Determine what kind of visa you will need. If you are backpacking or visiting as a tourist, a tourist visa will suffice. If you are attending school in Japan, you should apply for a student visa. A business visa is for people whose work involves traveling to Japan. Visit the Japanese Embassy in America's website to learn more about the different kinds of visas.
Assemble the required materials for applying for the visa. You will need to have a valid passport, a photograph that is passport sized and the application for the visa filled out completely. You can find any additional materials you need on the Japanese Embassy's website. At this point, you should already have purchased your airline ticket, with a return trip included.
Submit all of the visa documentation required to the Japanese Embassy or the local consulate general. Check the Embassy's website to see where the closest location is. You can mail in all of the documents.
