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Does the 180-day rule reset on 1 January (New Year's Day)?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 6 March 2026　／　Last updated 21 August 2026

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

Answer

The idea that the count resets on 1 January is wrong. In practice it is worked out as the total number of days you have stayed during the 365 days counted back from the date you plan to leave Japan this time. Think of it as a window that keeps sliding. If you have already stayed 200 days, you are said to be at high risk of being refused landing at your next entry.

What is this enquiry about?

An enquirer who travels to Japan again and again for company projects, and has stayed about 200 days over the past 365 days.

Subject: 在留資格「短期滞在」 (Temporary Visitor) — how re-entry and landing examination are judged
Situation: The enquirer is an IT engineer. He travels to Japan often for company projects, and has stayed in Japan for about 200 days in total during the past 365 days. He has repeatedly stayed 90 days, left once, and come back again soon afterwards.
Question: He has heard that the annual 180-day limit resets on 1 January. Is that true? He has already stayed 200 days. If he keeps travelling like this, is he likely to be refused entry next time?

How is the 180-day rule counted correctly?

Resetting on 1 January is wrong. The count uses a sliding window of the most recent 365 days.

Many people assume that the count resets with the calendar year (1月〜12月, January to December), but practice is different. The basis for counting is the total number of days stayed during the 365 days counted back from the date you plan to leave Japan this time. Think of it as a window of the last 1 year that keeps sliding. The arrival of 1 January does not wipe your record of past stays.

Why is the risk of refused entry said to be high?

2 points are looked at: whether you are found to be living here, and wariness about visa runs.

Finding that you actually live here: if you are in Japan for half of 1 year (180 days) or more, the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) regards you as a person who has made Japan the base of their life, not a temporary visitor. In that case 短期滞在 is not the right status, and a proper work visa or similar is said to be needed.
Wariness about visa runs: staying almost the full 90 days, leaving, and coming straight back is said to make it very likely that an examiner will press you at your next entry, asking whether you are in fact working and living in Japan.

What responses can be considered from here?

Holding off on re-entering with 短期滞在, and looking into a proper visa, are mentioned.

Hold off on re-entering with 短期滞在: you are already over 180 days, so the safest way to avoid trouble is said to be to stay in your home country for a certain period (several months) and wait until your total for the last 1 year comes down.
Get a proper visa: if you will keep needing long business trips, ask your company to apply for 在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services). If you meet the conditions, you can also consider the digital nomad framework, which allows a longer stay.
Carry evidence: if you really must enter on 短期滞在 again, always bring material showing that you do not intend to settle in Japan — tax certificates from your home country, your housing contract, a schedule showing that the project ends with this trip, and so on.

The 出入国在留管理庁 places weight on where you physically were, and for how many days. Travelling to Japan with a record of 200 days of stay is said to carry the risk of being turned away at the airport. You are strongly advised to count your days of stay accurately first, and to talk with your company about changing your visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 180-day rule reset on 1 January every year?

No. In practice it is worked out as the total number of days stayed during the 365 days counted back from the date you plan to leave Japan this time, and the window always slides.

Is it a problem to stay 90 days, leave, and come straight back?

It is said to be seen as a visa run, and it is considered very likely that an examiner will press you on whether you are in fact working and living in Japan.

What should I do if I have already gone over 180 days?

Staying in your home country for a certain period and waiting for the total for the last 1 year to come down is said to be the safest way to avoid trouble. If you need long business trips, you are advised to look into getting a proper visa.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.