Do Japan passport holders need a visa to visit BE?

Japanese ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for short tourist visits to Belgium — up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, and Japan benefits from full Schengen short-stay visa exemption. A Japanese ordinary passport holder can travel to Belgium for tourism, business, or transit without a visa for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date and issued within the previous ten years; travelers must also be able to show the purpose of the trip, sufficient funds, and onward/return arrangements. No fee or application is required to enter visa-free today. Looking ahead, the EU's ETIAS travel authorization is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026 (with a transitional grace period afterward); once required, Japanese travelers will need to obtain an ETIAS (EUR 20, valid 3 years) online before travel — but as of 2026-05-30 it is not yet mandatory, so the current verdict remains fully visa-free.