I see this coincides with APEC 2010 in Yokohama.

CrankyBastard wrote:I went to the immigration office to get my re-entry permit renewed and it was closed ...The new place is located far from any residential areas backing onto the ocean and has detainment facilities to house 200 people!!!

The old place must have been too convenient. For the 12 years I lived in Kanagawa, I used to always think how convenient Yokohama Immigration was compared to Tokyo.

If you live in Kanagawa go to the Shinyurigaoka office instead.
The place is almost empty, they have a free car park and they are very laid back.

TFG wrote:If you live in Kanagawa go to the Shinyurigaoka office instead.
The place is almost empty, they have a free car park and they are very laid back.

From Yamate to Shinyurigaoka will take me over an hour! Enough time for this old git to forget where he's going or why he's going there!

Osaka Immigration has moved too. They used to have two offices, a large one in Temmabashi that handled everything and a very small one in Tennoji that handled reentry permits and various other smaller tasks.

Both have been closed and the new office is way hell and gone down in Cosmo Square, by the WTC. On the plus side it is quite well organized and easy enough to get to (though faaaaaaaaar from anywhere most people go):

- free parking (parking lot is a little small but if you get there early then no problem)
- very close to Cosmo Square station if you come by train
- revenue stamps are sold at the Lawsons inside the same building
- separate line for reentry permits, clearly marked

I was in the building for about 15 minutes total, including the time to buy the revenue stamp. The location sucks but at least it was quick once I got there.