visa officers audit your trip through a strict four-column grid covering every calendar day from arrival at Haneda, Narita, or Kansai International Airport until departure. A single blank row, a vague entry like "Sightseeing in Tokyo," or a hotel listing without a local Japanese landline phone number will trigger a portal rejection or a request for additional documents. This guide explains how to complete every column of the Japan Schedule of Stay, provides a copy-ready 10-day Tokyo–Hakone–Kyoto–Osaka–Nara Koteihyo sample, and shows how to pair it with verifiable flight and hotel reservations.

What Is the Japan Visa Schedule of Stay (Taizai Yoteihyo / Koteihyo)?

The Schedule of Stay is an official MOFA form requiring visa applicants to declare their daily activities, local contact numbers, and overnight accommodation for every day in Japan. Consular assessors use the Koteihyo to verify three core criteria:

1. Permissibility of Purpose: Confirming planned activities fall strictly within short-term tourism and sightseeing rather than remunerative work.
2. Logistical & Financial Feasibility: Checking that your route makes geographical sense against your bank balance and approved annual leave window.
3. Traceable Accommodation & Flight Alignment: Verifying that arrival dates, flight numbers, departure dates, and every hotel name, street address, and phone number on the Schedule of Stay match your flight itinerary and hotel vouchers character for character.

How to Complete the 4 Columns of the Official MOFA Form

• Column 1 — Date (Year / Month / Day): List every consecutive date in chronological order (e.g., 2026/11/10 to 2026/11/19). Never group multiple days into a single row like "Nov 11–14: Tokyo." Every calendar day requires its own row.
• Column 2 — Activity Plan:
  • Arrival Day: State the arrival airport, airline, and flight number (e.g., "Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) aboard Flight JL 044; train transfer to Shinjuku hotel and evening walk in Shinjuku").
  • Full Sightseeing Days: Name two or three specific districts, temples, or landmarks plus inter-city transport (e.g., "Morning visit to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree; afternoon in Meiji Shrine and Shibuya Sky" or "Board Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station; afternoon visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha").
  • Departure Day: Specify your airport transfer and exact outbound flight number (e.g., "Nankai Rapi:t Airport Train to Kansai International Airport (KIX); depart Japan aboard Flight JL 043").
• Column 3 — Contact: Enter the actual local Japanese telephone number of the hotel where you sleep that night (including area code, such as +81-3-xxxx-xxxx for Tokyo, +81-75-xxx-xxxx for Kyoto, or +81-6-xxxx-xxxx for Osaka). Never write "See hotel voucher."
• Column 4 — Accommodation: Write the exact hotel name and full street address in Japan matching your reservation voucher. On your final departure day, write "N/A — Departing Japan aboard Flight [Number]".

Why Vague Koteihyo Forms Get Rejected: Uploading a Schedule of Stay to the Japan eVisa portal that says "Tokyo sightseeing" for four rows without naming districts, rail transfers, and local hotel phone numbers is a primary cause of "Application Not Accepted — Incomplete Schedule of Stay" notices.

Sample 10-Day Japan Visa Schedule of Stay (Koteihyo): Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka

The table below follows the official MOFA Taizai Yoteihyo structure for a 10-day "Golden Route" itinerary entering via Tokyo Haneda (HND) and departing via Osaka Kansai (KIX).

Date	Activity Plan (Daily Schedule & Transport)	Contact (Hotel Tel)	Accommodation (Hotel Name & Address)
2026/11/10 (Day 1)	Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) via Flight JL 044 at 07:45. Clear immigration, take Keikyu Line & JR Yamanote Line to Shinjuku, check in at hotel, and visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.	+81-3-3344-0111	Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330
2026/11/11 (Day 2)	Morning visit to Asakusa (Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise-dori, Senso-ji Temple) and Tokyo Skytree. Afternoon visit to Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum; return to Shinjuku by Metro.	+81-3-3344-0111	Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330
2026/11/12 (Day 3)	Morning walk through Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku, and Omotesando. Afternoon visit to Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky observation deck; evening in Ginza.	+81-3-3344-0111	Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330
2026/11/13 (Day 4)	Day trip to Hakone: board Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, ride Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani Valley, take Lake Ashi sightseeing boat, and return to Tokyo hotel.	+81-3-3344-0111	Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330
2026/11/14 (Day 5)	Check out of Tokyo hotel. Visit Imperial Palace East Gardens, then board JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station (2 hrs 15 mins). Check in and walk through Gion & Yasaka Shrine.	+81-75-344-8888	Hotel Granvia Kyoto JR Kyoto Station, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
2026/11/15 (Day 6)	Morning visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha via JR Nara Line. Afternoon walk through Higashiyama district: Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Sannenzaka lanes, and Nishiki Market.	+81-75-344-8888	Hotel Granvia Kyoto JR Kyoto Station, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
2026/11/16 (Day 7)	Morning JR train to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge. Afternoon visit to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Nijo Castle.	+81-75-344-8888	Hotel Granvia Kyoto JR Kyoto Station, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
2026/11/17 (Day 8)	Check out of Kyoto hotel. Take JR Special Rapid train to Osaka Station (30 mins). Visit Osaka Castle Park and Umeda Sky Building; evening in Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi.	+81-6-6646-1111	Swissotel Nankai Osaka 5-1-60 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076
2026/11/18 (Day 9)	Day trip from Osaka Namba to Nara via Kintetsu-Nara Line (40 mins): visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Deer Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine; return to Osaka for Kuromon Market.	+81-6-6646-1111	Swissotel Nankai Osaka 5-1-60 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076
2026/11/19 (Day 10)	Check out of Osaka hotel. Board Nankai Rapi:t Airport Train from Namba Station to Kansai International Airport (KIX) and depart Japan aboard Flight JL 043 at 11:30.	N/A (Departure Day)	N/A — Departing Japan aboard Flight JL 043

Japan eVisa vs. VFS Global Sticker Visa: Regional Requirements

Submission Region & Channel	Schedule of Stay (Koteihyo) Rule	Flight Itinerary Requirement	Hotel Reservation Requirement
UK, US & Canada Residents (Japan eVisa Portal)	Mandatory PDF upload in MOFA 4-column format covering every calendar day	Round-trip flight reservation showing entry/exit into Japan and return to country of residence	Hotel confirmations covering every night with applicant's full name and matching addresses
UAE & Saudi Arabia Residents (Japan eVisa / VFS)	Mandatory MOFA Schedule of Stay aligned with employer NOC leave dates	Round-trip flight itinerary departing and returning to DXB/AUH/RUH/JED matching Day 1 & final day	Verifiable hotel vouchers for every city (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) matching Koteihyo dates
India (VFS Global Japan Centres)	Mandatory signed Schedule of Stay + detailed Cover Letter explaining trip & budget	Round-trip flight reservation with PNR matching application form and employer leave letter	Confirmed hotel bookings for all nights; VFS cross-checks every night against the Koteihyo
Philippines & Indonesia (VFS / Agencies)	Mandatory MOFA Taizai Yoteihyo typed on official template	Flight itinerary reference matching declared entry and departure ports	Complete hotel addresses and Japanese phone numbers listed on Koteihyo + vouchers

Aligning Your Flight Itinerary, Multi-City Hotels & Schedule of Stay

Japanese missions explicitly state they are not responsible for financial losses if you purchase non-refundable tickets prior to visa approval. Yet submitting a Schedule of Stay without matching flight numbers and active hotel vouchers—or cancelling bookings mid-review—can derail your application (see our guides on why cancelling a hotel booking early causes visa refusals and employer NOC letters for visa applications).

• Complete Visa Document Package: Order the Custom Bundle (£22.50 Full Package) to receive a verifiable round-trip flight itinerary, hotel reservation, and custom travel plan/cover letter synchronized to your exact dates.
• Multi-City Japanese Hotels: Order a verifiable hotel reservation (£5) (covering up to 15 nights per hotel) and use the + Add Another Hotel option to add separate hotel confirmations for Kyoto, Osaka, or Hakone.
• Custom Consular Travel Plan & Cover Letter: Order a day-by-day travel plan (£15) drafted to MOFA standards, and generate a supporting cover letter via our free visa cover letter generator.
• Turnaround & Case Review: Standard delivery is Within 14 hours (with Urgent up to 8 hours and Super Fast 1–2 hours options). If your eVisa was previously returned or you have a complex file, you can hire a visa consultant (£70) for a full audit. Final visa approval always rests with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to use the official MOFA PDF form for the Japan Schedule of Stay?

Yes, using the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) four-column Schedule of Stay template (Date, Activity Plan, Contact, and Accommodation) is strongly recommended for both VFS Global and the Japan eVisa portal.

2. Can I stay in multiple hotels across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka?

Yes. List the exact hotel name, address, and local phone number for each night on your Schedule of Stay and attach a voucher for each property. Our verifiable hotel reservation (£5) covers up to 15 nights per hotel, with the + Add Another Hotel option for multi-city routes.

3. Do I need to buy Shinkansen tickets or a JR Pass before applying for a Japan visa?

No. Pre-purchased bullet train tickets or a Japan Rail Pass are not required. Simply state your planned rail transfer (e.g., "JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto") in the Activity Plan column.

4. What should I write in the Accommodation column on my departure day?

Write "N/A — Departing Japan aboard Flight [Flight Number]" in the Accommodation column and "N/A (Departure Day)" in the Contact column.

5. Does the Japan eVisa portal require flight and hotel bookings for UK, US, and UAE residents?

Yes. Foreign residents applying via the Japan eVisa portal must upload a round-trip flight itinerary reservation, hotel confirmations for every night, and a completed Schedule of Stay proving return to their country of residence.

6. What if my flight leaves home on Monday night and lands in Tokyo on Tuesday?

Start Day 1 of your Schedule of Stay on the calendar date your aircraft lands in Japan (Tuesday), and make sure your first Tokyo hotel check-in matches that exact Japanese arrival date.

7. How fast can I get a matching flight itinerary, hotel reservations, and travel plan for Japan?

Standard orders for a day-by-day travel plan (£15) or the Custom Bundle (£22.50 Full Package) are delivered Within 14 hours, with Urgent (up to 8 hours) and Super Fast (1–2 hours) options available at checkout.