COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TERRORIST INTERDICTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000043

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KFRD ASEC OTRA AEMR TH RP JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TERRORIST INTERDICTION
PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE

REF: SECSTATE 01342


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for
the January 18-20, 2007 visit to Japan by Robin Reichenbach,
S/CT Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) representative.
Post understands, per reftel, that no further assistance is
required.


2. (U) Point of Contact for the Tokyo portion of 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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Narita Airport to Hotel Transportation
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3. (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 limosine 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 in 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 downtwon Tokyo is 90-120 minutes,
depending on traffic.


4. (U) For departure visitors are advised to take the
airport "limousine" bus from the hotel directly to the Tokyo
Narita Airport. The bus fare is 3,000 Yen. Reservations
should be made through the hotel concierge.

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Visa
--------------


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
--------------


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
--------------


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.

TOKYO 00000043 002 OF 002




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