Does Japan still stamp passports in 2026?
Yes, but not at the automated gate - and Japan is unusually good about giving you one if you ask afterwards.
Status Not at the e-gate
Japan still issues the landing permission seal, and it is one of the better-looking marks left in circulation: the design was refreshed in 2026 from the Paulownia crest to Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms.
But there is a catch, and it is the facial recognition automated gates. The Ministry of Justice is explicit that passing through an automated gate means no stamp and no sticker goes into your passport, because the gate records the movement electronically instead.
Japan also publishes the workaround, which almost nobody else bothers to do. After you clear the automated gate you may ask the immigration officer standing behind it, or an officer in the examination office, to stamp your passport - on arrival before customs, or on departure before you board.
How to still get a stamp
Use the gate, then ask the officer immediately behind it. This is an official, documented route, not a favour - do it before you leave the immigration area.
Sources
- Further Use of Facial Recognition Automated Gates (Notice) - Ministry of Justice (Japan)
- Users’ Guide to the Automated Gates (For Foreign Nationals) - Embassy of Japan
Sources last checked September 7, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Japan still stamp passports in 2026?
Yes, but not at the automated gate - and Japan is unusually good about giving you one if you ask afterwards.
How do I get a Japan passport stamp as a souvenir?
Use the gate, then ask the officer immediately behind it. This is an official, documented route, not a favour - do it before you leave the immigration area.
Does a missing stamp mean my entry was not recorded?
No. Border authorities keep an electronic record of entries and exits regardless of whether ink goes in the passport. The stamp is a copy of the record, not the record itself.