Hokkaido

[RooFlyer]

Fab-o, many thanks @elanshin

Oh, I didn't read on on that visa page . I just followed links on 'Visit Japan' for 'countries not needing visa' and I thought it would lead me to an e-registration (I misnamed it in my earlier post). Must have gotten lost.

So "Regular, Full Tank, Credit Card" would be "Reh-gu-rah, Manh-tanh, Ku-reh-jitto kah-doh"
The "english" but not english words when pronounced in english might not actually get recognised sometimes.

I think Google translate will be my friend My experience in using foreign phraseology has not been good (as in, I'm terrible at it).

Thanks for all the other tips - fantastic

EDIT: You'd never know that I've been to Japan at least 6 times before - but all except one was just around Tokyo and most of them cosseted by being business trips!

 

[drron]

We had another arrival into Japan yesterday. Definitely no need now for an Evisa. Just fill out an arrival card,go to the foreigners line and you have to stop at a machine to get your fingerprints and photo taken. Into the next line to see a real agent who took my thumbprints again. Stuck their little 30 day foreigner note in the passport and off you go.
And no problem for you but a QF plane had arrived just before us and a couple of young lads were being a bit too smart with the customs agent. He won as he made them unpack their bags and looked at every item.

As to cars. You do need to ask for an ETC card from Toyota depending on where you pick the car up. At the large airports they basically come with the car but at 2 smaller towns they were not automatically supplied. And one was Kawaguchiko 2 weeks ago.
Filling up is often self serve in larger cities but out in the country often a driveway attendant. This was again the case at Kawaguchiko.

 

[Quickstatus]

driveway attendant.

Did they do the obligatory / customary bow as you departed?

 

[drron]

Did they do the obligatory / customary bow as you departed?

No but because he walked out on the street to stop traffic so I could drive off straight away. Much better than a bow.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

@RooFlyer Hokkaido is as much a mix of self serve and attended as anywhere else. All stations I have been to in Hokkaido have accepted CC payment (and those where you have to pre-select an amount generally have a 'full tank' option and english guidance).

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

You'll get an Pass to use for expressways (might need to ask for it at the rental) but with the pass, use the EC lanes and it'll charge it to the card which will charge you later.
As you'll be driving in the warmer seasons in Hokkaido, it should be more similar to regular conditions and you won't need to worry too much about snow conditions.

You'll also probably get slapped with a "Gaijin sticker" (foreigner driving sticker) at the back to warn other Japanese drivers. For the most part, it's relatively similar to driving here - speed limit on highways is whatever everyone else is going. (so if your lane is going at 150kmh, you can also go at that speed if you feel comfortable).

The one thing that might be of use if you drive on freeways is that JP drivers will flash hazards for a couple of seconds if the freeway is slowing down to warn drivers behind them. Beyond that you'll also see Hazards being turned on smaller streets as a "I'm going to park here even if it's not ok and I definitely block some traffic" signal.

HAHAHA all of this is so true. Speeds on Japanese highways in summer are so loosely enforced it's laughable. Though I've never seen someone slapped with the old Gaij sticker? I generally tell them I used to live and drive in Japan for work so maybe that's why I'm exempt...

And yes love the use of the 'park anywhere' button, especially when it's a truck on a very narrow street.

 

[Pushka]

Isn’t there a QR code that can be applied for online that speeds up customs/inmigration?

Finger prints. My fingers don’t print well. I’ve had issues in India, Saudi Arabia and USA so not the machine but me. I’ve had customs agents press down really hard on my fingers with no success. What is the problem here? I dread being finger printed now and MrP gets a tad frustrated.

 

[elanshin]

Isn’t there a QR code that can be applied for online that speeds up customs/inmigration?

Finger prints. My fingers don’t print well. I’ve had issues in India, Saudi Arabia and USA so not the machine but me. I’ve had customs agents press down really hard on my fingers with no success. What is the problem here? I dread being finger printed now and MrP gets a tad frustrated.

Visit Japan Web

Visit Japan Web | Digital Agency Services

This is a service that allows you to perform arrival procedures(immigration, customs) and "Tax-free shopping service" online.

services.digital.go.jp

This when filled out replaces the arrival card and gives you a QR code. You can fill out a paper one if you want instead, but this is usually easier.

The fingerprint scanning is usually pretty easy.

 

[OZDUCK]

Isn’t there a QR code that can be applied for online that speeds up customs/inmigration?

Finger prints. My fingers don’t print well. I’ve had issues in India, Saudi Arabia and USA so not the machine but me. I’ve had customs agents press down really hard on my fingers with no success. What is the problem here? I dread being finger printed now and MrP gets a tad frustrated.

My wife has the same problem.

 

[drron]

There has been absolutely no time difference on our 2 entries to Japan using the arrivals card in April to our entry in January when we did the online version that has been linked. And you no longer have to have a QR code to do duty free difference.
If you have filled in your details online you still have to line up with everyone else in the foreigners line and get your fingerprints and photo taken. The only difference is if done online they scan your QR code and if the paper version they scan your passport. Sometimes the QR is a little quicker but most that I noticed using the QR code were slower as they had to find it on their phone.

 

[RooFlyer]

Isn’t there a QR code that can be applied for online that speeds up customs/inmigration?

I just did the thing that elanshin posted link to. Not totally straightforward but OK. No photo needed, just passport number and expiry date besides arrival other details like that.

At the end it just displays the QR code on the screen so as I did it on my laptop I took a photograph of it but then you can log into the site again on your phone so you then take a screenshot of the QR code.

 

[elanshin]

A lot of time the confusion and humble in line is people that haven't done it at all or filled the arrival card.

Ive done and saved enough trip details now that i literally did it in the moving line at immigration last trip.

The best feature is that it can save details. I wish Aus can move to this too. I just pull up a profile as I stay at my friends place in tokyo regularly.

 

[drron]

Isn’t there a QR code that can be applied for online that speeds up customs/inmigration?

Finger prints. My fingers don’t print well. I’ve had issues in India, Saudi Arabia and USA so not the machine but me. I’ve had customs agents press down really hard on my fingers with no success. What is the problem here? I dread being finger printed now and MrP gets a tad frustrated.

Well I can have trouble with both my photo and fingerprints.
Fingers. I have sliced off the top of my left index finger and right thumb and simply stuck the bit of tissue back using Micropore. Healed well but the prints don’t align.
Now my right index finger and left thumb felt left out so they are the digits who got the most damage from my wicket keeping days and are a little bent.
For some years I have been having difficulty having my face recognised at automatic gates. So one or the other slows me down most times.

 

[Seat0B]

Further prep q

Need to get an e-Visa: JAPAN eVISA
Any tips or traps? (I'm a bit paranoid after applying for Chile, USA and Indonesia recently!!)

Getting from NGO airport station (flight arrives 9am on a Friday) to Nagoya city station, in order to catch the shinkansen to Shin-Osaka (where I'm staying nearby) Rome-2-Rio says I should catch Meitetsu Railways Limited Express to Meitetsu Nagoya station, then walk across to the shinkansen departure area. Does that sound right? Would I just buy the tickets as I arrive at the respective stations, or can I buy the complete journey to Shin-Osaka at NGO? <Decided above its not worth getting a pass>

I've noted @Seat0B 's advice above about having to buy luggage type tickets if I have >160cm of luggage and the nature of Shin-Osaka. I'll be taking a carry-on and a computer bag. Separate, they measure >160cm but Ill just strap them together to form one.

Petrol around Hokkaido - do I pump it myself (and perhaps have to pre-pay?) or are there usually attendants? Credit cards usually accepted?

I was going to ask about the nature of the toll roads but I'm pretty sure I'm getting a toll pass with my Toyota hire car. Oh, must remember to renew my int Drivers Licence.

@RooFlyer I'm wondering why you need to get an e-visa. Australian nationals visiting for tourism up to 90 days are exempt from visa requirements see "travel" tab on smart traveller Japan. Maybe I missed that your trip will be longer than 90 days? As we have never stayed longer than 90 days, I've never had to apply for an e-visa.

Re the luggage ticket - you don't "buy" it as such. It's free, and it is actually a type of seat allocation that you ask for when you reserve your train seat. If your luggage is greater than the 160cm dimension, you have to ask for a "large luggage seat". These are at the end of the carriage and have a storage space directly behind. Some trains also have a small area for baggage in the foyer of the car (with a supplied bicycle type lock) and these are also allocated by seating ticker. So it your bags are actually separate bags, even if strapped together, it should be fine to use a regular seat and just put them up in the overhead rack or keep by your feet. These are our 2 check in size bags (68 cm) and they fit just fine - only issue is your ability to hoik the weight to the rack. Ours were about 17-20kg and we managed it fine - although a bit harder for me as I am only 163cm tall.


Re your transfer in Nagoya, JR does not service the airport, so you do need to catch the Meitetsu train. Just buy the ticket at the airport. I haven't been to NGO, so I'm guessing ehre, but I think it is unlikely that you can buy a JR ticket to Shin-Osaka here - they are 2 totally separate rail companies. So you will likely have to buy the ticket to Shin-Osaka when you get to JR Nagoya Station (unless you buy that ticket using an on-line app. We haven't done this as it has always been easier for us to buy tickets in person). The Nagoya Meitetsu station is literally beside the JR Nagoya station and it is, from experience, no more than a 5 minute walk, probably more like 2 minutes if you know where you are going. From memory, it is above ground and involves crossing a pedestrian plaza, but there may also be a tunnel connecting the two, so keep an eye out for signs (which will be in English and Japanese).



If you have time, I highly recommend to allow 30 mins or so to go to the JR Takashimaya Department Store Food Basement when you get to Nagano JR station. It's right at the front entrance to the station. You will find the most amazing, delicious and cheap array of ekiben (train bento boxes) here, perfect for enjoying on your trip to Shin-Osaka..


Re International Driving Permit - be sure to have it with you, and be sure to have the cardboard version, NOT a digital version, as from family experience, failing either of these requirements will see your car rental cancelled. No exceptions!

 

[Seat0B]

At the end it just displays the QR code on the screen so as I did it on my laptop I took a photograph of it but then you can log into the site again on your phone so you then take a screenshot of the QR code.

It's really handy to have the screen shot as I have found airport wifi can be flaky or non-existent in the arrivals area where you need it to get the QR code up for the immigration officials.

There has been absolutely no time difference on our 2 entries to Japan using the arrivals card in April to our entry in January when we did the online version that has been linked.

When we arrived in January at Haneda airport, it was a lot faster to have the QR code. They had people checking, and those with QR codes skipped a couple of lines and went straight to the line for immigration official. Also for customs, there were separate lines (many) for QR code holders, and only a few lines for paper form holders. It probably saved us about 30 minutes, I'd say.

 

[RooFlyer]

@RooFlyer I'm wondering why you need to get an e-visa. Australian nationals visiting for tourism up to 90 days are exempt from visa requirements see "travel" tab on smart traveller Japan. Maybe I missed that your trip will be longer than 90 days? As we have never stayed longer than 90 days, I've never had to apply for an e-visa.

No, that was my mistake. I got lost on the links from Visit Japan and saw this:
Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates (except the jurisdiction of The Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai (note)), United Kingdom, U.S.A.
All foreign nationals/people residing in these countries/regions, except those who are exempt from short-term visa, can apply for an eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA websiteOpen a New Window.

And read it as as an Australian, I'm a 'foreign national' (to Japan) residing in Australia ... and I didn't read on when I posted.

So you will likely have to buy the ticket to Shin-Osaka when you get to JR Nagoya Station (unless you buy that ticket using an on-line app.

I've got the shinkansen app that elanshin posted but it always fails when trying to authorise my credit card (several types), I'll call Latitude on Monday to see if they are blocking the trial amounts that the card uses to authorise, but otherwise I won't worry too much as I'm only taking a few shinkansen journies.

If you have time, I highly recommend to allow 30 mins or so to go to the JR Takashimaya Department Store Food Basement when you get to Nagano JR station. It's right at the front entrance to the station. You will find the most amazing, delicious and cheap array of ekiben (train bento boxes) here, perfect for enjoying on your trip to Shin-Osaka..

Noted!

Many thanks again for the very practical tips.

 

[Seat0B]

I've got the shinkansen app that elanshin posted but it always fails when trying to authorise my credit card (several types),

This is a common problem in Japan (and on Japanese apps) with foreign issued credit cards. I have not ever had my UBank or Macquarie Bank debit cards rejected. Cash can get you out of a lot of trouble when you are there.

 

[drron]

No QR code needed at Customs now. We handed over our Customs form and waved straight through.

 

[elanshin]

No QR code needed at Customs now. We handed over our Customs form and waved straight through.

If you fill in the arrival card, thats got the customs details on it. This is basically the old method. If you fill in the online form, you get the QR code which you use the machine near baggage carousel to get it processed.

What i usually do is as I wait for the bags, I go to the customs machine put in the QR code details, pick up bags then walk straight out as it's facial recognition.

 

[drron]

But 3 days ago you didn’t even have to have the QR code to basically walk straight through.