GERMANY
My journey is special and free

Various things to consider when traveling to Germany.

Climate and best season

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Average temperature and precipitation in Germany (Berlin)

Source: Weather Base (http://www.weatherbase.com/)

Cash, cards and currency exchange

The currency unit is the Euro. You can exchange money at airports and banks in Japan, as well as at local airports, banks, and hotels. Considering the exchange rates, it might be better to exchange money in Japan. Since credit cards are accepted in most places, there is no need to carry a large amount of cash.
When visiting regional cities, there may be places that only accept cash, so be sure to carry some cash with you.

Tips

Service charges are generally included in the price, but it is customary to leave a tip as a gesture of appreciation for services at restaurants, taxis, and some hotel services.
In restaurants, it is common to round up the bill to the nearest euro, adding 5-10% as a tip.
For taxis, a tip of around 10% is typical. If you have a lot of luggage, it is advisable to pay an additional 1-2 euros.
In hotels, if you request room service, porter service, or room cleaning, it is customary to leave about 1 euro.

Public Safety

Germany is perceived as a relatively safe country in Europe, but it has a crime rate 14 times higher than Japan. Therefore, if you approach it with the same mindset as in Japan, you may encounter trouble, so please be cautious.
In major cities frequently visited by tourists, there are many cases of pickpocketing and snatching, so please be vigilant.
Additionally, there are potential dangers unique to Germany, which accepts many refugees, so please be cautious.

Clothing

Spring is relatively mild, but there can be chilly mornings and evenings and sudden temperature changes, so don't forget to bring a warm jacket. In summer, the lower humidity compared to Japan makes it feel more comfortable. In autumn, from around September, there can be cold days, and mornings and evenings can be chilly, so it's recommended to wear easily adjustable clothing, including warm layers. Winter is quite cold, so make sure to take proper cold-weather precautions. Warm shoes and tights are recommended to keep your feet warm. If you are going to the southern regions, where there is a lot of snow, waterproof footwear is also advisable.
In general, it is recommended to wear comfortable and easily adjustable clothing.

Things you should bring with you

Multi-plug, regular medication, mobile battery, travel insurance, warm clothing

Visa availability and arrangements

There is a visa waiver agreement between Japan and Germany, so for short stays of up to 90 days for purposes such as tourism or visiting acquaintances, obtaining a visa is not required.
Germany is also a member of the Schengen Agreement. Starting in 2025, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be introduced. From 2025, Japanese travelers to ETIAS-participating countries will need to possess an approved ETIAS upon arrival. For short stays that do not require a visa within the Schengen area, it is stipulated that they are only allowed for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. This means that the maximum period one can stay without a visa in the Schengen area, including Germany, is 90 days, and all days spent in the Schengen area within the past 180 days are counted as part of the short stay period.
Additionally, those eligible for the short-stay visa waiver must have a passport with a validity period of more than three months beyond the planned departure date from a Schengen Agreement member country.

Required vaccinations

There are no mandatory requirements for travel.