Welcome to the first newsletter-only post! This is going to be the first in a series of preparing a visit to Japan. If you know anyone who wants to get ready for a flying to Japan, feel free to share this with them!
So, without further ado, let's get started. Before you leave your country to visit Japan, you have to plan things out. Naturally, you’ve probably thought about whether or not it’s worth it to get some type of insurance. You’ve also probably looked into accommodations, destinations, and visas. Let's start with visas.
Most people don’t need any type of visa for a short term trip. The only people that would need a visa are those with a passport from the following countries: Russia, Georgia, CIS countries, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China. It’s always a good idea to check the Japanese consulate website to make sure, but if you have a passport from anywhere else, you’re probably okay without a visa if you stay within 90 days.
If, for whatever reason, you want to extend those 90 days, you can always hop over to a different country like South Korea and come back to Japan after one month or so. This isn’t recommended, but it is a thing that some people do. The round trip is reasonable and may be worth the experience of another country and culture.
Now if you have a passport from the countries that were previously listed, things are a bit more of a hassle. You need to apply to the local embassy or consulate where you are residing. If you’re a Vietnamese national living in Canada for example, the Japanese embassy in Canada would be appropriate. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website notes that your visa application cannot be submitted from inside of Japan. Your visa application will also require different things depending on your reason of visit.
Thankfully, the same website provides your visa application requirements in English, and it’s a pretty organized checklist. Sightseeing has the least number of hoops to jump through, but there is still a few pieces of paperwork to go through. For most of the countries needing a short-term entry visa, the sightseeing visa requires a photograph, a completed application form, a document confirming your entry and exit from Japan, a document proving that you are financially capable of travelling to, within, and from Japan, and a sightseeing itinerary.
The photograph is an oddly specific size, and is unique to the Japanese visa application. They require a 45mm by 45mm (2in by 2in) for submission, and it is grounds for rejection if it isn’t the exact size. Depending on where you’re getting your photograph from, your photographer might raise an eyebrow at the unusual dimensions. Be convinced that this is indeed the real size. The rest of the paperwork is fairly straightforward. Simply fill in the empty fields to the best of your ability and make sure you submit them all at the same time.
If you are visiting a relative or acquaintance, however, your application will need to include documents from your contact in Japan. These documents include an itinerary, copies of residential certificates, residence card, certificate of employment, and their MyNumber card. I don’t know if there is any influence on your application, but I imagine that an invitation would increase your chances of an approved visa.
On the next issue, we'll take a look at finding accommodations as a tourist in Japan! Tha said, if you've received this post from a friend, take a look below!