Information for U.S. DOJ Attorneys

These additional instructions apply only to attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to depose at the Embassy in Tokyo. They do not apply to private attorneys.

Note that these are additional instructions; all of the information on the previous pages (except the fees charged to private attorneys) applies also to DOJ-sponsored depositions.

Host Country Clearance:

Formal host country clearance is required by the Government of Japan for U.S. officials to conduct judicial assistance activities abroad. This includes taking depositions. Full details are available at travel.state.gov/host_country.html, or contact the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management of the Department of State, Tel 202-647-6769, Fax 202-647-2835.

This process, host country clearance, requires the exchange of Diplomatic Notes, and typically takes about ten working days, though has in the past taken as long as three full weeks, so please begin as soon as possible.

The process begins on the Washington end not with the Embassy; check the web site above to get started!

Travel Assistance

Please make your own air reservations, and hotel reservations if you wish. Both the Hotel Okura and the ANA Hotel Tokyo are within a five minute walk from the Embassy, and offer online reservations with rooms at or near USG per diem rates. Major credit cards accepted.

If you prefer, we can assist with hotel reservations at one of these two hotels. Contact us well in advance of your planned travel via FAX at 81-3-3224-5856 regarding hotel reservations, including exact dates needed, number of rooms, full names of all travelers and price (per diem, per diem +), smoking or non-smoking.

We are unable to meet you at the airport; handy bus and train service is available. We'll include details in our country clearance approval cable. Travel time once you depart Narita Airport is about 90 minutes to your hotel. If you take the train you'll need to use a taxi from the station to the hotel. Bus service runs directly to the hotel and is easier to use for non-Japanese speakers.

You can change money at the airport or at your hotel. The Embassy does not provide money exchange services.

Passports and Visa

All official USG travelers must travel on Official or Diplomatic passports. It is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate visas before traveling to Japan. Travelers without the appropriate passports and visas may be refused entry to Japan by the Japanese Government. Your agency should be able to assist you in applying for the documents you need.

Support Staff

We do not provide translators, stenographers or other support staff. In most cases you will find it easiest to bring such people with you (they also require the proper visa and passport).

If you want us to secure support staff locally on your behalf, such as a video crew, we require full fiscal data cabled in advance. Contact us with details by FAX at 81-3-3224-5856 and we will seek a cost estimate.

We do not have video or teleconferencing equipment available at the Embassy. The Government of Japan does not permit video or telephonic depositions.

Stenographic, interpretation and translation services.
Video services.
English-speaking Local Attorneys in the Tokyo area.
Other Resources and Services.

Return to the main deposition page

For more information, including our phone and FAX number, please contact the office serving your part of Japan.

The U.S. Embassy and our Consulates are closed on both U.S. and Japanese holidays.

This is an official source of U.S. Government information on the Web. Inclusion of Non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.


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