Originally Posted by Nyororin (Post 677984)

As long as you have a return ticket and don`t plan to do anything like working (which you would require a different visa for) - Yes, that`s all you have to do.
Japan has a tourism exchange thing going with the US, so citizens of the two countries are granted a 90 tourist visa upon entry into the other. The return ticket isn`t for financial stability, just to make it clear that you plan on leaving and not overstaying your visa.

As for luggage not making it, well, that`s up to the airline. Some airlines and airports have better reputations than others. The Japan side is quite efficient - the US side, not so much so.

Originally Posted by godwine (Post 678137)

Its not just an arrangement with the state. Here is a list of countries thats part of this exemptions

Education Japan | Visas | Agreements

/G

Originally Posted by Nyororin (Post 678140)

I realize that it`s not only the US that is part of the exemption, but the original poster stated that they were from the US - so they`re probably going to be most interested in what applies to them.

Originally Posted by burkhartdesu (Post 678172)

For some reason I think I remember being asked how much money I was bringing into the country-- but it may or may not have been a requirement by the customs people