COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR REPRESENTATIVE DANA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000365

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA AMGT PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR REPRESENTATIVE DANA
ROHRABACHER AND MR. PAUL BERKOWITZ

REF: STATE 13221


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
February 20-21, 2009, visit to Japan by Congressional
Representative Dana Rohrabacher and Mr. Paul Berkowitz
(February 19-21).


2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Keith Jordan. He can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5343
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6949
Mobile phone: 81-90-7289-8815
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: JordanKC@state.gov (unclassified)

--------------
Hotel Reservations
--------------


3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel
Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416, Tel:
(81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707. Details as follows:

Dana Rohrabacher
Arrive: 02/20/09
Depart: 02/21/09
Conf. No.: 650583

Paul Berkowitz
Arrive: 02/19/09
Depart: 02/21/09
Conf. No.: 650582

--------------
Airport to Hotel Transportation
--------------


4. (U) Control Officer Keith Jordan will meet
Representative Rohrabacher at the arrival gate upon his
arrival on Friday, February 20.


5. (U) Unfortunately, Embassy will not be able to provide
transportation for Mr. Berkowitz from Narita Airport upon his
arrival on February 19. Mr. Berkowitz 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.

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


6. (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. As of November
20, 2007, all foreign nationals entering Japan, with the
exemption of certain categories, are required to provide
fingerprints and a facial photograph at the port of entry.
This requirement does not replace any existing visa or
passport requirements. Official U.S. travelers will have to
submit to the photograph and fingerprinting requirement
unless they travel with a valid diplomatic or official visa
or a Note Verbale. The nature of the passport onto which the
visa is pasted is not relevant, i.e. a tourist passport
holder with a diplomatic or official visa will not have to

submit to the biometrics collection process. SOFA personnel
are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2) from the new biometrics
entry requirements.

--------------
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.
The Department maintains information about potential threats
to Americans overseas which is available to travelers on the

internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a
day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).


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) Also be advised that under no circumstances may
weapons be brought into Japan. Carrying a pocketknife
(including Swiss Army-style knife, craft or hunting knife,
box cutter, etc.) in public is forbidden. Under Japanese
law, carrying any such item in public, with a size exceeding
8 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width or 2 mm in thickness, can
subject the person to arrest or detention.
ZUMWALT