VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKO #0249/01 0302341
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 302341Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0556
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1380
UNCLAS TOKYO 000249
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMB KABUL FOR ECON/MAERKLE AND JACKSON, ADMIN/BELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. JCMB DELEGATION TO JAPAN
REF: KABUL 00233
1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
February 03-08, 2008, visit to Japan by the U.S. JCMB
Delegation led by Ambassador Christopher W. Dell.
2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Evan Reade. He can be reached at:
Office phone: (81-3)3224-5325
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6940
Mobile phone: 81-90-3591-0698
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: ReadeEG@state.gov (unclassified)
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Hotel Reservations
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3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations for all delegation members
have been made at the Imperial Hotel, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8558, Tel: (81-3) 3504-1111. Upon
arrival at the hotel, Carmela Conroy will there to offer any
assistance delegation members may require; Ms. Conroy can be
contacted at cell phone (098) 9787-0103.
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Airport to Hotel Transportation
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4. (U) Visitors should take the airport "limousine" bus
directly to the hotel or the Narita Express (NEX) train to
Tokyo Station and then a taxi to the hotel. The limousine
bus counter is located in the Tokyo Narita Airport Arrival
lobby. Look for the orange signs as you walk through the
doors from the customs area to the main lobby. The bus fare
is 3,000 Yen. The NEX train is located in the basement of
the airport terminal. The train fare is 2,900 Yen.
Twenty-four hour currency exchange facilities are available
in the customs area and the arrival lobby of the airport.
Travel time from Tokyo Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo is
90-120 minutes, depending on traffic.
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Visa
----
5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must
have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S.
tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist
without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days. As of November
20, 2007, all foreign nationals entering Japan, with the
exemption of certain categories, are required to provide
fingerprints and a facial photograph at the port of entry.
This requirement does not replace any existing visa or
passport requirements. Official U.S. travelers will have to
submit to the photograph and fingerprinting requirement
unless they travel with a valid diplomatic or official visa
or a Note Verbale. The nature of the passport onto which the
visa is pasted is not relevant, i.e. a tourist passport
holder with a diplomatic or official visa will not have to
submit to the biometrics collection process. SOFA personnel
are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2) from the new biometrics
entry requirements.
----------------------
Embassy Laptop Policy
----------------------
6. (U) Official visitors are reminded that personally owned
or non-controlled USG-issued electronic equipment (including
all PDAs, cell phones, pagers, radios, records) may not enter
the controlled access areas. Additionally, all classified
and sensitive materials must be secured at the embassy visit
control office upon arrival in country.
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Threat Assessment
-----------------
7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. As the U.S. Government has
reported in public announcements over the last several
months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at
increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups,
which may target civilians and include suicide operations.
The Department maintains information about potential threats
to Americans overseas which is available to travelers on the
internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a
day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).
8. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and
throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the
U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does
exist. The Japanese National Police report continued
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded
shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low,
common sense security measures are advised for all American
citizens traveling in Japan.
9. (U) Also be advised that under no circumstances may
weapons be brought into Japan. Carrying a pocketknife
(including Swiss Army-style knife, craft or hunting knife,
box cutter, etc.) in public is forbidden. Under Japanese
law, carrying any such item in public, with a size exceeding
8 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width or 2 mm in thickness, can
subject the person to arrest or detention.
SCHIEFFER