Visa Information for Americans
Consular Services for resident and visiting Americans
U.S. Commercial Service, Nagoya
Useful information for Americans in Nagoya
History of U.S. Consulate Nagoya

Visa Information for Americans

Americans generally may enter Japan for business or pleasure without a visa for up to 90 days.  Travelers entering the country without a visa must have a return or onward ticket in their possession, proof of adequate funds for their stay, and be otherwise admissible under Japanese law.  Extensions of the 90-day stay are normally not allowed, and no changes to status are permitted.  If you will be staying longer than 90 days, you must obtain an Alien Registration Card ("Gaikokujin Torokusho"), available free of charge from the municipal office of the city or ward you are residing. You will need to take your passport and two photos of size 4.5 x 3.5 cm.

If you are planning to stay in Japan more than 90 days, seek a change of status or perform tasks which do not fall under the definition of routine business, you should obtain a visa before coming to Japan.  Visas are issued only by Japanese Embassies and Consulates overseas.

If you already have a Japanese visa and plan to leave the country temporarily for any purpose, make sure you get a re-entry permit in advance.  Otherwise, you risk all kinds of problems.  There is a fee for the permit.  The Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau is located at 4-3-1, Sannomaru, Naka-ku, near Nagoya City Hall and the National Hospital.

The office is open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 12 noon, and 1-4 pm. The phone number is (052) 951-2391/2392.

Remember that Japanese immigration authorities are sticklers for documents and details, and that extensions are granted only on a "case-by-case" basis. Good books to consult include The Japan Times' "Immigration: A Guide to Alien Procedures in Japan," and "A Guide to Entry, Residence and Registration Procedures in Japan for Foreign Nationals" published by the Japan Immigration Association.

If you have Japanese immigration-related questions, you can contact the Nagoya Immigration Information Center in English Monday-Friday from 9:00-12 noon, and 1-4:00 pm at (052) 973-0441/0442.

For free legal advice in English on the first and third Saturdays of the month between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, contact the information service corner at the Nagoya International Center at (052) 581-6111.



Consular services for resident and visiting Americans

Emergency Contacts

In the event of an accident, fire, or medical emergency, call 119. To contact the police, call 110. If there is an arrest, death, or other emergency involving an American citizen in Nagoya, Aichi, Gifu, or Mie, call Consulate Nagoya at (052) 203-4011. Please be sure to use the phone -- not e-mail -- to inform us of emergencies. This is vital to ensure that we can respond in a timely manner. If Consulate Nagoya is closed, call Embassy Tokyo at (03) 3224-5000. The Embassy will contact the Nagoya Duty Officer.

Limited Consular Services Available

Consulate Nagoya is a small Consulate with a primary mission of supporting American business and reporting on political and economic developments in the Chubu Region. Due to limited resources, Consulate Nagoya refers some consular services to other posts. Non-immigrant visa matters are referred to the American Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe and all immigrant visa matters to the Embassy in Tokyo. General information on visa processing in Japan is also available at 03-5354-4033.

Limited consular services for American citizens are available at Consulate Nagoya on an appointment basis. Appointments are usually scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month, when a consular officer from the American Consulate General Osaka-Kobe visits Nagoya. If the second Wednesday of the month is a holiday, appointments are scheduled the next work day. Call (052)203-4011 or fax (052)201-4612 to make appointments for notary services, passport renewals, registrations and report of birth abroad.

General information on American Citizens Services and downloadable forms are available at: http://www.senri-i.or.jp/amcon

Please refer to website of the American Consulate General, Osaka-Kobe, regarding consular services including the following:

--Notarials
--Passport Renewals
--Registrations (for emergencies) of American citizens
--Consular Reports of Birth Abroad
--Certificate of Competency to Marry

Emergency consular assistance is also available. A consular officer visits detained, arrested, and imprisoned Americans and reports on their cases. In the event of the death of an American citizen, the Consulate can assist with Japanese procedures and the return of remains to the United States. Please be sure to use the phone, not e-mail, to report emergencies.


Useful information for Americans in Nagoya

Driver's license

In order to get a Japanese driver's license, it doesn't help much having a current license from the States. You will still have to go to the Aichi Prefecture Driver's License Examination Center, 2845 Kuroishi, Hirabari, Tenpaku-ku, Tel. No. (052) 801-3211, and pass all tests.

The closest subway stop to the center is Hirabari Station on the Tsurumai Line. From the station, it is about a 5-minute bus/taxi ride to the center. Make sure to call in Japanese in advance. When you do go, make sure you take your passport; Alien Registration Card; and a black or white or color photograph 3 cm x 2.4 cm with plain background (bust-type photo) without headwear or dark glasses. Photos can be purchased at the center as well. To get your license, you must take and pass a written and driver's test. There are fees for both. There are also written and driving tests for motorcycles.

To study for the tests, it is a good idea to obtain Rules of the Road published by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), Aichi Jidosha Kaikan, Higashikan, 29-19, Takiko-cho, Showa-ku, Tel. No. (052) 872-3867. Note that JAF, which is the Japanese equivalent of the AAA, offers road side assistance and trip planning services. For annual membership info, call (052) 872-1161. The Driver's License Center is open from 9 am-12 noon and 12:45-1:30 pm, Monday through Friday. If you apply in the afternoon, you may have to wait until the following day to receive your license. You are advised to take an interpreter with you if you cannot speak Japanese.

Finally, international driver's licenses are only valid in Japan for a limited time, and cannot be extended in country. Even so, it is probably a lot easier to obtain one of them back home than obtaining a license inside Japan.

What if you are involved in a traffic accident while in Nagoya? The Nagoya Calendar advises the following:

1. Write down all pertinent information regarding the other party.

2. Report the accident to the police. Traffic laws in Japan stipulate that victims of accidents are obliged to report to the police. A certificate is also necessary to receive any compensation from insurance companies. Upon arrival at the scene of the accident, the police officer will record the circumstances of the accident, which will be filed with the Jidosha Anzen Unten Center (Automobile Driving Safety Center). You can obtain a copy of the certificate by mail by filling in a request form available at the police station. There is a fee. The center may be reached at (052) 954-8930.

3. Have a medical check up.

4. Hold consultations as necessary. Beware if the other party evades responsibility and does not negotiate in good faith, or offers to strike a separate deal. If you encounter such a situation, you can contact (in Japanese) the Nagoya City Traffic Accident Consultation Office at (052) 951-6622, or the Automobile Insurance Claim Consultation Center of the Japan Damage Insurance Association on the 9th floor of the Nagoya International Center. The association can be reached at (052) 583-9755 between 9:30-12:00 and 1-5:00 pm.

International School

Nagoya's only English-speaking school is the Nagoya International School, 2686 Mianamihara, Nakashidami, Moriyama-ku, Tel.# (052)736-2025, Fax. # (052) 736-3883. Founded in 1964 as a private co-educational day school, NIS offers a full American curriculum education program through Grade 12. All instruction is in English, with graduates earning a stadard E.S. secondary school diploma. Students come from 18 countries, with approximately 20 percent from the U.S. NIS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is located about eight miles northeast of downtown Nagoya. The school year runs from September to June. Financial aid is available for those desiring to sent their children to the school but lacking adequate resources.

Doctors and Dentists

Nagoya has a number of quality physicians. Following is a representative list of area doctors who speak English to some degree. The Consulate cannot endorse doctors, including the ones listed below.

Dr. Michael Alman Genral Practitioner International Clinic
8-3, Irifune 1-chome, Minatoku
052-651-6496
Dr. Chikako Ariyoshi General pediatrics and developmental and psychological diseases Japanese Red Cross, Nagoya First Hospita
3-35, Michishita-cho, Namamura-ku
052-481-5111
Dr. Yoshiaki Ito Internal medicine 414 Takama-cho, Meito-ku 052-702-6001
Dr. Shigeaki Kaseki Infertility 4-16-16 Sakae, Naka-ku 052-251-8801
Dr. Hiromi Kawahara Thoracic and general surgery AHI Hosipital, 987-31 Minamiyama, Komenoki-cho, Nisshin-shi, Aichi 05617-3-7721
Dr. Hiroshi Mizuno Gastric-intestinal 4-14-3, Imaike, Chikusa-ku 052-733-0300
Dr. Atsumi Shibata Endocrinology Nichimaru Nagoya Building 4th Floor, 1-3, Shin Sakae-machi,
Naka-ku
052-971-5627
Dr. Fumio Tachino Internal medicine International Clinic, Dai Nagoya Building 3rd Floor, 3-28-
12, Meieki, Nakamura-ku
052-541-9130
Dr. Shinji Takeuchi Breast Surgery 2-124-1 Hongo, Meito-ku 052-771-6111
Dr. Tadashi Taki Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Ozone Dai Ichi Seimei Building 2nd Floor, 7-789-1, Higashi
Ozone Hondori, Ozone, Higashi-ku
052-712-1820
Dr. Kanichiro Tashiro Gynecological oncology Nichimaru Nagoya Building 3rd Floor, 1-3, Shin Sakae-machi,
Naka-ku
052-971-0930
Dr. Hajime Togari Immunizations Nagoya City Hospital Pediatrics Department, 1 Kawasumi,
Mizuho-cho, Mizuoho-ku
052-851-5511
Dr. Yasuyuki Yamada Obstetrics and gynecology Nagoya Seikei Fujinka,Naika, 4-137 Kusunoki, Kita-ku 052-901-1313
Dr. Tsutomu Nakashima Ear, nose and throat Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku 052-741-2111

Dentists

The following English-speaking dentists practice in Nagoya. The Consulate cannot endorse dentists, including the ones listed below:

Dr. Ken Matsumoto Columbia Dental Clinic, 3-20 Omatsu-cho, Higashi-ku (052) 936-1307
Dr. Kuniaki Miyajima Miyajima Dentistry, 11-11, Tamanoi-cho, Atsuta-ku (052) 681-4618

Other questions?

Nagoya International Center (052) 581-0100 is prepared to answer questions that Americans and other non-Japanese may have on living and working in Nagoya.

Consult links page of this web site, section on "Life in Nagoya."


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