What do Japanese travellers need to know about Morocco?

Japanese travellers have an easy entry into Morocco: holders of a Japanese passport can stay up to 90 days visa-free, with a passport valid for six months beyond arrival and blank pages for the stamp. The arrival card and immigration stamp are quick formalities on landing. As entry rules can change, I always recommend Japanese travellers check the latest guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) before booking — the official source you can trust.

Flights from Japan involve a connection, as there are no nonstop services. The most comfortable routings are via the Gulf carriers — Qatar Airways through Doha, Emirates through Dubai, Etihad through Abu Dhabi — or via a European hub such as Istanbul, Paris or Frankfurt, all connecting into Casablanca. From Tokyo or Osaka it's a long journey, so a planned stopover en route makes the trip much more pleasant and helps with the jet lag from the large time difference (Morocco runs many hours behind Japan). Casablanca is the gateway, with fast onward links to Marrakech and Fes.

On money, the dirham is a closed currency, so you'll withdraw it from ATMs once in Morocco rather than buying it in Japan — carry a small reserve of US dollars or euros as a backup. Japanese-issued Visa, Mastercard and JCB cards are accepted in many city hotels, restaurants and larger shops, though Visa and Mastercard have the widest acceptance, so bring one of those; check your card's foreign-transaction terms and notify your bank. The desert, the mountains and the souks run on cash, so keep small dirham notes on hand for taxis, tips and market stalls.

Culturally, Japanese travellers often find the contrast with home stimulating, and a few notes ease the adjustment. The pace and the bustle of the medinas are far less orderly than Japan, and the souk hustle can feel direct — a calm, polite decline is all that's needed, and faux-guides move on. Communication relies on French and Arabic, with English in hotels, so a translation app is very handy; even a few words of greeting are warmly received. Tipping is customary but modest, bargaining in the markets is expected and good-natured, and dress is more modest away from resorts. Accept the mint tea, take your time, and Morocco's warmth more than rewards the long journey to reach it.