COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INR/EAP ANALYST BENJAMIN R.

UNCLAS TOKYO 005351

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT OTRA PREL TH JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INR/EAP ANALYST BENJAMIN R.
GOLDBERG

REF: STATE 144305


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for
the October 13 -23, 2006 visit to Japan by INR /EAP Analyst
Benjamin R. Goldberg. A notional schedule will follow
separately.


2. (U) Embassy Point of Contact for the visit will be Mary
Wilson. She can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5340
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6832
Mobile phone: 81-90-4168-4950
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: wilsonmt@state.gov (unclassified)

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Hotel Reservations
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3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made for nine
nights of 13-20 and 22 October at:

ANA Hotel
12-33 Akasaka 1-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-00502
Tel: (81-3) 3505-1111
Fax: (81-3) 3505-1155
Email: www.anahoteltokyo.jp

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Airport to Hotel Transportation
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4. (U) Visitors should take the airport "limousine" bus
directly to the hotel or the Narita Express (NEX) train to
Tokyo Station and then a taxi to the hotel. The limousine
bus counter is located in the Tokyo Narita Airport Arrival
lobby. Look for the orange signs as you walk through the
doors from the customs area to the main lobby. The bus fare
is 3,000 Yen. The NEX train is located in the basement of
the airport terminal. The train fare is 2,900 Yen.
Twenty-four hour currency exchange facilities are available
in the customs area and the arrival lobby of the airport.
Travel time from Tokyo Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo is
90-120 minutes, depending on traffic.

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Visa
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5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports
must have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a
U.S. tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a
tourist without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days.

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Embassy Laptop Policy
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6. (U) The Embassy's laptop policy is as follows:
Absolutely no personal, non-government owned laptop computers
may enter the Embassy. Absolutely no laptop, even government
owned, may be connected to the Embassy network in any way.
TDY employees are reminded that no government owned laptops
may enter the Embassy without prior RSO approval. Absolutely
no laptop, even government owned, inside CAA areas unless
special pre-approval, based on business need, has been given.
If you would like to bring a US government owned and
provided laptop computer into the Embassy, please contact the
RSO's office prior to your visit for the briefing and
approval.

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Threat Assessment
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7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. The events of September 11 at the
World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Somerset, Pennsylvania,
serve as a cruel reminder of the continuing threat from
terrorists and extremist groups to Americans and American
interests worldwide. This situation remains fluid and
American citizens should be aware of the potential risks and
take these into consideration when making travel plans. The
Department will continue to develop information about
potential threats to Americans overseas and to share credible
threat information through its consular information program
documents available on the internet at the Bureau of Consular
Affairs home page: http://www.travel.state.gov.


8. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and

throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the
U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does
exist. The Japanese National Police report continued
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded
shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low,
common sense security measures are advised for all American
citizens traveling in Japan.


9. (U) As the U.S. Government has reported in public
announcements over the last several months, U.S. citizens and
interests abroad may be at increased risk of terrorist
actions from extremist groups, which may target civilians and
include suicide operations. Most recently, we advised that
we had unconfirmed information that terrorist actions may be
taken against U.S. Military facilities and/or establishments
frequented by U.S. military personnel in Korea and Japan.
Americans should increase their security awareness and avoid
locations where Americans are generally known to congregate.


10. (U) In addition, we continue to be concerned about
information we received in May 2001 that American citizens
may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups
with links to Usama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida organization. In
the past, such individuals have not distinguished between
official and civilian targets. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. The U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours
a day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).


11. (SBU) Visitors are urged to maintain a high level of
vigilance and to increase their security awareness.
Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and
times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. Visitors are also
urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar
objects, and to report the presence of such objects to local
authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended and
should be kept locked at all times.
SCHIEFFER