The travel-loving citizens of Japan are in luck, as the country now has the world’s most powerful passport.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. Image by ©golaizola/Getty Images

Japanese travellers can access a record total of 189 destinations without needing a visa, overtaking former number-one countries Singapore and Germany, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. Singapore and Germany now share the second spot, as their citizens can go to 188 destinations without a visa. Third place is held by six countries: South Korea, Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

The report measures the power of a passport based on how many countries a citizen can visit without a visa, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Since countries have different arrangements with other nations, travelling to spots where you need a visa can be confusing, complicated or sometimes costly. It’s a problem that’s further compounded if you’re planning on visiting multiple countries in one trip.

The most powerful passports in the world. Image by ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock

While European countries dominate many of the top spots on the list of most powerful passports, the recent rise of Japan, Singapore and South Korea means Asian countries are taking over more of the top spots. The country that rose the most places since 2008 is the United Arab Emirates, which has seen its passport climb 38 places to 23rd place.