Temporary visitor status covers tourism, recuperation, sports, visits to relatives, field trips, participation in short courses or meetings, business liaison and similar activities undertaken while staying temporarily in Japan. Holders of temporary visitor status may not engage in working activities. Some concrete examples of the type of person involved in business who would be covered by this status are as follows:
Persons staying in Japan for the purpose of field trips and study tour (e.g. plant tours and trade fair visits)
Persons participating in short courses and briefings organized by companies
Persons participating in conferences and other meetings
Persons sent to Japan for business liaison, business negotiations, contract signing, after-sales service, advertising or publicity, market research or other short-term business activities
Persons sent to Japan for business liaison, business negotiations, contract signing, after-sales service, advertising or publicity, market research or other short-term business activities
Market research and other activities in preparation for investing in and commencing a business in Japan are normally considered to fall under temporary visitor status. The periods of stay of temporary visitor status is basically either 90 days, 30 days, or 15 days.
Please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for information on countries exempt from short-term stay visa.