You used to have to apply for a re-entry visa. Technically Japan distinguishes between "entry permission" and "status of residence", which few countries do and,

You used to have to apply for a re-entry visa. Technically Japan distinguishes between "entry permission" and "status of residence", which few countries do and, given it's an island, doesn't really make any sense, but that's the reason for the policy. With the change to the Residence Card system in 2012 normal travel no longer requires applying for re-entry visas. Here's a notice from when it changed: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/point_3-4.html http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/point_3-4.html To add to what bojo said, when you apply for it at the airport these days you basically just fill out a tiny piece of paper and they say "OK, see you when you get back" if you're going away for less than a year. I don't go overseas much but if memory serves the process is basically the same for PR and non-PR visas. I don't really know much about the implications of only coming back once every five years or so.