Japan Visa Help

[Stitch_05]

we applied this monday ng japanese visa sa friendshiptours and ready for pick up na this thursday approved na kami.. we just presented sufficient amount ng bank certificate and a xerox copy ng land title..and then sinama namin yung old passports namin na meron different travel visa from other countries , nakatulong siguro yun para ma approve kami because every year nagtatravel kami

Hi rafaeluis15! Thanks for responding.. I hope our applications can be approved. I submitted the requirements yesterday. Hopefully, we'll get a favorable result soon! i only submitted bank certificates, no land titles yet in our names and no visa from other countries yet..

i know chances are slim but i still hope and pray that we can get a visa so our family can visit japan.. *wishing, hoping, praying*

thanks!

[Stitch_05]

i asked the agency when i submitted my requirements earlier.. they said, u can smile. sadly i didnot know this information. I would like it better if i did.. i dont look good when i dont smile.. **being vein**

[amhuirnin]

hello all

ummm baka lang may makasagot

a friend of mine told me, na since im planning a japan trip, i might as well come with him when he goes to visit his brother who's doing his PhD studies in Nagoya

just want to know if i should apply for a regular tourist visa, or visa for visiting relatives since nakalagay sa embassy site na: "In case the applicant is applying together with another individual who has a relative in Japan
(up to the third degree of relationship), follow the requirements for “visiting relative”.)"

would i stand to have better chances of getting approved this way vs. if i apply alone?

appreciate any comments

[Stitch_05]

i got a call from friendship! my application for visa got approved na daw and i can get it anytime.. yippee!!

Now my question is: How much pocket money should I bring?

i want to visit kyoto and nara. for a first timer like me and my family, should i get a tour from japanican.com or can we DIY?

I hope you can help me. Thanks!

[amhuirnin]

i got a call from friendship! my application for visa got approved na daw and i can get it anytime.. yippee!!

Now my question is: How much pocket money should I bring?

i want to visit kyoto and nara. for a first timer like me and my family, should i get a tour from japanican.com or can we DIY?

I hope you can help me. Thanks!

Stitch, hi! ask ko lang, you mentioned na 150k plus 3k+ USD *** bank cert na sinubmit mo, was it for your entire family?or for each member that applied for a visa?

thanks!

[Stitch_05]

Stitch, hi! ask ko lang, you mentioned na 150k plus 3k+ USD *** bank cert na sinubmit mo, was it for your entire family?or for each member that applied for a visa?

thanks!

hi amhuirnin! i submited 300k and 3k bank cert for our family of 3..

[rafaelluis15]

i got a call from friendship! my application for visa got approved na daw and i can get it anytime.. yippee!!

Now my question is: How much pocket money should I bring?

i want to visit kyoto and nara. for a first timer like me and my family, should i get a tour from japanican.com or can we DIY?

I hope you can help me. Thanks!

congrats makakalibot tayo sa japan! ang bilis lang maaprove sa friendship ng visa.. anyway about sa pocket money it depends on the number of days you stay daw in japan..we bought pala a 7 day japan railpass sa friendship its 28300 per person. if you want to travel pala na diy from what i read you can try raku bus in kyoto.. tska check this website out http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/index.html

[illumina]

hello all

ummm baka lang may makasagot

a friend of mine told me, na since im planning a japan trip, i might as well come with him when he goes to visit his brother who's doing his PhD studies in Nagoya

just want to know if i should apply for a regular tourist visa, or visa for visiting relatives since nakalagay sa embassy site na: "In case the applicant is applying together with another individual who has a relative in Japan
(up to the third degree of relationship), follow the requirements for “visiting relative”.)"

would i stand to have better chances of getting approved this way vs. if i apply alone?

appreciate any comments

We followed the "visiting relative" requirements, even presenting an invitation letter in Japanese. I do believe it really helped us.

@ Stitch_05: I think your 60k budget is workable for your itinerary. Would be nice to have an international credit card and ATM on hand, in case of emergencies.

[S0909]

what's the weather in japan now?

excited to visit tokyo, osaka and kyoto!

i was surprised that it only took me 2 days to get my visa.

based on my experience, just make sure that you establish bond with your home country. ITR plus COE with approved leave of absence would be really helpful.

[isangtalipandas]

what's the weather in japan now?

excited to visit tokyo, osaka and kyoto!

i was surprised that it only took me 2 days to get my visa.

based on my experience, just make sure that you establish bond with your home country. ITR plus COE with approved leave of absence would be really helpful.

re:weather -- very humid in the morning and afternoon, rainy in the evenings =| unfortunately, summer na dito. temperature is around 24-26 degrees. papawisan ka kahit naglalakad lang.

the times I've been to Kyoto / Osaka area, usually around 30K pesos ang budget for 2-3 days inclusive na lahat.

for the entrance fees to the places you've mentioned check out http://www.japan-guide.com/

to check kung sulit yung train pass or rail pass, take note of the stations where you'll be getting on and off and then check for fares and train times at http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

minimum fare for trains is 150 yen (final fare depends on distance) and around 220 yen for bus (sa pagkakaalala ko). so kung masusulit mo yung sakay mo when traveling in between sights, then get a pass. when we were in kyoto naka-2 sakay lang kami ng bus kaya di sulit yung bus pass.

JR rail pass ay sulit lang kung magagamit mo yung shinkansen

with all the info you can get from japan guide, wikitravel and the jorudan website, you can pretty much plan your itinerary and come up with a pretty good estimate of expenses (eto yung usual namin na ginagawa)

btw, if you're going to USJ on a weekend and you're very fond of rides, I would suggest aside from buying the regular ticket, bili ka din nung ticket na equivalent sa "fast pass" ng disney. This allows you to jump the really long lines for the really popular rides (nung pumunta kami 2 hours ang pila sa Spiderman -- OA masyado, at hindi air conditioned yung waiting area)

hope you enjoy your trip!

[amhuirnin]

@all thanks for your replies

getting denied a visa really scares me lol
if ever na hindi maging feasible to go with my friend, sana it'd be enough na i have my VUL insurance, 100k na show money (hopefully i can come up with this or more), credit cards, COE/ITR and the rest of the docs as well as being currently enrolled in an MA program to prove na tied down ako sa Pinas. hay

another question though, is it a must that ive traveled internationally before i apply for a Jap visa? (pardon if this has been asked already or somethin ) some say yes kasi, others say hindi to importante. i want to be sure para di ko ma spread thin ang budget ko if ever

nga pala, i was supposed to apply this year to go and do the hanami so ive done research already about the Kansai area, baka lang makatulong sa iba pagiging OC ko since some are asking
(if OT po, please do tell so i can erm erase it)

here's a list of entrance fees (in yen for adults) and shop/visiting hours of some sights:

OSAKA
osaka-jo 600 9 am-5 pm
osaka aquarium 2000 10 am-8 pm
Universal Studios 5800 10 am-5 pm

NARA
Todaiji Temple free
Daibutsu-den 500 8 am-5:30 pm
Isuien Garden 650 930 am-4 pm (closed on tue)
Kasuga-taisha free

KYOTO
Kiyomizudera 350
Kinkakuji 400 9 am-5 pm
Kyoto gosho park free
Ginkakuji 500 830 am-5 pm
Sanjusangen-do 600
Arashiyama
Tenryū-ji 500 8:30 am -5 pm
Okochi Sanso 1000 9:00 am- 5 pm
river cruise 3900
romantic train 1200
Daitoku-ji free
Kyoto 500 10 am - 6 pm (closed wed)
International
Manga Museum

MIYAJIMA
itsukushima-jinja 300 6:30 am-6 pm


(reference: 2009 lonely planet Japan; official websites of the tourist spot)

also, LP says one should prepare about 7800 (budget) and 16500 (midrange) yen per day for expenses (food, accommodation, and travel)

[illumina]

another question though, is it a must that ive traveled internationally before i apply for a Jap visa? (pardon if this has been asked already or somethin ) some say yes kasi, others say hindi to importante. i want to be sure para di ko ma spread thin ang budget ko if ever

No, I don't recall travel history being asked in the application form. If it makes you feel better, when we submitted our passports to the Japanese Embassy, they were pretty much blank, except for a denial stamp from the US Embassy. Our visas for Japan were approved anyway.

[BertSingson]

i was surprised that it only took me 2 days to get my visa.

based on my experience, just make sure that you establish bond with your home country. ITR plus COE with approved leave of absence would be really helpful.

You're right, if you are visiting as tourist, just prove to them na you
will come back to the phils. Present docs that will say na klangan
mong bumalik or may babalikan ka sa phils after the tour.

I submitted the itinerary of travel, ITR, COE & AFLA from work, the
bank certificate I presented was not even substantial dahil the
balance was just a month's salary, Pero kita naman nila sa
passport ko na nalibot ko na halos lahat ng Asean countries.

Btw, I got my visa after two weeks thru Reli last Sept 2009 or
1 month before my tour schedule.

[S0909]

@ isangtalipandas, thanks for all the tip!

@bertsingson, how was your trip?

guys, have you tried renting a vacation rental condo in japan? i figured this would turn out to be cheaper, not to mention having your own kitchen and bath. around $700/week

[akoaylagalag]

@ isangtalipandas, thanks for all the tip!

@bertsingson, how was your trip?

guys, have you tried renting a vacation rental condo in japan? i figured this would turn out to be cheaper, not to mention having your own kitchen and bath. around $700/week

this is what we did last year. rented out a flat smack in the middle of ropponggi. mas mura compared with staying at a hotel but may be inconvenient if you plan to move around japan during your stay.

[isangtalipandas]

guys, have you tried renting a vacation rental condo in japan? i figured this would turn out to be cheaper, not to mention having your own kitchen and bath. around $700/week

how long are you planning to stay? I guess this option is cheaper kung madami kayo mag-share sa iisang place and as mentioned by @akoaylagalag convenient siya if you're planning to stay at one place for a long time.

kung di niyo trip mag-stay sa ryokan or hostels, but want to avoid spending too much on hotels, you can try looking at business hotels like Toyoko Inn (just search Toyoko Inn and the city where you would like to stay. Reservations can be made via their website, no downpayment required.). Same price range din naman as yung mga daily or weekly na mansions (aka condo), around 8K yen per night for a twin bedroom (with bath and kitchen) and inclusive of breakfast. hindi siya authentic japanese experience since basically you can get no frills accommodation, pero kung di mo naman balak magbabad sa hotel room mo, okay na siya.

besides kung gusto mo makatipid sa food, rather than cooking you can just go to the supermarket an hour or so before closing. naka-half price na lahat ng bento box

[isangtalipandas]

i got a call from friendship! my application for visa got approved na daw and i can get it anytime.. yippee!!

Now my question is: How much pocket money should I bring?

i want to visit kyoto and nara. for a first timer like me and my family, should i get a tour from japanican.com or can we DIY?

I hope you can help me. Thanks!

I think the tour you've mentioned in your previous post is way too expensive for a 1 day tour around Kyoto and Nara :O

Madali lang mag-DIY ng tour for Kyoto and Nara area. Kasi karamihan din naman ng pupuntahan ninyo ay world heritage sites, at popular na sightseeing places. May mga English directions naman sa trains and buses, at may english info sa mga sites mismo. Nakakaligaw lang minsan yung pagsakay sa bus, pero mababait ang mga tao so just don't hesitate to ask if you need information. Lakas ng loob lang ang kailangan Saka matinding research regarding how to get from one sight to the next (bus route and train route information are all available online) pati opening at closing times ng mga destination ninyo since most castles/shrines close at 5pm (last entrance is 4pm) so kailangan lang palaging aware sa time kung gustong sulitin ang isang araw ng sightseeing.

based sa binigay mo na itinerary dati:

Day1: walking through Shinsaibashi -Dotonburi area (since we arrive late at night)
Day 2: Kyoto/Nara tour
--> Nara can be done ng half day since isang malaking park lang naman siya. Kyoto, on the other hand, depende sa gusto mo puntahan. Kung half day lang ang alloted time mo, maximum of 2-3 places lang ang kaya puntahan.

Day 3: Universal Studio (My girl loves shrek)
--> kailangan lang pumila ng maaga, and buy the fast pass booklet para hindi na kailangan pumila sa popular rides sa loob

Day4: Osaka Tour (Osaka Castle, Shin-Umeda City Floating Garden,
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Shintennoji Temple) or maybe Shinsaibashi -Dotonburi area again


Pocket money is around 30K per person for a 3 day trip inclusive na lahat (transpo, accommodation, food and entrance fees), in my experience. Bring extra in case madami ka magustuhan na souvenirs (which are expensive) or in case you want to splurge on food. Isang sakay lang ng tren ang Kobe, so pwedeng pwede mag-try ng authentic Kobe Beef

[Stitch_05]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitch_05
i got a call from friendship! my application for visa got approved na daw and i can get it anytime.. yippee!!

Now my question is: How much pocket money should I bring?

i want to visit kyoto and nara. for a first timer like me and my family, should i get a tour from japanican.com or can we DIY?

I hope you can help me. Thanks!

I think the tour you've mentioned in your previous post is way too expensive for a 1 day tour around Kyoto and Nara :O

Madali lang mag-DIY ng tour for Kyoto and Nara area. Kasi karamihan din naman ng pupuntahan ninyo ay world heritage sites, at popular na sightseeing places. May mga English directions naman sa trains and buses, at may english info sa mga sites mismo. Nakakaligaw lang minsan yung pagsakay sa bus, pero mababait ang mga tao so just don't hesitate to ask if you need information. Lakas ng loob lang ang kailangan Saka matinding research regarding how to get from one sight to the next (bus route and train route information are all available online) pati opening at closing times ng mga destination ninyo since most castles/shrines close at 5pm (last entrance is 4pm) so kailangan lang palaging aware sa time kung gustong sulitin ang isang araw ng sightseeing.

based sa binigay mo na itinerary dati:

Day1: walking through Shinsaibashi -Dotonburi area (since we arrive late at night)
Day 2: Kyoto/Nara tour
--> Nara can be done ng half day since isang malaking park lang naman siya. Kyoto, on the other hand, depende sa gusto mo puntahan. Kung half day lang ang alloted time mo, maximum of 2-3 places lang ang kaya puntahan.

Day 3: Universal Studio (My girl loves shrek)
--> kailangan lang pumila ng maaga, and buy the fast pass booklet para hindi na kailangan pumila sa popular rides sa loob

Day4: Osaka Tour (Osaka Castle, Shin-Umeda City Floating Garden,
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Shintennoji Temple) or maybe Shinsaibashi -Dotonburi area again


Pocket money is around 30K per person for a 3 day trip inclusive na lahat (transpo, accommodation, food and entrance fees), in my experience. Bring extra in case madami ka magustuhan na souvenirs (which are expensive) or in case you want to splurge on food. Isang sakay lang ng tren ang Kobe, so pwedeng pwede mag-try ng authentic Kobe Beef

I did price comparison last night and entrance fees to the site listed on the japanican tour would only cost me roughly 3-4k pesos depending on which sites we visit.. while the tour cost almost 15k pesos! super expensive..

I am currently researching on how to get around osaka/kyoto and nara.. im thinking of buying the kansai thru pass.. but its not allowed it the JR lines.. i have to figure out the travel time estimates as well.. thanks to your suggestions.. i want to go to KOBE to try the KOBE beef.. i hope its not as expensive..

how much money are we allowed to bring outside the country? someone told me that we cant bring more than a certain amount of cash... (i forgot the value) is this true?


Thanks, isangtalipandas for replying..

[Stitch_05]

I am planning our IT...

what are the must try food that we shouldn't miss? i hear Mos Burger is a must. anything else?

what are the places listed below that we shouldn't miss? so i can come up with an itenerary that is feasible and budget friendly.. which among the list can i do without?

Kyoto
Nijo Castle 1200
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) 440
Kyoto Imperial Palace free
Heian Shrine free
Heian Shrine Garden 1200
Sanjusangendo Hall 1200
Kiyomizudera Temple 600

Nara
Todaji Temple 1000
Nara Deer Park free
Kasuga Taisha (outer area) free
Kasuga Taisha (inner area) 1000
Kasuga Taisha Botanical Garden 1050

Osaka

Osaka Castle 1200
Shin-Umeda City Floating Garden 1400
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 4000
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine free
Shintennoji Temple 600


again, thanks for all the help.

[illumina]

I think the itinerary discussions are now more appropriate in the proper Japan travel thread.

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/...ad.php?t=23725