Visa and JR Rail Pass Question

[mjdunning]

Hello and thanks in advance for the help. I work as a videographer in the US. I will be traveling Japan to produce a video on Japan for a travel agency here in the US. Can I enter Japan on a tourist visa and be eligible for a JR Rail Pass? I will be traveling with an organized tour for part of the time there. Can anyone let me know if this should be a problem?

Thanks,

MJDunning

[Glenski]

You don't get the JR Rail Pass after you enter the country. You buy it before you come. Then, you choose the day it should start and go to an office to do that.

If your concern is the fact that are coming here on a job, don't worry because you aren't getting a work visa. You are eligible for the pass.

[mjdunning]

Thank you so much for the reply. I assume I can enter the country on a tourist visa but when searching online I'm concerned that because I'm being compensated for the work I'm doing in Japan that I may need to apply for a work visa. Does anyone have any insight on that?

[Esoteric]

Thank you so much for the reply. I assume I can enter the country on a tourist visa but when searching online I'm concerned that because I'm being compensated for the work I'm doing in Japan that I may need to apply for a work visa. Does anyone have any insight on that?

You have to show your passport when you activate the pass. If your passport says you are a resident of Japan, they won't convert it for you. If you have a working visa, you are a resident.

[ttokyo]

Thank you so much for the reply. I assume I can enter the country on a tourist visa but when searching online I'm concerned that because I'm being compensated for the work I'm doing in Japan that I may need to apply for a work visa. Does anyone have any insight on that?

It depends where you are paid. If you are paid from a US company from a US account into your US account, the 'tourist visa' is fine as this would be the same as a biz trip for negotiations, setting up or maintaining machinery, etc. Not sure if there are special restrictions for journalistic activities, though.

[Guest]

Yes, you wont need a work visa for that.
Of course, you wont say you are here to work, will you.
You will say you are here on holidays - which you are.

Order JR Pass here:
http://www.acprail.com/rail-passes/j...#51c99f5c497cc

[mjdunning]

ttokyo and commonsense: Thank you for the replies.

ttokyo: I will be getting paid in the US by a US company into my US account. Are you sure that still constitutes as a business trip even though I am getting compensated specifically for the work performed while I'm in Japan?

commonsense: I will have equipment with me. Nothing over the top but much more than the typical person on holiday would have. I hear what you're saying though. No need to raise a red flag if I don't need to. However, I travel to Japan often to see inlaws and don't want to get blacklisted for entering the country on an improper visa. Just not sure if a work visa is required for a simple trip like this.

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful advice to a new poster.

[Guest]

ttokyo and commonsense: Thank you for the replies.

ttokyo: I will be getting paid in the US by a US company into my US account. Are you sure that still constitutes as a business trip even though I am getting compensated specifically for the work performed while I'm in Japan?

commonsense: I will have equipment with me. Nothing over the top but much more than the typical person on holiday would have. I hear what you're saying though. No need to raise a red flag if I don't need to. However, I travel to Japan often to see inlaws and don't want to get blacklisted for entering the country on an improper visa. Just not sure if a work visa is required for a simple trip like this.

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful advice to a new poster.

The tourist visa allows for projects like yours - it is not breaking any rules.

But they would not regard it as "work".. so if you call it that it will make problems for you - most certainly.

[adrimaster]

I've always wondered about a fake JR pass. I mean, I don't know how it works today but in the pass you only had to show at at the entrance of the station, and sometimes at the train, but the guy who checks it only makes sure the stamp of the date is OK... am I the first one to think about this?...

[TheHotCondom]

I've always wondered about a fake JR pass. I mean, I don't know how it works today but in the pass you only had to show at at the entrance of the station, and sometimes at the train, but the guy who checks it only makes sure the stamp of the date is OK... am I the first one to think about this?...

"Fake" train pass? You are scum from the scummy pond !

[Glenski]

There is nothing wrong with saying you are coming here for business. It's the fact. Just say your American company has sent you here. "The company I work for in America..." should be sufficiently clear.

I've always wondered about a fake JR pass. I mean, I don't know how it works today but in the pass you only had to show at at the entrance of the station, and sometimes at the train, but the guy who checks it only makes sure the stamp of the date is OK... am I the first one to think about this?...

No. Lots of sketchy Medos and the greasier types seem to think it's a great idea. Then they get caught, and whine like Vinnie Barbarino at report card time.

Par for the course, really.

OP,

Absolutely nothing funny about what you will be doing: as long as you are not paid in Japan for any of your activities, you are cool for school. So get your JR Pass, and Bullet Train you and your equipment in style. I recommend the Green Car Pass (i.e. First Class), although it does seem that many western end Bullet Trains that we can ride don't even offer them anymore, and most of the ones that do have First Class service (Nozomi) don't allow JR Pass holders.

Which is a point worthy of note as far as scheduling goes.

[adrimaster]

It was just a random though, I always found suspicious the lack of control of the JR pass