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 :)

Hey Sangetsu, I was just wondering;

Do you know how the customs procedure works when you already have a visa (student)?

Hmm, very interesting. So would you recommend wearing a suit or the like? Just seems like a tad of a pain in the ass being dressed up for 14+ hours...

But then again if it really does simplify things as much as you suggest it does, maybe the discomfort would be worth it...

Are you in Japan now? If so, you'll need to get a reentry permit from your ward office. With the reentry permit and your current visa, you'll be able to use the Japanese passport line at immigration, which will save you a lot of time.

There are two types of reentry permits, a single trip permit, and a multiple trip permit. It is best to get the multiple trip permit, it is handy to have in case you need to travel in an emergency, and don't have time to wait in line at the ward office again.

You don't have to wear a tie, just the pants, shirt, and jacket. The jacket is handy for carrying things like your phone, passport, and wallet, and keeping you warm if you are on one of those flights where the air conditioning is turned up to the max, and there aren't enough blankets to go around (American Airlines sucks).

It is worth the trouble. In Japan, your clothing tells people a lot about you. The other times when you should wear a suit are when you are looking for an apartment or opening a bank account. In Japan people are often judged by their appearance, foreigners especially.

So... something like this would do; ?


Alternatively, what about white? How "accepted" is it in Japan?

Nah I'm not in Japan. I will be getting my student visa right about now, and go there in a few weeks.

And, about getting held up for alot of questions etc in customs. Is that the same for me (that already has a visa) as people getting a student visa? Should I dress well too, if I want it to go smoother?

Those AX suits look nice, but are at the bottom of Armani's scale. I like their black label items myself :D If you are going to buy suits, single breast types in navy are your best bet. Pinstripes are fine, as long as they are subdued. Suits in Japan are cut a little tighter, so they are closer fitting. If you are thin, that's okay, but if you aren't, or you are in any kind of physical shape, you'll find them tight in the elbows and knees.

It's best to buy suits at home, they will be cheaper, fit better, and be made of better materials than you'll find in Japan. You can get Armani suits here, but they are costly. I bought an Armani black label suit at Neiman Marcus in LA for $2995, the same suit in Ginza is 40 man yen, or about $4000.

Don't even think of wearing a white suit, unless you are getting married or are a guest host on a Japanese talk show.

Students usually don't have any problems in immigration, but you may get your bag checked in customs. Don't bring any porn, it's not legal in Japan.

Haha, ok. I won't bring my immense porn stash, then... ;)

Expected to get my bag checked anyhow, it's all fine. Got my visa today too :D

Would it seem weird for a student to come dressed in a suit? (as in, weirder than if you weren't a student)

Haha, yeah, just used that as an example, first thing that came up w/ Google... Either way I'm more of a Gucci guy myself :D

Haha, so my 'casual' clothes would be deadly in Japan? :p For just everyday I prefer dressing up in all white; white shoes, pants, shirts, hats, skin etc everything :)

Is there any particular reason why white isn't very liked in Japan?

I found this on a japanese fashion site, does this "count" as white clothes?

no, not enough white, too much other colors...

There is no need to dress up when you fly on the plane. Many Americans just wear shorts and a t-shirt. I have never seen people profiled for their clothes, and the only people I have seen get "taken aside" are those with passport issues...some were even wearing suits.

I have. I've been through immigration at Narita 4 times this year alone. I have had 2 friends detained by immigration, the last time was just a few months ago, and she was held for nearly 2 hours. My friends and I missed our train waiting for her, so we had to take the bus instead. Another person I know objected to the treatment and was denied a tourist visa. The only thing these three people had in common was a taste for "strange" clothing, though the last one had a nose ring as well.

Why was she detained for 2 hours? I mean, what did they talk about?

Gundams and Pokemon obviously...

They searched her bags (emptied them out, and checked the lining of her suitcase), and then the clothing she was wearing. And I'm sure they did an Interpol background check on her to see if she had any record for prior arrests. They didn't expect to find anything, they were just being the way they are to certain people. There is no rule against profiling in Japan, racial or otherwise.

Why did they profile her? No suit? ;)

Her hair was dyed black, she had a piercing in her nose. She was wearing a black concert t-shirt, jeans, and black leather bracelets.

I gotta say, immigration were super-silky-smooth. And in customs the guy didn't look at me twice. Really nice to eeze thru that part after so many hours on the plane :)