COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR HUGH DESANTIS

UNCLAS TOKYO 001645

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DS/EX/PPB DESANTIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR HUGH DESANTIS

REF: STATE 48418


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
April 24-29, 2007 visit to Japan by Mr. Hugh Desantis.


2. (U) Control Officer 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) Post noted that Mr. Desantis had requested the Hotel
Okura, however the hotel is unavailable during your stay.
Reservations have been made at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel
which is conveniently located near the Embassy. (5 minutes
walking distance)

ANA Intercontinental Hotel
1-12-33 Akasaka
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: (81-3) 3505-1111,
Fax: (81-3) 3505-1150

Check in: April 24, 2007
Check out: April 29, 2007
Conf. No.: 253600

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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. 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. 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. (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).


9. (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.


10. (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.
DONOVAN