Visas and Rail passes... .

HatterMac · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hi everyone. I am booked on a flight to arrive in Osaka at the beginning of July. I was thinking about getting the JR rail pass beforehand so that I could explore the country a little bit and then look for work thereafter. I am intending to arrive on a tourist visa, however, I have recently been offered a position, and if I take it, I will be entering on a work visa. So the question I would like to ask is this. When you exchange the coupon at the rail station for the rail pass, do they check which type of visa you have?

MMM · (#2 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by HatterMac

Hi everyone. I am booked on a flight to arrive in Osaka at the beginning of July. I was thinking about getting the JR rail pass beforehand so that I could explore the country a little bit and then look for work thereafter. I am intending to arrive on a tourist visa, however, I have recently been offered a position, and if I take it, I will be entering on a work visa. So the question I would like to ask is this. When you exchange the coupon at the rail station for the rail pass, do they check which type of visa you have?

Yes, you can only buy a rail pass with a tourist visa.

HatterMac · (#3 (**permalink**))

Okay, so my passport would be checked for that at the station then, is that right?

MMM · (#4 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by HatterMac

Okay, so my passport would be checked for that at the station then, is that right?

Yup, or else all the foreigners living in Japan would be buying them.

timelesssymphony · (#5 (**permalink**))

yes when you buy a rail pass you are really buying a coupon type thing which is turned into a rail pass at your friendly major JR station where they give you a short form to fill out and look at your passport

HatterMac · (#6 (**permalink**))

Thanks, muchly appreciated.