Japan airport customs questions

[Numark]

a friend and I have bought tickets flying into Nagoya in mid may for a stay of about 24 days and I am starting to wonder about a few things. I have backpacked in Japan once before in 2005 and now we are going back for pretty much the same thing, with backpacks and rail passes.

Last time I was "randomly" searched (a 19 year old male with long hair traveling alone with only a backpack hah) and I really am assuming we will both get searched on our way in.

I forgot what all they asked last time- but if we don't have hotels/hostels booked for our entire stay (which we don't plan on doing) will that be a problem as far as entry?

I want to at least have the first 3 days reserved somewhere so we can have reservation papers and say "yes, we have a place to stay"... but if we don't have the rest of the trip booked could that somehow be a problem? (besides a personal one but we are prepared)

 

[Numark]

come on everyone has gone through customs!

 

[Glenski]

So have you. Expect the unexpected. Plan for at least one hotel reservation on the day you arrive and don't pack stupidly.

Oh, and as of Nov. last year, you will get fingerprinted and photographed when you arrive.

 

[Numark]

Its true I have, but that was three years ago, and I don't remember details about having reservations in Japan. And of course I won't be acting stupid as I pass through customs ☝. But yes I am aware of the criminal status of foreigners in Japan, and I'll have my first few days reserved.

 

[hideway]

I doubt you'll have any trouble with that.

I was in a similar situation (different hotels in different cities), although I had all booked.

On the immigration paper, I wasn't sure what to write on the "staying address" field so I didn't fill it before heading to the queue to get my tourist visa (after I arrived at the airport). I explained the situation and the man attending me just said to write the first hotel name.

There was no problem at all.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[Numark]

Gonna resurrect this just 'cause... I basically found that the "legal" documentation that you have to fill out as far as hotel reservations (many of you know I am sure, about the things you fill out saying where you have been or where you are going) ...they basically don't matter at all, most of the time I just made up where I was going because I didn't know. Or make up where I just was because I never even knew the address of it to begin with.

 

[GaijinPunch]

Have a Japanese address you can write down on the card. If you don't, the alarms will sound (figuratively, of course).

 

[ArmandV]

I've never been asked at Customs or Immigration where I'm staying. If they did, I would be able to show them my reservations.

 

[Glenski]

Armand, perhaps so, but you probably had to list an address on your disembarkation card. Same thing.

 

[ArmandV]

Armand, perhaps so, but you probably had to list an address on your disembarkation card. Same thing.

Come to think of it, yes. I forgot all about that disembarkation card. I think I did write down Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo (my usual haunt).

Thanks for reminding me.