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- Travel News in JAPAN-
 Quarantine procedures at the Airport |
Quarantine procedures at the Airport
In line with the raised influenza pandemic alert level, the Japanese Government has introduced additional quarantine procedures for all passengers’ onboard flights originating from Mexico, USA (excluding Hawaii/Guam), Canada and Brazil. On arrival and prior to disembarkation, all passengers will be required to submit a quarantine questionnaire and undertake thermographic scanning by the Japanese Authorities.
We would like to ask for your understanding that disembarkment may require additional time to complete these procedures.
Your understanding and cooperation is most appreciated. |
Exchanging Japan Rail Pass : Three Months + One Month |
~ Exchanging Japan Rail Pass : Three Months + One Month
Although practically all vendors of the Japan Rail Pass (and the Regional Passes) know that the client has three months to exchange his/her Rail Pass Voucher in Japan, this exchange period still creates questions. Here are some important aspects of the three month exchange policy.
- The client has three months from purchase date of the voucher to exchange this voucher for the actual rail pass in Japan. The definition of ‘three months is by calendar date, not by a number of days. For example, a voucher purchased on 1 January can be exchanged through 31 March. Because February is a short month this means that the validity period for exchange would be less than 90 days in this case. Do not confuse ‘three months’ (voucher exchange period) with ’90 days’ (temporary visitor status)! This is the JR rule and clients should not rely on any flexibility in carrying out the exchange after ‘three months’ have expired.
- When clients exchange their rail pass vouchers they fill out a form declaring the starting date of use. This may be any date within one month of the exchange, except flexible type regional passes. Again, ‘one month’ is defined by calendar date, not by a fixed number of days. For example, when exchanging on 1 January, the actual pass can be valid from 1 February. In effect, the longest period between purchase of the rail pass voucher and beginning actual rail travel is ‘four months’. Obviously, only a few people will ever be in this situation, but it is a possibility.
- If clients are not using their rail passes immediately upon arrival in Japan it is still advantageous for them to do the exchange soon after arrival. This is because they can only make seat reservations (free of charge) after completing the exchange procedure. By exchanging the voucher before beginning rail travel they can be guaranteed reserved seats on the day they begin using the pass. Travelers who are not sure of when they wish to begin using their rail passes will have to wait to do the exchange procedure and to make reservations.
- If clients exchange their rail pass vouchers and declare a later date for the beginning of the rail pass validity period, they can then refund their rail passes in Japan before starting date. (Please note that JR does not re-sell Japan Rail Pass in Japan.) The refund procedure can be done at any rail pass exchange point and requires a handling charge of 10%. This is the only time when the actual Japan Rail Pass can be refunded in Japan. Unexchanged rail pass vouchers must be refunded by the original seller outside Japan; rail passes whose validity period has begun cannot be refunded at all.
- There are some people who are taking very long trips (study cruises etc.) that prevent them from buying the voucher in Canada or the U.S. before departing since they will only be arriving in Japan after three months. Some agents may still not be aware that such travelers can buy the rail pass voucher anywhere (Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan etc. etc.) and exchange it within three months without problem as long as their entry status is OK. The country of purchase does not matter; in fact, there are many countries where the pass voucher is not sold so people have to know before leaving from origin.
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