NPO Comprehensive Foreigner Support Association::International tour[Preparations before]::International tour[Preparations before]

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Passport
    If you have decided to travel abroad, then a passport is the first thing you must prepare. Without a pass, you are forbidden to go into another country or even leave Japan. Wherever you go around the world, a password is very important, just like your ID card. Therefore, if the traveling schedule is determined, please first of all get your passport read.

Conformation of visa and re-entry permit
    Most of aliens living in Japan have various resident qualifications. If leaving Japan and going abroad for quite a short period, you must make a prior confirmation of the valid period of your resident qualification and of your qualification to be granted a re-entry permit.
    Without valid resident qualification, you cannot be permitted to return to Japan.
    Without a re-entry permit, you are still forbidden to go into Japan again even if being granted valid resident qualification.

✈Return to your own country
       If intending to return to the motherland for a short period, any alien living in Japan may be allowed to leave Japan or enter the territory of Japan again, with valid resident qualification and re-entry permit.
　　
   ✈Travel to other countries
      An entry visa is required in some countries.
      A visa is issued by a consulate of the country of destination in a foreign country, and regarded as a temporary approval for entry into such foreign country. Therefore, make a prior confirmation on whether an entry visa is required before you travel to any other country. If required, you are requested to file an application to the consulate of the country.  
      Although you are granted the visa, entry administrators give the final approval for entry permit. It is required to notice that: regarding you a suspect failing false application, deeming you take a little cash and hold a visit visa, with intention to work after entry into the territory, such entry administrators will order you return.
　　　　
    Confirmation of alien resident registration certificate
    If an alien goes abroad for a short period, Japanese entry examiners, in addition to examine the resident qualification and re-entry permit, must also examine the alien resident registration certificate. Therefore, an alien resident registration certificate must be the first thing to be prepared in advance.

Overseas travel insurance
　 ✈With regard to overseas travel insurance
       If you go traveling, you had better take a traveling insurance in advance, particularly for overseas travel.
       If a health insurance card cannot be used when you see a local doctor due to your injury or sickness, you have to solely bear any and all expenses. In case of any expenditure in a great amount arising from the theft of belongings or damages to appliances, you may rely on your travel insurance.
       In order to be ready for any eventuality, you are expected to take travel insurance in advance. At present, insurance is liberalized, and insurance premium is very favorable to the Insured.
       At the same time there are many types of insurance for the Insured to freely choose from, such as structural insurance with necessary coverage.

✈Places of application
　　The overseas travel insurance can be applied for through an insurance agency, travel agency, internet, airport and otherwise.

Currencies, credit cards and so on, used abroad
    There are varieties of currencies of many countries circulating in the world. Since Japanese yen can be hardly used in any country in a direct manner, when traveling abroad, you must get means of payment ready in advance, such as the currency used in the country of destination or card in place of cash.
    There are lots of types of monies (means of payment), which all have respective advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, please make your choice and use monies flexibly according to your own type of travel.

✈Categories of monies
     ・cash  
     ・traveler’s check 
     ・credit card  
     ・international cash card

Exchange of currency
    Japanese yen can be exchanged into local circulating currency (foreign currency) in two ways, one way is to [exchange Japanese yen in Japan], and another is to [exchange Japanese yen abroad]. Upon the arrival at the airport of destination, it may be deep in the night or weekends, and no bank will open during the daytime. So it is impossible to exchange currency timely. Please consider the type of your travel, then decide on whether to exchange currency in Japan or the local place.

✈Upon the exchange of currency in Japan
       Currency may be exchanged in the municipal bank, financial institution, or international airport, such as Narita airport, which offers foreign currency exchange service.
       But you have to notice that a bank is also likely to request customers to come again on the next day for exchange of currency due to its insufficient inventory. In addition, since there are different types of circulating currencies, currency is not possible to be exchanged in Japan. If intending to exchange Japanese yen into the local circulating currency, you are requested to take Japanese yen with you. If it is rather difficult to exchange Japanese yen into local circulating currency or such exchange is impossible at all, you are requested to exchange Japanese yen into USD in Japan, then exchange USD into the local circulating currency.

✈Upon the exchange of currency in the local place
       In some major countries, you may exchange your Japanese yen into local circulating currency smoothly at the airport’s exchange of currency, main bank, main hotel and etc.. But at different places, foreign exchange rates and handling fees may not remain unchanged.
       Japanese yen cannot be exchanged in some countries and regions Therefore, if traveling to several countries using different circulating currencies, you had better get USD ready in advance. Furthermore, since the exchange of currency will not be open upon your arrival early in the morning or deep at night, you must make a prior confirmation of specific information in this regard of the country of destination.

With respect to baggage
    When you take a plane, your baggage can be classified into two categories as follows:
    [Baggage you carry by yourself onto the plane (baggage you take with you)] and [Baggage transported by check-in counter of the airport with your entrustment (unaccompanied baggage)]
    Because formalities and stipulations of the said two categories of baggage are different from each other, you must pay special attention to preparations made for your baggage.

✈With respect to unaccompanied baggage
　     The following provisions must be followed when you leave your baggage to the check-in counter.
       In usual cases: for economy class, your baggage can weigh no more than 20 kg, for business class, no more than 30kg, for first class, no more than 40kg.
       However, in case of any transpacific line, such as a flight towards USA, Guam and etc., it is required to only consider weight of baggage but also limit quantity of baggage. 2 pieces of baggage are allowed in the economy class, 3 pieces allowed in the first or the business class. Specific provisions are specified for each piece of baggage; Its weight is forbidden to exceed 32 kg, and the sum of its length, width and height mustn’t be more than 273cm (For the economy class, there is another addition stipulation that; the sum of length, width and height of 2 pieces of baggage mustn’t exceed 273 cm.)
       If the said provisions are violated, passengers will have to pay additional fees for portions exceeding the specified weight or the specified sum of length, width and height. Therefore, when preparing your baggage, you must consider the quality of purchases to be effected at the country of destination.

✈With respect to baggage you take with
　　  There are also provisions applicable to baggage you take onto the cabin. Usually the sum of 3 sides (length, width and height) of such baggage must not exceed 115 cm. 
      In principle baggage other than the said ones you take with must be deposited at the check-in counter of the airport. Sometimes, there is somebody intending to board the plane with large baggage, then your baggage has to be inspected by using the mould equipped by the airport.
      In order to not trouble other passengers, you had better not carry large baggage onto the plane. Furthermore, you are also forbidden to board the plane with some articles having nothing to do with the size of your baggage and regarding security issues, such as scissors, cutting knives and so forth. Please put all of such articles into your unaccompanied baggage (such as the suitcase, etc.)

Baggage door-to-door service
    For a pleasant overseas tour, it is troublesome for you to carry your large baggage, such as the suitcase etc., from your home to the airport.
    Therefore, if before leaving your home you use the baggage door-to-door service to transport your baggage from home to the airport, you will feel more convenient. You may also use the same service upon your return, for the transportation of your baggage from the airport to your home.

✈How to use the baggage door-to-door service
　　  from home to the airport: 

 1.  contacting with various companies offering door-to-door service through the internet or on the phone.
     2. requesting such companies to take away your baggage directly from your home.
     3. claiming your baggage at the airport upon the date of departure.

   from the airport to home：

 1.  applying to a company offering door-to-door service and in the airport terminal, and depositing your baggage with it.
     2. requesting the company to send your baggage to your home on a certain subsequent day.

Telephone preparation
    Before your travel, you are not necessary to get a telephone ready in Japan, instead you may use the telephone or public telephone of the local hotel.
    In addition, there are lots of cards or renting telephone or other service system available to you, for making international phone calls. Therefore, you may decide which one to choose from according to the type of your travel.