VZCZCXRO1581
OO RUEHSL
DE RUEHKO #2387/01 2890506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160506Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 8078
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA IMMEDIATE 0001
RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR IMMEDIATE
RUEHUL/USDAO SEOUL KOR IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6845
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUERNNA/NAOC OFFUTT AFB NE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/NMCC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002387
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SECDEF TRAVEL
REF: 191914Z OCT 09
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance
to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and members of his
delegation for their October 20-21, 2009, visit to Japan.
2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Dan Cintron. He can be reached at:
Office phone: (81-3)3224-5558
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6972
Mobile phone: 81-90-7907-9591
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: CintronD@state.gov (unclassified)
------------------
Hotel Reservations
------------------
3. (U) Hotel information was provided via separate message.
-------------------------------
Transportation to/from Hotel
-------------------------------
4. (U) Control officer and Embassy officials will be at the
airport to meet, greet, and assist the delegation.
----
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.
-----------------
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).
TOKYO 00002387 002 OF 002
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.
ROOS