Tokyo Landing Permits, Earthquakes and Typhoons

For the record, I’ve survived three Earthquakes and one Typhoon since I arrived in Tokyo. And that was within one week.

I might have mentioned Tokyo a few times recently. As I write this, that’s where I am. It’s only temporary of course. While I wish it were permanent, life just doesn’t work out so easily. I was lucky just to get into the country this time

Because I visit Japan so often, trying to figure out the customs/immigration system has been interesting. While there is a Visa Waiver program with most countries, including the USA, they have an interesting 90 Day Landing Permit which I still don’t fully understand. Searching the web I’ve never been able to find a definite answer for it either.

In any case, US citizens are allowed into Japan 90 days within every 6 month period. As long as you stick with that, you shouldn’t have to worry about their weird 90 day Landing Permit sticker they place in your Passport.

My math was a bit complicated, as I had recently been in Japan in May for 20 days, which means I could technically be in the country for another 70, but that time in May could also have been applied to my previous visit in December since that was within its 6 month period, which also means the 90 day Landing Permit from May lasts all the way to August. This time previous Landing Permit ended 1 day before I would be arriving in Japan (by sheer coincidence), so they gave me a new 90 day Permit… which, if I used all 90 days, I would still be over the 6 month/90-day limit. Confused? Me too (I have no idea what would have happened if I arrived on the last day of the Landing Permit. Would they kick me out after one day?)

Honestly, the immigration officer didnt even look through my Passport. This time of year, Westerners come in droves so I imagine she was thinking, ‘Westerner-Summer-Stamp-and-Go’ already, so… maybe I was simply lucky.

And Earthquakes make me sea sick.

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