These documents took the form of a stamped "letter of request" allowing Japanese citizens to travel overseas for business and educational purposes.

The first person to be issued with a Japanese travel document was the acrobat and magician Namigorō Sumidagawa [ja], who received his travel document on 17 October 1866 in order to perform at the 1867 Exposition Universelle held in Paris, France.

Japanese passports have the Chrysanthemum Imperial Seal of Japan inscribed in the centre of the front cover, with seal script Kanji characters reading Nipponkoku Ryoken (Japanese: 日本国旅券, lit.

This note contains information about what the bearer should know when encountering various situations in a foreign country.

The surname, given name and other personalised mentions (like registered domicile) are only indicated in Latin uppercase letters.