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- Path: sparky!uunet!caen!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!gateway
- From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
- Newsgroups: rec.travel
- Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Japan
- Date: 16 Nov 1992 15:08:01 -0600
- Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
- Lines: 77
- Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu
- Message-ID: <921116180441_76702.1202_CHN33-1@CompuServe.COM>
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-
- STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Japan
- ============================================================
- Japan - Consular Information Sheet
- November 13, 1992
-
- Embassy and Consulate Locations: The U.S. Embassy in Japan is
- located at 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo -
- telephone: (81-3-3) 224-5000. The U.S. Consulate General in Osaka
- Kobe is located at 11-5 Nishitenma 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530 -
- telephone: (81-6) 315-5900. The U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo
- is located at Kita 1-jo Nishi 28-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064 -
- telephone: (81-11) 641-1115. The U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka is
- located at 5-26 Ohori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810 - telephone:
- (81-92) 751-9331/4. The Embassy fax number is (81-3) 3505-1862; for
- Osaka-Kobe it is (81-6) 361-5397; for Sapporo it is (81-11)
- 643-1283; for Fukuoka it is (81-92) 713-9222.
-
- Country Description: Japan is a highly developed stable
- parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities
- are widely available.
-
- Entry Requirements: Passports and onward/return tickets are
- required. Visas are not required for tourist/business stays of up
- to 90 days. However, anyone arriving under the terms of the 90-day
- visa waiver will not be allowed to extend his/her stay or adjust
- status. There are no exceptions to this rule. For specific
- information concerning travel to Japan, travelers may consult the
- Embassy of Japan at 2520 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.
- 20008, Tel: (202) 939-6700, or the nearest Consulate in Anchorage,
- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los
- Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Portland, San Francisco, or Seattle.
-
- Medical Facilities: Health care facilities in Japan are good.
- However, Japan has a national health insurance system, and it can be
- very difficult for foreigners not insured in Japan to receive
- medical care. Medical care clinics do not require deposits, but
- insist upon payment in full at time of treatment and may require
- proof of ability to pay prior to treating a foreigner. U.S. medical
- insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
- Supplemental medical insurance which specifically covers treatment
- in Japan has proved to be useful. The international travelers
- hotline at the Centers for Disease Control may be reached at (404)
- 332-4559 for additional useful health information.
-
- Information on Crime: Crimes against U.S. citizens are rare and
- those that occur usually involve petty theft and vandalism. Useful
- information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security
- while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State
- pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad". It is available from the
- Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
- Washington, D.C. 20402.
-
- Drug Penalties: Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in
- illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail
- sentences and fines. It is illegal to bring Vicks inhalers,
- Sudafed, and other types of over-the-counter medicines containing
- trace amounts of amphetamines or amphetamine-like drugs into Japan.
- Travelers carrying these items have been detained by Japanese
- customs officials and subjected to investigation, sometimes for
- several weeks. Japanese officials may require travelers in
- possession of medicines to present copies of prescriptions.
-
- Detention for Minor Offenses: Persons arrested in Japan, even for
- a minor offense, can be held in detention for weeks or months during
- the investigation and legal proceedings.
-
- Other Information: Japan is an extremely expensive country to
- visit. Visitors have found it useful to determine in advance what
- expenses will be and to make sure they have ample funds for their
- expected stay.
-
- Registration: U. S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy or a
- U.S. consulate can obtain updated information on travel and security
- within the country.
-
- No. 92-100
-
-