JAPAN --- Country Information Sheet

[Taro Toporific]

From: American Embassy Tokyo <tokyoacs@state.gov>
Subject: JAPAN --- Country Information Sheet
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 05:57:57 -0800 (PST)
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Japan is a stable, highly developed parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.
blah, blah, blah....

[Taro Toporific]

blah, blah, blah...

From: American Embassy Tokyo <tokyoacs@state.gov>
Subject: JAPAN --- Country Information Sheet
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 05:57:57 -0800 (PST)
January 15, 2004
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Japan is a stable, highly developed parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.

blah, blah, blah....

Information on Consular services in Japan, including registration, passport renewal, legal matters and safety and security, is available at http://www.tokyoacs.com. A full A-Z listing of our services is at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-atoz.html.

ENTRY/EXIT 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. Americans 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.

Japanese Visas: For information about the Japanese visa waiver for tourists, Japan's strict rules on work visas, special visas to take depositions, and other visa issues, travelers should consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan at 2520 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 238-6800, or the nearest Japanese consulate.
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Additional information is available via the Internet on the Embassy of Japan home page at http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/. Our Posts in Japan cannot assist in obtaining visas for Japan.
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Expired Passports: Airlines have mistakenly boarded American citizens coming to Japan, even though that person's passport has already expired. The U.S. Embassy or our Consulates cannot "vouch for" an American citizen without a valid passport
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CRIME: Crimes against U.S. citizens in Japan are rare and usually only involve personal disputes, theft or vandalism. Crime is at levels well below the U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does exist. Incidents of pickpocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas, on trains and at airports have been a sporadic concern. Some Americans believe that Japanese police procedures appear to be less sensitive and responsive to a victim's concerns than would be the case in the United States, particularly in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad," for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/. 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. Information on replacing a lost passport, included the necessary forms, is available at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7130e.html.

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. Advice on how to call for an ambulance in Japan is available at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-call.html.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: While medical care in Japan is good, English-speaking physicians and medical facilities that cater to Americans' expectations are expensive and not very widespread. Japan has a national health insurance system, which is only available 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.

U.S.-style and standard psychiatric care can be difficult to locate in major urban centers in Japan, and generally is not available outside of Japan's major cities. Extended psychiatric care for foreigners in Japan is difficult to obtain at any price. U.S. prescriptions are not honored in Japan, so travelers with ongoing prescription medicine needs should arrive with a sufficient supply to see them through their stay in Japan, or enough until they are able to see a local care provider. Certain medications, including some commonly prescribed for depression, are not widely available. Please see the section below entitled, "Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and Other Medication," regarding the importation of medicine into Japan.

A list of English-speaking medical facilities throughout Japan is available on our web site at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7119.html.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. 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. Private U.S. citizens are ineligible for treatment at U.S. military hospitals in Japan or U.S. military medical evacuation to the U.S. Access to military facilities is controlled solely by the military; veterans with service-connected disabilities should contact the appropriate U.S. military hospital before traveling to Japan. In the event of death, the cost of preparation and shipment of remains to the U.S is over $15,000. Almost no care providers accept U.S.-based health insurance "up front"; patients pay in cash and then seek reimbursement from their insu!
rance company once they return home. Most small clinics and some large hospitals do not accept credit/debit cards. No facility accepts checks drawn on U.S. bank accounts.

Please check with your insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Persons with serious medical conditions who travel to Japan may wish to consider obtaining insurance that specifically covers medical evacuation because the cost for medical evacuation from Japan can be extremely expensive.

Most U.S. health insurance coverage is geared to the domestic medical environment. In view of rising costs, medical insurance plans rely heavily on negotiated prices with medical providers. Since negotiated arrangements with overseas providers and facilities are next to non-existent, carriers may impose limitations to contain costs or to protect the plans from what they consider unreasonable or excessive charges.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs' brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov,or autofax: (202) 647-3000.

OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

CONFISCATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND OTHER MEDICATION: It is illegal to bring into Japan some over-the-counter medicines commonly used in the United States, including inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications. Japanese customs officials have detained travelers carrying prohibited items, sometimes for several weeks. Some U.S. prescription medications cannot be imported into Japan, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. Japanese physicians can often prescribe similar, but not identical, substitutes. A list of English-speaking medical facilities throughout Japan is available on our web site at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7119.html. Persons traveling to Japan carrying prescription and non-prescription medications should consult the Japanese Embassy in the United States before leaving the U.S. to confirm whether they will be allowed to bring the particular medication into Japan. Japanese customs officials do not mak!
e on-the-spot "humanitarian" exceptions for medicines that are prohibited entry into Japan. Some popular medications legal in the U.S., such as Prozac and Viagra, are sold illegally in Japan on the black market. You are subject to arrest and imprisonment if you purchase such drugs illegally while in Japan.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Japan is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Excellent
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Excellent
Rural road conditions/Maintenance: Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Good (but available only in Japanese)

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. Roads in Japan are much narrower than those in the United States. 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. The National Police Agency (NPA) oversees the administration and enforcement of traffic laws. Further information in English is available on the NPA's web site at http://www.npa.go.jp/.

Emergency Assistance: Within Japan, please dial 110 for police, and 119 for ambulance. For roadside assistance, please contact JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) at 03-5395-0111 in Tokyo, 06-577-0111 in Osaka, 011-857-8139 in Sapporo, 092-841-5000 in Fukuoka, or 098-877-9163 in Okinawa.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Japanese driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Japan National Tourist Organization offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco via the Internet at http://www.jnto.go.jp/. In addition, information about roadside assistance, rules of the road and obtaining a Japanese driver's license is available in English from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) web site at http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm. Please see also road safety information from other sources in Japan, including the following: Japan Road Safety Links: National Organization for Automotive Safety and Victims' Aid (OSA) at http://www.osa.go.jp/html99e/994100e.html, Ministry of Transport at http://www.!
motnet.go.jp/index.htm, Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis at http://www2.ceri.go.jp/eng/e9a.html, and Institute for Traffic Accident Research: Fatalities by Prefecture at http://www2.ceri.go.jp/eng/e9a.html.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS (IDP): An international driving permit issued in the United States by the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) is required of short-term visitors who drive in Japan. International driving permits are not issued by the U.S. Embassy or by its Consulates, and must be obtained prior to arriving in Japan. IDP's issued via the Internet and/or by other organizations are not considered valid in Japan. IDP's issued to Americans in third countries where they are not resident are often considered invalid, or are subject to close scrutiny.

"Residents" are expected to convert to or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest. The exact boundary between "resident" and "non-resident" is unclear. In practice it seems to involve more than simply visa status or length of stay in Japan and is determined by the police. In short, an international license is not a permanent or expedient substitute for a valid Japanese license. You can learn more at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html.

Japan requires American citizens to take not only a written but also a road test in order to obtain a Japanese driver's license.

We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that it is illegal to use an International Driver's License for more than a year from the date of their first entry to Japan (even if one leaves and reenters Japan within 3 months, the first entry date is still considered the date of entry for the one-year period), or if they have a Japanese Alien Registration Card, or if they are planning to stay more than 90 days, or to use one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or when residing in Japan, or to use an International Driver's License obtained by mail while you are in Japan. In such circumstances, Americans have been charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a legal license may also void insurance coverage.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Japan's civil aviation authority as Category 1 -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Japan's air carrier operations.

For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the United States. at tel. 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at tel. 618-229-4801.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: 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 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. (Please see the "Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and other Medication" section in this Consular Information Sheet.) Please contact the Japanese Embassy or nearest Japanese Consulate in the United States, or visit the Narita Airport (Tokyo) Customs web site in English at http://www.narita-airport-customs.go.jp/eng/index.html, for specific information regarding import restrictions and customs requirements.

Japanese customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Car net for the temporary importation into Japan of professional equipment, commercial samples and/or goods for exhibitions and trade fairs. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information, please call
(212) 354-4480,or send an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org/ for details.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking Japanese law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Japanese law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. 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 detained incommunicado, which bars them from receiving visitors or corresponding with anyone other than a lawyer or U.S. consular officer until after indictment, which may take as long as several months. 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. Information about Japanese criminal law is available in English at the National Police Agency (NPA) web site at http://www.npa.go.jp/.

A list of English-speaking lawyers throughout Japan is available on our web site at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7113.html.

DRUG SMUGGLERS: 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 Americans are now in custody after having mailed illegal drugs to themselves from other countries. Other Americans are serving time for having tried to bring drugs into Japan as paid couriers working out of Thailand.

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 U.S. citizens 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. Please contact the Japanese Embassy or nearest Japanese consulate in the United States for guidance on what constitutes adequate financial support for a specific period of time. A U.S. citizen 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. Changes!
to Japanese immigration law enacted in February 2000 make illegal entry or landing into Japan a crime and bar former illegal entrants from returning to Japan for five years.

CONSULAR ACCESS: U.S. citizens should carry their U.S. passports or Japanese alien registration cards with them at all times so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship is readily available. In accordance with the U.S.-Japan Consular Convention, U.S. consular officers are generally notified within 24 hours of the arrest of a U.S. citizen, if the U.S. citizen requests consular notification.

CONDITIONS AT PRISONS AND DETENTION FACILITIES: Japanese prisons and detention facilities maintain internal order through a regime of very strict discipline. American-citizen 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. More information is available at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7110a.html.

Japan has acceded to the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which, in certain circumstances, allows American citizens currently serving prison sentences in Japan to be transferred back to the United States to serve out the remainder of their sentence in a U.S. prison.

Information about detention in Japan is available in English at the National Police Agency (NPA) web site at http://www.npa.go.jp/.

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES: The Japanese economy remains in recession, and no American citizen should come to work in Japan without the proper working visa arranged ahead of time, or in the hopes of earning a large salary. U.S. citizens planning to work in Japan should never enter Japan using a tourist visa or the visa waiver, even if they have been advised to do so. Such actions are illegal and can lead to arrest, incarceration and/or deportation. Teaching English, even with private students, and serving as a hostess, are both considered "work" in Japan and are illegal without the proper visa.

Assessing Employment Offers: Some U.S.-based employment agencies and Japanese employers do not fully discuss, or correctly represent, the true nature of employment terms and conditions. U.S. consular officers in Japan receive numerous complaints from U.S. citizens who come to Japan to work as English teachers, carpenters, models, actors, entertainers, exotic dancers and bar hostesses. These complaints include contract violations, non-payment of salary for months at a time, sexual harassment, intimidation and threats of arrest, deportation and physical assault.

A minimum requirement for effectively seeking the protection of Japanese labor law is a written and signed work contract. Without such a contract, Japanese authorities do not intervene on behalf of foreign workers. It is prudent for U.S. citizens coming to work in Japan carefully to review their contracts and the bona fides of their Japanese employer before traveling to Japan. U.S. consular officers generally are unable to confirm the bona fides of prospective Japanese employers, although they may be familiar with organizations about which they have received complaints in the past. If asked to do something they find troubling, U.S. citizens may wish to reassess their reason for being in Japan, and consider terminating their employment and returning to the United States. Complaints against U.S.-based employment agencies or recruiters may be directed to the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/, or the Office of the Attorney General of the state in question.

Teaching English: For specific information on teaching English in Japan, please contact the Embassy of Japan or nearest Japanese consulate in the United States, or visit the Embassy of Japan's home page on the Internet at http://www.embjapan.org/.

LIVING EXPENSES: Japan's cost of living is one of the highest in the world. An American family, expecting to lead an unostentatious U.S.-middle class lifestyle in the Tokyo area, to include recreation, children's education in English, clothing, medical and dental care, housing and food, should be prepared for $100,000-200,000 in annual expenses. This lifestyle may be unavailable at any price in outlying areas. 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 a U.S.-based card. 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.

ENGLISH HELP AND INFORMATION LINES: Tourists and foreign residents in Japan have access to valuable information, including professional counseling, via help and information telephone hotlines. The Tokyo English Lifeline (http://www.telljp.com) provides English-speaking counseling and referrals at 03-5774-0992. The Japan Help Line provides similar assistance nationwide at 0120-461-997 (http://www.jhelp.com/)

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. Additional details on self-preparedness are available via the Internet at http://www.tokyoacs.com/ and on the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) home page at http://www.fema.gov/.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html, or telephone 202-736-7000. Japan is not a Hague Convention signatory, and U.S. court custody decisions are not enforceable in Japan. Almost all children born to a Japanese parent since the 1980's are Japanese citizens, and may travel on Japanese passports issued in the U.S. even if the left-behind parent in the U.S. does not agree to the issuance of a U.S. passport. The Embassy and our Consulates do not have access to Japanese Immigration records and cannot confirm that a child has entered or departed Japan. The Japanese government will not refuse entry to one of its citizens, even if that citizen is a dual-national child subject to a U.S. court-based custody decision.

REGISTRATION/U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATIONS: U.S. citizens resident in or visiting Japan are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the five U.S. Consulates in Japan, where they may also obtain updated information on travel and security within Japan. Registration forms are available via the home pages of, or by fax from, the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7130a.html. Online registration is available for the areas served by the Embassy and our Consulate in Naha, Okinawa through their respective web sites. Travelers and residents can also sign up for an e-mail Community Security Update newsletter at http://www.tokyoacs.com/. Alien registration formalities required under Japanese immigration law are separate from U.S. citizen registration, which is voluntary and allows U.S. consular officials to better assist American citizens in distress. Registration information is !
protected by the Privacy Act.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is located at 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 Japan; telephone 81-3-3224-5000; fax 81-3-3224-5856. Recorded visa information for non-U.S. citizens is available at the following 24-hour toll phone number: 03-5354-4033. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo's web site is http://www.tokyoacs.com/. Please see also the U.S. Commercial Service in Japan's web site at http://www.csjapan.doc.gov/.

The U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe is located at 2-11-5 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543; telephone 81-6-6315-5900; fax 81-6-6315-5914. Recorded information for U.S. citizens concerning U.S. passports, notarials and other American citizens services is available 24 hours at 81-6-6315-5900. Recorded visa information for non-U.S. citizens is available at the following 24-hour toll phone number: 0990-526-160. Its web site is http://www.senri-i.or.jp/amcon/.

The U.S. Consulate General in Naha is located at 2564 Nishihara, Urasoe, Okinawa 901-2101; telephone 81-98-876-4211; fax 81-98-876-4243. Its web site is http://naha.usconsulate.gov.

The U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo is located at Kita 1-Jo Nishi 28-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0821; telephone 81-11-641-1115, fax 81-11-643-1283. Its web site is http://sapporo.usconsulate.gov.

The U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka is located at 2-5-26 Ohori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0052; telephone 81-92-751-9331; fax 81-92-713-9222. Its web site is http://fukuoka.usconsulate.gov.

The U.S. Consulate in Nagoya is located at the Nishiki SIS Building, 6th Floor, 3-10-33 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0003; telephone 81-52-203-4011; fax 81-52-201-4612. The U.S. Consulate in Nagoya offers only limited emergency consular services for U.S. citizens. The U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe handles all routine matters. A consular officer from the U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe visits the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya on the second Wednesday of every month. During those visits, the consular officer provides consular services to U.S. citizens by appointment. To make an appointment for consular services in Nagoya, please contact the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya at the number listed above. The U.S. Consulate in Nagoya's web site is http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov.

Maps to all our offices in Japan, along with directions on using public transportation to reach us, are available at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7123.html.


This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 30, 2003. Information has been updated in sections listed under Country Description, Entry/Exit Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, Medical Facilities, Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and Other Medication, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, International Driving Permits, Criminal Penalties and Detention Facilities, Disaster Preparedness and Registration.


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Contact us:
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The American Embassy in Tokyo
American Citizen Services
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
Tel: 03-3224-5174
Fax: 03-3224-5856
http://www.tokyoacs.com

Visit us online in Japanese at http://j.tokyoacs.com

Aim your cell phone browser at http://imode.tokyoacs.com

The Embassy helps Americans in Tokyo, Chiba, Fukushima,Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Yamagata, Yamanashi.


American Consulate General Sapporo
American Citizen Services
Kita 1-jo, Nishi 28-chome
Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0821
Tel: 011-641-1115
Fax: 011-643-1283
http://sapporo.usconsulate.gov

The Consulate in Sapporo helps Americans in Akita, Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi.


American Consulate Nagoya
American Citizen Services
Nishiki SIS Bldg. 6F
10-33, Nishiki 3-chome
Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0003
Tel: 052-203-4011
Fax: 052-201-4612
http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov

Nagoya area residents, please contact the Consulate in Osaka-Kobe for extra passport pages and other passport services.


American Consulate General Osaka-Kobe
American Citizen Services
11-5, Nishitenma 2-chome
Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543
Tel: 06-6315-5912
Fax: 06-6315-5914
http://www.senri-i.or.jp/amcon

The Consulate in Osaka helps Americans in Osaka, Aichi, Ehime, Fukui, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kochi, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Okayama, Shimane, Shiga, Tokushima, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama.


American Consulate Fukuoka
American Citizen Services
5-26, Ohori 2-chome
Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0052
Tel: 092-751-9331
Fax: 092-713-9222
http://fukuoka.usconsulate.gov

The Consulate in Fukuoka helps Americans in Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga and Yamaguchi.


American Consulate General Naha
American Citizen Services
No. 2564 Nishihara
Urasoe-shi, Okinawa 901-2101
Tel: 098-876-4211
Fax: 098-876-4243
http://naha.usconsulate.gov

The Consulate in Naha helps Americans in Okinawa, the Amami Oshima Island group, parts of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Travel, safety and security information is also available directly from the Department of State at http://travel.state.gov

[Taro Toporific]

Double post

[Kanchou]

Strange, I don't see anything about swords on Narita's customs page... I wonder if there are any regulations on knives and airsoft guns.

[Steve Bildermann]

I wonder if there are any regulations on knives and airsoft guns.

Guns and Knives at an airport Is there a regulation? Hmmmmm let me see, tough question... might be. What do you think?

[Kanchou]

Well, I already know about bringing knives and swords to US airports (must not be checked into baggage, swords and knives must be sheathed or rapped as to not injure baggage holders), and I know real firearms must be in lockable cases, checked baggage, unloaded, with no more than 11 pounds of ammo.

I think I used the wrong wording. I meant for Japanese customs moreso than the airport itself.

I was wondering if airsoft guns fell under the trademark/design rule, and I was wondering what I have to do to keep baggage screeners from freaking out when they see something looking like an M4A1 in my baggage.

I ask because I plan on bringing home at least one airsoft replica from Japan, and taking a knife with me (Hey, you can't seperate an ex-boy scout/paranoid psycho from his knives!).

[Steve Bildermann]

was wondering if airsoft guns fell under the trademark/design rule, and I was wondering what I have to do to keep baggage screeners from freaking out when they see something looking like an M4A1 in my baggage.

Hmmm, so you don't want the Japanse customs to freak out when you arrive at Narita with 'something' that looks like this tucked in your baggage.



Honestly, In these days the only advice I can give you is Good Fucking Luck

If for some reason you just *have to* have a replica assault rifle rated at 750-850 rounds per minute with you during your stay in Japan (and who doesn't, I ask myself) I believe you can buy these type of replicas *here* After all thay are *MADE* here

[Kanchou]

Ack, context shot to hell again. I need to pay more attention.

I meant that I was going to buy them in Japan and bring them home, and I wanted to make sure I could take them home (ie, to the US) safely.