Business travel to Tokyo, planned from Pakistan
Tokyo is the centre of Japanese business. Pakistani companies go there for automotive and machinery principals, trading houses, technology clients and development finance meetings, and for exhibitions at Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe.
Tokyo for business travellers from Pakistan
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visa | A short-term business visa, applied for through the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad or the Consulate-General in Karachi, using the designated application channels for your area. |
| Guarantor | The Japanese company usually provides a Letter of Guarantee, an invitation, its company registration and a schedule of stay. |
| Your documents | Passport, application form and photo, CNIC, employment certificate, company profile, flight and hotel bookings and proof of funds. |
| Airports | Haneda (HND), close to the city, and Narita (NRT), about an hour away. |
| Flight time | About 11 to 14 hours with one stop, often via Bangkok, the Gulf or China. |
| Time zone | Four hours ahead of Pakistan. |
| Money | Japanese yen (JPY). Cards are widely accepted; carry some cash. |
The Japanese business visa
Japan’s short-term business visa from Pakistan is document-heavy, and most of the file comes from the Japanese side. The inviting company provides a Letter of Guarantee, an invitation letter, a schedule of stay and its company documents. The traveller adds a passport, form, photo, CNIC, employment certificate, company profile, bookings and proof of funds.
The Embassy of Japan in Islamabad accepts applications through its designated channels, not over the counter, and the Consulate-General in Karachi covers Sindh and Balochistan. Check the embassy’s current checklist before submitting.
Where business happens in Tokyo
Tokyo is huge but its rail system makes it manageable:
- Marunouchi and Otemachi, next to Tokyo Station, for headquarters, banks and trading houses
- Shinjuku and Shibuya for technology and services firms
- Shinagawa for corporate offices and Shinkansen connections
- Odaiba for Tokyo Big Sight, the main exhibition centre
- Makuhari Messe in Chiba for larger shows
Japanese meeting culture
Japanese business relationships build slowly and value preparation. Bring plenty of business cards, ideally with a Japanese side, and offer them with both hands. Meetings start precisely on time, decisions are made by consensus after the meeting, and follow-up in writing matters. Gifts from Pakistan are appreciated when modest and well wrapped.
Getting around
Trains and the metro are the fastest way around; an IC card such as Suica or Pasmo works on almost all of them. Taxis are clean but expensive. Hotels near Tokyo Station or Shinagawa suit trips that include Shinkansen journeys to factories in Nagoya or Osaka.
How Go Global manages a Tokyo trip
Visa plan
We prepare the file with your Japanese guarantor.
Flights
One-stop routes into Haneda or Narita.
Hotels
Near Tokyo Station or your meetings.
In Japan
Rail passes and factory visits by Shinkansen.
After the trip
One invoice and a trip record.
Tokyo business travel questions
Do I need a guarantor for a Japanese business visa?
Usually yes. The inviting Japanese company provides a Letter of Guarantee with its company documents.
Where do I apply in Pakistan?
Through the designated application channels for the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad or the Consulate-General in Karachi, depending on where you live.
Which Tokyo airport is closer?
Haneda, which is about 30 minutes from central Tokyo.
Where are Tokyo’s big exhibitions held?
Mainly at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba and at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.
More guides: China, Africa and visas
Planning a trip to Tokyo?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.