Stayed 87 days on tourist permit, want to do it again soon

[Essential2]

My story is simple. I have a good friend in Osaka who I can stay with, and I've been interested in checking out Japan for a long time, so I decided to go, and I stayed almost the full 90 days on a tourist permit. This was in the fall. But now if possible I'd like to do this again in the spring. That would mean from the day I left to the day I arrive again would be roughly 4 months.

Should I be worried about anything? It seems like such a nightmare scenario to look forward to returning for months, and then endure a brutal, expensive flight (coming from the east coast of the US!), only to be sent straight back. This prospect has been really bothering me. I've read that the unwritten rule is that you're allowed two full stays on a tourist permit per year, especially if you go back to your home country and are gone for more than a few days, but at the same time I'm still worried because this isn't an official rule or anything, and if they ask me what I'm doing in Japan I won't be able to say anything that sounds super legit, like studying Japanese at a school. All I'll be doing is visiting friends and studying Japanese on my own.

Should I be worried at all about being granted landing permission for a second full stay on a tourist permit 4 months after I left from the first trip? I'd love to be able to not worry about this, because I'm so excited to return to Japan and see my friends again and talk to people and improve my Japanese etc., but at the same time I'm finding myself unable to really fully look forward to it because I'm afraid of being sent back home for coming back too quickly, or seeming like I'm spending a whole ton of time there (a second full ~90 day stay on a tourist permit).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Petaris]

Why not call and ask the Japanese consulate?

I have never heard about the rule you mentioned. I thought as long as you followed the rules you could come as often as you like? Do you have a source hand for this rule?

 

[Glenski]

I've read that the unwritten rule is that you're allowed two full stays on a tourist permit per year, especially if you go back to your home country and are gone for more than a few days,

No such thing. People report varied experiences. I think I may have replied to this same post on another forum. You will either have to wait or take your chances. Nobody here can really give you any accurate assessment of the odds you face.

 

[Mike Cash]

Embassies don't give yea or nay answers about whether any person will be granted entry, as that call is entirely up to to discretion of the Immigration officials at the point of entry.

 

[TheBandit]

I know things may have changed but during 2003-2004 I basically lived in Japan using the 90 visa leaving for a couple of weeks and then returning. So basically I had 6 back to back 80 day visits....

I was searched a few times and asked a view questions but other than that was allowed in with no problems. I was visiting for business purposes.

As the others have said, I don't think there are any "unwritten rules" Immigration are generally big on actual written rules...

 

[Glenski]

People with a multiple entry visa (for business purposes) are allowed to do that, Bandit.
MOFA: MULTIPLE Entry Visa for temporary visitors [Guide to Japanese Visas]

If you managed it on a tourist status, I would say consider yourself extremely lucky, especially if you entered/exited at the same port all the time. However, there is no guarantee for anyone that this will happen with any high frequency.