Where do I get my tourist visa?
 

I know I am supposed to automatically get a tourist visa when I go to Japan, but when and where? On the plane? Or is this something you have to get before you get on the plane?

The main reason I'm asking is because I need to show a valid visa to get the lease on my appartment.

Thanks in advance.

You cannot rent an apartment with a tourist visa. Are you talking about a weekly mansion?

Are you sure? I'm renting through Sakura House, if that makes any difference.

So that's like a weekly mansion...

Is that a statement or a question? ;)

It is an apartment in Shibuya, and we rent per month (One month).

Sakura has apartments what you can rent monthly like that, I believe. I don't think you can rent "regular" apartments with a tourist visa (as I think MMM meant). Those usually have longer contract time and stricter terms etc...

You get the tourist visa after filling out one of those forms real quick-like on the plane..

While on your flight to Japan, you will be given an immigration/customs form to fill out. It asks how long you will stay, where you will stay, the nature of your visit (tourism, work, etc), and how much money you have with you (they want to know that you'll be able to support yourself during your visit). It also specifies a few items which you may not bring to Japan (rice, guns, meat, or swords).

Once you deplane, you'll head first to the immigration window, where your passport and form will be examined. Then you'll be photographed and fingerprinted, the visa will be affixed in your passport, and you will be shown the way to customs.

Your flight may or may not have the forms for you to fill out, sometimes they run out, or, as in my case, a new form came into use while I was gone, and they didn't have any copies of the new form available on my plane.

Dress well for your flight. Business-type people are whisked through immigration and customs quickly, whereas others are often questioned or examined more closely. The grunge/goth/hipster look is not in favor with Japanese immigration, and dressing a such is a good way to get yourself delayed or detained, or, in some cases, denied entry altogether.

Sakura House rents to tourists, as do other hotel/apartment providers. A visa is necessary to prove that you are in the country legally.

Also just so you know, some new immigration laws came into effect from November last year. When you get your visa, the customs officer will also take your photograph and your fingerprints. It's very quick and it is now standard - everybody who it not a Japanese citizen has to do it. That includes me even though I've lived here since 2001. So everytime I leave I go through the same procedure. It's part of their anti-terrorism measures.

Just in case you were to get worried when they start taking your fingerprints ;)

Big thanks to Henbaka, Sangetsu and uktokyoite. Everything is much clearer now :)