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Visa requirements, security, medical & other essential information
The following information will give you the basic facts you need to know before starting out on your trip. Visa requirements, security concerns, local medical facilities and laws vary tremendously across the Asia Pacific region, so it is important that you know the facts for your destination and don't arrive without a visa or inadvertently break a local law! The information on this page is intended to give you an overview - please be sure to confirm entry requirements with your travel agent when purchasing your ticket.
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Japan is a stable, highly developed parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A valid passport and an onward/return ticket are required. Passports must be valid for the intended period of stay in Japan. A visa is not required for tourist/business stays up to 90 days. Visitors cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry.
As a general rule, "visa free" entry status may not be changed to other visa status without departing and then re-entering Japan with the appropriate visa such as a spouse, work or study visa.
Passport Validity:
Visitors entering or transiting Japan should ensure that their passports and visas are up to date before arriving. Many Asian countries deny entry to travelers whose passports are valid for less than six months.
It is not usually possible to obtain a new passport and foreign visa during a brief stopover while transiting Japan, as tourist passport processing in Japan can take approximately two weeks.
Airlines in Japan will deny boarding to visitors who seek to transit Japan without the required travel documents for their final destinations in Asia.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
The events of September 11, 2001, serve as a reminder of the continuing threat from terrorists and extremist groups to Westerners worldwide. There have been no major terrorist incidents in Japan since 1995; however, since terrorists can strike at any time and at any place, visitors should be aware of the potential risks and take these into consideration when making travel plans.
Following the recent London bombings in July 2005, the security situation in Japan remains unchanged, with no new credible threat information.
The government of Japan is vigilant in tracking terrorist threat indicators and remains at a high state of alert. Local police substations (Koban) and police emergency dispatchers (tel. 110) should be contacted to report suspicious activity.
CRIME:
Crimes against tourists in Japan usually only involve personal disputes, theft or vandalism. The general crime rate in Japan is at levels well below most countries. Violent crime is rare, but does exist.
Incidents of pick pocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas, on trains and at airports have been a sporadic concern. Narita Airport lists airport theft statistics on its website at http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/news/tounan.html. In summer 2005, a number of visitors reported their passports lost or stolen at Narita Airport, especially passports being carried in pockets.
Few victim's assistance resources or battered women's shelters exist in major urban areas, and are generally unavailable in rural areas. Investigations of sexual assault crimes are often conducted without women police officers present and typically involve inquiries into the victim's sexual history and previous relationships. Quality of translations can vary significantly, and has proven unsettling to some victims.
Concerns Regarding Roppongi, Tokyo:
The majority of crimes reported by visitors have occurred in Roppongi, an entertainment district that caters to foreign clientele. Incidents involving visitors since spring 2004 include a murder, overdoses on heroin allegedly purchased in Roppongi, thefts of purses and wallets at bars in clubs, exorbitant bar tabs and drugs allegedly slipped into drinks. A number of visitors have also been arrested over the past year in Roppongi for various offenses.
Police can be summoned throughout Japan by dialing 110. Fire and ambulance services can be summoned by dialing 119. These numbers may not work from cell phones, however, and English-speaking dispatchers may not be available.
Persons seeking assistance should be able to describe their address/location in Japanese or enlist a friend who can do so, as few police officers speak English.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
The loss or theft abroad of a passport should be reported immediately to the local police and your Embassy or Consulate. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.
Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.
Except for emergencies, a replacement passport takes two to three weeks to process. Travelers will then need to contact Japanese Immigration to have their Japanese visas re-issued. "Lost" passports will not disguise an over-stay of one's 90-day entry, as Japanese Immigration records are computerized.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
While medical care in Japan is good, English-speaking physicians and medical facilities that cater to visitors are expensive and not very widespread. Japan has a national health insurance system, which is available only to foreigners with long-term visas for Japan.
National health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation or medical care outside of Japan. Medical caregivers in Japan require payment in full at the time of treatment or concrete proof of ability to pay before treating a foreigner who is not a member of the national health insurance plan.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
It can be both difficult and expensive for foreigners not insured in Japan to receive medical care. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those at home. The information below concerning Japan is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Driving in Japan is quite complicated and expensive. Those who cannot read the language will have trouble understanding road signs. Highway tolls are assessed at about $1 (U.S.) per mile.
City traffic is often very congested. A 20-mile trip in the Tokyo area may take two hours. There is virtually no legal roadside parking. In mountainous areas, roads are often closed during the winter, and cars should be equipped with tire chains.
Japanese compulsory insurance (JCI) is mandatory for all automobile owners and drivers in Japan. Most short-term visitors choose not to drive in Japan. Vehicular traffic moves on the left. Turns at red lights are forbidden, unless specifically authorized.
Japanese law provides that all persons who drive in Japan are held liable in the event of an accident, and assesses fault in an accident on all parties. Drivers stopped for driving under the influence of intoxicants will have their licenses confiscated.
Persons found guilty of "drunken, speeding or blatantly careless driving that results in death" are subject to up to 15 years in prison.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Japan’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of Japan’s air carrier operations.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Japan has very strict laws regarding the importation and possession of firearms and other weapons. Persons bringing a firearm or sword into Japan (including target and trophy pistols, air guns, some pocket knives and Japanese-origin swords) may have these items confiscated by Japanese customs authorities, and may be arrested, prosecuted and deported or jailed. Some prescription medications, as well as some over-the-counter medications, cannot be imported into Japan.
CONFISCATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND OTHER MEDICATION:
Decisions on what medications may be imported legally into Japan are made by the Japanese Government.
It is illegal to bring into Japan some over-the-counter medicines, including inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications. Specifically, products that contain stimulants (medicines that contain Pseudoephedrine, such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers), or Codeine are prohibited.
Up to a two-months' supply of allowable over-the-counter medication and up to a four-months' supply of allowable vitamins can be brought into Japan duty-free. Generally, up to one month's supply of allowable prescription medicine can be brought into Japan. Travelers must bring a copy of their doctor's prescription as well as a letter stating the purpose of the drug.
CONDITIONS AT PRISONS AND DETENTION FACILITIES:
Japanese prisons and detention facilities maintain internal order through a regime of very strict discipline. Western prisoners often complain of stark, austere living conditions and psychological isolation.
A prisoner can become eligible for parole only after serving about 60-70% of his/her sentence. Early parole is not allowed for any reason--humanitarian, medical or otherwise. Access to competent interpreters is not required at all times under Japanese criminal law.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, you are subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those at home and may not afford the protections available to the individual at home. Penalties for breaking Japanese law can be more severe than at home for similar offenses.
Persons violating Japanese law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Persons arrested in Japan, even for a minor offense, may be held in detention without bail for two to three months during the investigation and legal proceedings.
ILLEGAL DRUGS:
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Japan are strict, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and fines. In most drug cases, suspects are usually detained incommunicado, which bars them from receiving visitors or corresponding with anyone other than a lawyer or consular officer until after indictment, which may take as long as several months. Solitary confinement is common.
People can be convicted of drug use based on positive blood or urine tests alone, and multiple visitors are now serving time in Japanese prisons as the result of sting operations and the use of informers.
Japanese authorities aggressively pursue drug smugglers with sophisticated detection equipment, "sniffing" dogs and other methods. Travelers and their luggage entering Japan are screened at ports of entry; incoming and outgoing mail, as well as international packages sent via DHL or FEDEX, is also checked carefully.
The Japanese police make arrests for even the smallest amounts of illegal drugs. Several tourists are now in custody after having mailed illegal drugs to themselves from other countries. Other Westerners are serving time for having tried to bring drugs into Japan as paid couriers working out of Southeast Asia or Europe.
IMMIGRATION PENALTIES:
Japanese work visas are issued outside of Japan for a specific job with a specific employer at a specific place of employment, and are not transferable. It is illegal for Westerners to work in Japan while in tourist or visa-waiver status.
Japanese authorities do not allow foreigners to change their immigration status from visa-waiver status to work status while in Japan. Japanese immigration officers may deny entry to travelers who appear to them to have no visible means of support.
A foreigner who works in Japan without a work visa may be subject to arrest, which can involve several weeks or months of incarceration, followed by conviction and imprisonment or deportation. The deportee must bear the cost of deportation, including legal expenses and airfare.
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES:
The Japanese economy remains in recession, and no visitor should come to work in Japan without the proper working visa arranged ahead of time, or in the hopes of earning a large salary.
Teaching English, even with private students, and serving as a hostess, are both considered "work" in Japan and are illegal without the proper visa.
LIVING EXPENSES:
Japan's cost of living is one of the highest in the world. The use of credit/debit cards is not widespread, particularly outside major cities. While there are ATMs in Japan, most are not open 24 hours a day or do not accept international cards.
ATMs at major airports, foreign bank branches and Japanese Post Offices are more likely to accept foreign cards than other locations. Taxi fares from airports to downtown Osaka and Tokyo can cost hundreds of dollars; bus fare can run $25 (U.S.) or more.
The airport departure fee is generally included in the ticket prices of flights departing from both Narita (Tokyo) International Airport and Kansai (Osaka) International Airport.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
Japan is faced with the ever-present danger of deadly earthquakes and typhoons. Japan is one of the most seismically active locations in the world; minor tremors are felt regularly throughout the islands.
While responsibility for caring for disaster victims, including foreigners, rests with the Japanese authorities, one of the first things a traveler should do upon arriving in Japan is to learn about earthquake and disaster preparedness from hotel or local government officials. |
HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
