VZCZCXRO9492
PP RUEHCN
DE RUEHKO #0300/01 0360700
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050700Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1516
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1508
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 0149
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 6436
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000300
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CHRISTINE CHAN-DOWNER
REF: STATE 11478
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
February 28 - March 1, 2008, visit to Japan by Christine
Chan-Downer for TIP-related meetings.
2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Scott Hansen. He can be reached at:
Office phone: (81-3)3224-5559
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6858
Mobile phone: 81-80-1020-2000
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: HansenSW@state.gov (unclassified)
------------------
Hotel Reservations
------------------
3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel
Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416, Tel:
(81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707. Details as follows:
Name: CHAN-DOWNER, Christine
Arrive: 28 February
Depart: 1 March
Conf. No.: 635880
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Airport to Hotel Transportation
-------------------------------
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.
----
Visa
----
5. (U) U.S. citizens entering or transiting Japan on
official business must obtain a diplomatic or official visa
for that purpose. U.S. citizens traveling with a valid U.S.
passport can enter Japan for business or pleasure for up to
90 days without a visa.
All foreign nationals entering Japan, with the exemption of
certain categories, are required to have their fingerprints
scanned and a facial photograph taken at the port of entry.
This requirement does not replace any existing visa or
passport requirements. U.S. travelers on official business
must have a diplomatic or official visa specifying the nature
of travel as "AS DIPLOMAT," "AS OFFICIAL," or "IN TRANSIT" to
be exempt from biometric collection. All other visa holders,
including those with diplomatic and official visas stating
"AS TEMPORARY VISITOR," are subject to this requirement.
Passport type is also irrelevant. In rare instances,
official travelers who bring a Note Verbale specifying they
are entering Japan in an official capacity may be exempted
from the biometric collection requirement, if otherwise
required. SOFA personnel are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2)
from the new biometrics entry requirements.
----------------------
Embassy Laptop Policy
----------------------
6. (U) The Embassy's electronic device (i.e. laptop,
removable storage, video equipment, test equipment, etc.)
policy states that absolutely no personal, non-government
owned electronic devices may enter the Embassy. Absolutely
no equipment, even government-owned, may be connected to the
Embassy network in any way without prior approval. TDY
employees are reminded that even government-owned equipment
may not enter the Embassy without prior RSO approval.
Absolutely no electronic device, even government-owned, may
enter the CAA unless special pre-approval is given by the
RSO, based on a compelling business need. If you would like
to bring a U.S. government-owned electronic device into the
Embassy, please contact the RSO office (provide make, model,
TOKYO 00000300 002 OF 002
serial number, and purpose) prior to your visit for a
briefing and approval.
-----------------
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