Mexico City

Japanese people do not need a visa for tourism or language studies for trips up to 180 days. For entry on business or as an international student, check with the Mexican Embassy in Japan.

Your passport must be valid for at least the duration of your stay.

When using the visa waiver program to travel to or through (via) the U.S. without a visa by air or sea, you must obtain travel authorization from ESTA online (not possible on your phone). Do not forget this, as you may be refused boarding onto the plane or denied entry into the U.S. if you fail to obtain travel authorization from ESTA before your trip. When you obtain ESTA authorization, it is valid for two years and you can travel to the U.S. multiple times (you do not need to renew it every time you change your schedule or visit somewhere). The final permission for entry is given by the immigration inspector at the first port of entry.
Apply for and obtain travel authorization from ESTA soon after your plans to travel to the U.S. have been fixed. (It is strongly recommended that you complete the procedure at least 72 hours before leaving your country). You can no longer receive instant authorization after application, so it is best to complete the process early. The application can be made by a relative, travel agency (for a fee), or other third party.

Generally 2 years. However, if your passport expires before the authorization term ends, your ESTA authorization also expires. You must also re-apply if your name or passport number changes.

Fee: $21

According to 2015 changes in the visa waiver program and the enactment of the Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, individuals who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 cannot travel to the U.S. using the visa waiver program. Relevant travelers must apply for a visa using the regular method at the American Embassy. For more information, see the American Embassy visa waiver programpage.

When visiting from Japan, it is prohibited to bring the following items into Mexico.

As of February 2020, bringing e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products into Mexico has been banned. There was a time when heated tobacco products were not subject to an import ban, but this ban was put in place again on October 22, 2021. This situation is evolving, so please check the latest information.

If you are 18 or older, you can bring up to 10 cartons of cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 g of powdered tobacco and up to 3 L of alcohol into Mexico duty free. The duty free system changes frequently, so it is best to check in advance with your airline.

There are four time zones in Mexico. Mexico City and other major places are in the Central Standard Time (CST) zone that is 15 hours behind Japan.
In the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone used in Quintana Roo where Cancun is located, the time is 14 hours behind Japan.
In the Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone used in the northern areas such as South Baja California, Nayarit, Sonora, and Sinaloa, the time is 16 hours behind Japan.
In the Pacific Standard Time (PST) zone used in Tijuana and other parts of North Baja California, the time is 17 hours behind Japan.

Mexico is in the Northern hemisphere, so the hot and cold periods are around the same times as Japan. May to October is the rainy season and November to April is the dry season. During the rainy season, it is usually sunny in the daytime and the sky becomes overcast with rain clouds in the evening, but rain can fall all day in low pressure zones. Also, hurricanes come some years and cause damage to the Caribbean Sea side or Gulf of Mexico.
Note that the temperature difference between day and night is quite pronounced in high plains like Mexico City and areas surrounded by deserts like Los Cabos.