The Temporary Visitor visa — what most people mean by "tourist visa" — covers stays of up to 90 days for sightseeing, visiting family, or short business activities like meetings, conferences, and trade shows. You don't need a separate business visa for trips under 90 days; the standard short-stay visa covers ordinary business travel too.
Whether you need a visa at all depends on nationality. Japan has visa-exemption arrangements with a large number of countries — nationals of those countries can enter visa-free for short stays, subject to the length-of-stay limit their agreement specifies. If your country isn't on that list, you'll need either a paper visa from an embassy/consulate or, where available, Japan's eVisa, which lets eligible applicants apply entirely online rather than visiting an embassy in person.
Required basics across the board: a passport valid beyond your planned stay, proof of onward or return travel, accommodation details, and evidence of sufficient funds for the trip. See Visa-Exempt Countries List to check your own nationality, and Japan Visa Fees for current consular fees if you do need to apply.
Back to Visa Types.