What things bother you the most?

Tu_triky wrote:
or Vicks the Inhaler

[image]

That would be a no-no to Japan.

It is illegal to bring into Japan some over-the-counter medicines commonly used in the United States, including inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications. Specifically, products that contain stimulants (medicines that contain Pseudoephedrine, such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers), or Codeine are prohibited.

From US State Dept

I actually remember seeing a flyer at Narita with a picture of the Vicks product with huge warning text on it.

sucks for the ravers. :beaten:


:dancing: :dancing:

dochira wrote:

From US State Dept

I actually remember seeing a flyer at Narita with a picture of the Vicks product with huge warning text on it.

Why is it illegal?

krim wrote:sucks for the ravers. :beaten:


:dancing: :dancing:

:hehe: must resort to other diversions :beaten:

Wynter wrote:
Why is it illegal?

It's considered to be a stimulant.

also can be used to make meth.

dochira wrote:
It's considered to be a stimulant.

it works well in "certain situations"


c.f. krim

dochira wrote:

I actually remember seeing a flyer at Narita with a picture of the Vicks product with huge warning text on it.

Speaking of airports, lot of cool things go on at Kansai Kuko. Once I arrived with only a small book bag. Inside was a wallet, passport, toothpaste and brush, 10 cans of Copenhagen, and many packages of tissue paper (along with many used tissues). The guy that checks the bags prior to getting your passport stamped was mystified. He kept turning the book bag inside out (several times looking for a "secret" compart where the clothes should be) and asking where is the rest of the stuff for the 2 week visit? That's it. I just let me keep at it. Until finally,after about an hour, he asked "Where are you going to stay?" The address and relationship was rattled off. And that all my stuff was already there. He looked at the passport withe many trips to KIX stamped. He said, "Why didn't you say so in the first place?" You didn't ask.

Another time was going through the metal detectors to go back to the USA. Something wasn't right. Will never forgot the young girl's continual stare into my eyes as she performed the physical search. That was pretty cool. :twisted:

Hanzo21 wrote:

Speaking of airports, lot of cool things go on at Kansai Kuko. Once I arrived with only a small book bag. Inside was a wallet, passport, toothpaste and brush, 10 cans of Copenhagen, and many packages of tissue paper (along with many used tissues). The guy that checks the bags prior to getting your passport stamped was mystified. He kept turning the book bag inside out (several times looking for a "secret" compart where the clothes should be) and asking where is the rest of the stuff for the 2 week visit? That's it. I just let me keep at it. Until finally,after about an hour, he asked "Where are you going to stay?" The address and relationship was rattled off. And that all my stuff was already there. He looked at the passport withe many trips to KIX stamped. He said, "Why didn't you say so in the first place?" You didn't ask.

Another time was going through the metal detectors to go back to the USA. Something wasn't right. Will never forgot the young girl's continual stare into my eyes as she performed the physical search. That was pretty cool. :twisted:

funny...when i went to tokyo about two years ago....i carried my passport on my person as recommended when travelling abroad....and i actually got stopped by law enforcment personnel on the tokyo subway....he checked my passport and then let me on my way.

Tu_triky wrote:


funny...when i went to tokyo about two years ago....i carried my passport on my person as recommended when travelling abroad....and i actually got stopped by law enforcment personnel on the tokyo subway....he checked my passport and then let me on my way.

Hmmm.... good thing. Were you by yourself? A friend's gf just this past weekend got arrested in Japan. He couldn't even go see her. Only lawyers could visit her. But it was the weekend. So she was alone.

I never carry the passport (too much risk of losing it). But everyone in Tarumi and Maiko knows me. And when it's time for some serious partying in Sannomiya or Minami-ku Osaka, some gracious good-time party OL's take me out and make sure no trouble happens.

It's actually a requirement in Japan to carry identification (passport, alien registration card) at all times.


Edit: From the US State Dept:

CONSULAR ACCESS: U.S. citizens must carry their U.S. passports or Japanese alien registration cards with them at all times so that, if questioned by local officials, the U.S. citizen can establish proof of identity and citizenship. Under Japanese law, the police may stop any person on the street at any time and demand ID. If a foreigner does not have with him/her either a passport or valid Japanese Alien Registration Card, s/he is subject to arrest. Due to recent crackdowns by the police, such random stops for ID are becoming increasingly more common, especially in areas frequented by foreigners. In accordance with the U.S.-Japan Consular Convention, U.S. consular officers are generally notified within 24 hours of the arrest of a U.S. citizen, if the U.S. citizen requests consular notification.

dochira wrote:It's actually a requirement in Japan to carry identification (passport, alien registration card) at all times.

Well, I'm still not go to carry a passport to hike down to TaruCen or the Pearl Bridge (Maiko Park). If a rookie policeman stops me, will show him the Texas DL. If he wants to make an arrest, many people will come over and tell him that he's making a big mistake.

I agree with you. Carrying a passport around is not wise, especially if it's lost or stolen. But for a person like me (short term visitor), I'd rather do that than to be arrested and have to answer questions at a station or koban.

would a photocopy of the inside of your passport work?

krim wrote:would a photocopy of the inside of your passport work?

That's a good idea. Like Dochira said above, losing or having it stolen would be very bad.

krim wrote:would a photocopy of the inside of your passport work?

When I went to Italy for two months I carried around a photocopy the whole time (since I kept my passport locked in a safe at the hotel/convent) and it was good enough. Whenever I was checked, the photocopy served its purpose. I'm guessing it's like this everywhere.

Tu_triky wrote:
and i actually got stopped by law enforcment personnel on the tokyo subway....he checked my passport and then let me on my way.

Just ONCE??? :shocked: [/list:u]

Wynter wrote:

When I went to Italy for two months I carried around a photocopy the whole time (since I kept my passport locked in a safe at the hotel/convent) and it was good enough. Whenever I was checked, the photocopy served its purpose. I'm guessing it's like this everywhere.

my sis told me it's fine for europe, but im asking for japan, because not all nations have the same requirements.

krim wrote:

my sis told me it's fine for europe, but im asking for japan, because not all nations have the same requirements.

Ah okies. True dat.

gaijin mark wrote: Just ONCE??? :shocked: [/list:u]

i gave him a joint and a pair of panties & he let me go....