Visa Application
They say that nothing compares to the excitement one feels about an upcoming vacation: Sometimes the level of excitement during the wait is even greater than the excitement during the actual vacation itself.
For us, the excitement began escalating quickly once our visas got approved. Yep, unfortunately for the Philippines, Japan is not a visa-free country. But fret not, visa application is quick and easy through Japan Embassy's accredited/recognized agencies. Personally, we opted for Discovery Tour, Inc. in Makati since they offer a cheaper handling fee compared to other popular agencies: only Php 800/ person. They are also open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Important requirements to prepare are as follows:
1. Visa Application Form (which could be downloaded online or filled out at the agency of your choice)
2. ID photos (with specifications required by the Embassy- photo studios in the Philippines already have packages for this)
3. Income Tax Return
4. NSO birth certificate (should be issued within the same year as the travel date)
5. Itinerary
6. Bank Certificate (this is the "show money" people are speaking of. Agencies recommend at least Php 50,000; you could go higher though this does not guarantee approval. The submitted itinerary, which dictates the estimated total expenses, should be taken into consideration)
7. Passport (with at least two blank pages; better if still valid for about a year)
Other documents to submit for greater chances of approval:
1. Employment Certificate (with annual salary indicated)
2. Approved Leaves (signed by your Immediate Superior/Supervisor at the office)
3. Hotel Bookings (it is recommended that you book a hotel at every destination included in your itinerary; most hotels do not charge cancellation fees until a day before the reserved date)
4. Round-trip Tickets
1. Employment Certificate (with annual salary indicated)
2. Approved Leaves (signed by your Immediate Superior/Supervisor at the office)
3. Hotel Bookings (it is recommended that you book a hotel at every destination included in your itinerary; most hotels do not charge cancellation fees until a day before the reserved date)
4. Round-trip Tickets
Complete list of requirements could also be viewed at the websites of Discovery Tour, Inc. and the Embassy of Japan. We submitted our tourist visa application on January 30, almost two months before our scheduled trip, and got our approved visas just five days after submission. Note: A visa is valid up to three months from the date of approval/issuance.
Our Actual Japan Itinerary (in brief detail):
(Things went slightly different as planned, but overall, we were able to maximize our trip and visit almost all the places we've included in our itinerary)
Day 1: Arrival at Nagoya
Departure to Tokyo via overnight bus
Day 2: Tokyo
(Things went slightly different as planned, but overall, we were able to maximize our trip and visit almost all the places we've included in our itinerary)
Day 1: Arrival at Nagoya
Departure to Tokyo via overnight bus
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 5: Osaka
Universal Studios Japan
Day 6: Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya
Abeno Harukas, Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Sakae, Nagoya
Day 7: Nagoya
Nagoya City Science Museum, Port of Nagoya
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Day 1: Arrival at Nagoya (Chubu Centrair International Airport)
The plane took off from NAIA Terminal 3 at 4:00PM (Philippine Time), 40 minutes later than the scheduled time of departure, yet we still managed to arrive in Japan almost on time at 8:30 PM (Japan Time), just 5 minutes later the the original ETA.
We were greeted by slightly faster walkalators compared to NAIA.
We didn't get to see much of the airport since we arrived at night, but a glimpse of it from the bridge going to the train station hinted that it is an architectural beauty.
One of the most applaudable things about Japan is its efficient transportation. Airports are easily accessible to everyone via public transportation (train). Whereas, public transportation going to the airport in the Philippines is barely an option or perhaps non-existent (Maybe you could ride a bus or a jeepney but private car or taxi is always the best choice).
Train tickets are sold through vending machines (as shown on the left side in the photo below). English menu is available and an info personnel is also stationed at the ticketing machines to guide you in case you need help.
We got a good taste of Japan's expansive and efficient train networks upon arrival at Chubu Centrair. Going to the train station did not require much effort since it was perfectly planned and constructed right next to the airport. We even got to push our cart all the way to the train platform. How awesome is that?
Note: Determining which train line to ride on can be a little confusing in Japan due to their inter-webbed train networks. Google Maps could easily be used for guidance. Train fares and departure times are also given for the recommended train route.
The transportation excellent service though comes with a price. Travelers' sentiments on the Internet about the hefty price tag of transportation in Japan are true. Our destination was Nagoya Station, about a 50-minute train ride from the airport. The train ticket costs 860 Yen. That would be approximately 344 in pesos (you could already ride a taxi or Uber with that price in the Philippines).
Seeing the train's interiors, we could barely complain about the price since the cars look new and well-maintained. There's no fear of the train getting derailed or thrown off the tracks.
And yes, the train arrived and left as scheduled. The Japanese definitely live with the mantra "Time is Gold."
Train stops/stations in Nagoya are announced in Japanese and English, so you don't have to worry about getting past your destination.
We got off at Nagoya Station since we planned to ride the overnight bus going to Tokyo to save up on transportation costs; the Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets cost twice. You can also save on accommodation since riding the bullet train would mean that you would arrive earlier at Tokyo and would require you to stay at a hotel. By riding the overnight bus, you could sleep during the entire trip and arrive in the morning, just in time for your tour around Tokyo.
Overnight Bus ride costs 5150 Yen per person. Bus tickets are highly recommended to be booked in advance to guarantee your seats.
At 9:00PM, Nagoya Station was still pretty busy, packed with well-dressed people, most are adequately covered for the cold weather while others do not seem to mind the biting cold.
(Note: Train operations in Nagoya stop at 12:22AM at the first station/terminal- Hisayaodori- and onwards at the succeeding stations.)
Overnight bus passengers are gathered at the plaza in front of Nagoya Station. The wait was not boring since the area is great for people-watching and is a picturesque modern cityscape, quite reminiscent and a mini version of Tokyo's Shibuya.
Lots of restaurants are near the area, but we didn't have the appetite to eat anything since we were still recovering from the surreal feeling that we were already in Japan after a long wait. We got even more excited.
Coming from the Philippines where the weather is almost always humid, the typical spring weather at 10°C was already a bit of a chill for us. Our jackets didn't do much so we had to open our luggage and don our coats (after taking mandatory selfies and already chilling in the cold).
Finally at 11:30 PM we were asked to board our bus. Our scheduled departure was 11:45 PM. The bus ride was really comfortable. You could take a good rest as advertised. The interior is dimly lit and conducive to sleeping. Two outlets for each chair are provided to power up your devices for the much-awaited tour.
There were at least three short stops for toilet breaks on the way to Tokyo. Vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants are also located at the bus stops/stations.
The Japanese are really fond of vending machines. The cheapest drink, bottled water, costs 100 Yen (approximately 40 pesos). It's more worth the money to buy juice drinks and sodas at 130 Yen and above.
