Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Stays of up to six months are permitted for citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Mexico,
Switzerland and the UK. Citizens of these countries will almost always be given a 90-day
temporary visitor visa upon arrival, which can usually be extended for another 90 days at
immigration bureaux inside Japan.
Japanese law requires that visitors to the country entering on a temporary visitor visa
possess an ongoing air or sea ticket or evidence thereof. In practice, few travellers are
asked to produce such documents, but to avoid surprises it pays to be on the safe side.
Note that on entering Japan, all short-term foreign visitors are required to be photo-
graphed and fingerprinted. This happens when you show your passport on arrival.
Women Travellers
Japan is a relatively safe country for women travellers, though perhaps not as safe as some
might think. Women travellers are occasionally subjected to some form of verbal harass-
ment or prying questions. Physical attacks are very rare, but have occurred.
The best advice is to avoid being lulled into a false sense of security by Japan's image
as one of the world's safest countries and to take the normal precautions you would in
your home country. If a neighbourhood or establishment looks unsafe, then treat it that
way. As long as you use your common sense, you will most likely find that Japan is a
pleasant and rewarding place to travel.
Several train companies in Japan have recently introduced women-only cars to protect
female passengers from
chikan
(men who feel up women and girls on packed trains).
These cars are usually available during rush-hour periods on weekdays on busy urban
