Japan Travel Security

Japan is a safe, stable, highly developed parliamentary democracy with a modern economy, which accounts for its risk rating of 3. There have been no major terrorist incidents in the country since the 1995 poison gas attack on the Tokyo subway, and security forces vigorously track threat indicators. However, you should exercise sensible precautions and be vigilant about your personal safety while visiting Japan.

High-risk Areas

U.S. nationals should exercise caution on Okinawa, where U.S. military were placed under curfew in February 2008 because of protests sparked by allegations that a soldier sexually assaulted a local girl.

Japan is a representative democracy with a bicameral parliament called the Diet. Executive power rests with the prime minister and his cabinet. Emperor Akihito, who ascended to the throne in 1989, is head of state, although his function is purely symbolic.

The Diet consists of the House of Representatives, the Lower House and the House of Councilors. The House of Representatives has 480 members, and the House of Councilors has 242 members. The five major political parties represented in the Diet are the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, the New Clean Government Party (or Komeito), the Japan Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.

The conservative LDP has ruled Japan for most of its postwar history. In power continuously 1955-93, they were toppled by a loose coalition of their rivals in 1993. But in 1994, they were back in power as part of a coalition, and nearly all governments since then have been LDP-led coalition governments. The current coalition was formed in April 2000 between the LDP and New Komeito, a small party with close ties to the lay Buddhist organization, Soka Gakkai. The main opposition party is the centrist DPJ.

After a succession of short-lived leaders in the late 1990s, Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister in April 2001. His fresh approach was popular with the public, allowing him to pursue difficult structural reforms and tackle vested interests within the party. Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives for a snap general election in September 2005 when members of his own party voted against his flagship reform of postal privatization. The resulting landslide, 296 of 480 seats, the party's largest total since 1986, injected new momentum into Koizumi's reform program.

Koizumi was succeeded as prime minister by Shinzo Abe in September 2006. At age 52, Abe was Japan's youngest prime minister since World War II and the first to be born after the war. Abe pledged to continue Koizumi's reforms and to promote stronger political leadership within the policy-making process. However, he struggled to assert his political authority amid a series of corruption scandals involving members of his cabinet, and the LDP took a bruising in a July 2007 parliamentary poll. A few months later, he resigned, yielding power to Yasuo Fukuda.

The energy that Japan once put into its military now is reserved for its industrial and economic sectors. Japan's reconstruction after the devastation of World War II was nothing short of miraculous. Japanese products are known the world over for their high quality and cutting-edge design, and Japan is one of the true economic powers of the world.

The current Japanese economic expansion is expected to continue, with annual gross domestic product growth likely to average 2.4% in 2007-08. The yen is forecast to strengthen against the U.S. dollar in 2007-08, reflecting both the ending of the U.S. monetary tightening cycle and further interest-rate increases by the Bank of Japan--the central bank. Japanese consumer prices are forecast to rise in 2008.

International terrorism

In October 2006, following North Korea's nuclear test and Japan's announcement that it would impose sanctions on that state, a senior police officer warned the public to watch out for possible retaliatory terror attacks and sabotage. He also told security officials to step up their intelligence and security activities to counter such moves by North Korea.

In response to Japanese support for the war in Iraq, Islamic extremists have issued warnings that Japanese interests overseas could be targeted for attacks. Japanese contractors working in Iraq have been kidnapped and, in some cases, killed.

Domestic terrorism

The leftist radical group Chukaku-ha (Middle Core Faction) regularly has expressed displeasure with most elements of the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship. In the past, group members have mounted homemade rocket attacks against U.S. military installations in the Tokyo area.

In 1995, in a terrorist attack on a Japanese subway, members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult released the nerve gas sarin, killing 12 and injuring thousands. The sect is still active and is monitored by the Japanese government. The cult, which recently changed its name to Aleph, currently has about 1,650 members and is still recruiting, although it claims to have renounced violence.

The leftist group Kakumaru-ha at its height had an estimated following of almost 30,000 and apparently also remains active. Reports indicate that members of the Tokyo police force had links with the organization. Kakumaru-ha was linked to the 1998 removal of bolts from a stretch of high-speed train track near Sekigahara in central Japan. Anonymous letters followed, threatening multiple derailments with the aim of killing more than 10,000 people. Kakumaru-ha, according to Japanese police experts, is renowned for specializing in rail-related sabotage and bombings.

Border and regional issues

As a historical aggressor in Asia, Japan has had uneasy relationships with China and the Koreas, and animosities related to interpretation of past events have sometimes surfaced. Controversies about Japanese textbooks that inaccurately or incompletely describe the Japanese role in World War II have created tensions with neighboring countries, and North Korea's nuclear ambitions and progress in manufacturing ballistic missiles have frayed nerves in Japan.

In April 2007, China's prime minister visited Japan for three days of talks--the first such visit by a Chinese prime minister in more than six years. The trip was the latest sign of cautiously warming ties between the two countries and followed a surprise visit by the Japanese prime minister to China in October 2006, which itself was the first formal summit between the two countries in five years.

Strengthening economic ties and booming trade have been the key factors behind the recent improvement in relations, but a number of issues have the potential to complicate the relationship. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is arguably an ongoing territorial disagreement about the two countries' disputed border in the East China Sea. Significant oil and gas deposits exist on both sides of the median line between Japan and China. Japan claims that this line should mark the boundary between their respective exclusive economic zones. China does not recognize this boundary and has already started extracting gas from a field that straddles the median line. Despite both sides claiming that certain understandings have been reached, there are still complaints in Tokyo that China is siphoning off Japanese gas. The United Nations says it will arbitrate by May 2009.

Security issues are another area of tension. Some in China are concerned about Japan's attempts to re-establish itself as an active power in Asian affairs, amid talk that Japan favors scrapping its pacifist constitution. An increasing number of Japanese want to revise the U.S.-imposed postwar constitution that renounces the right to maintain a military or even use the threat of force as a means of settling international disputes. In May 2007 the upper house of the parliament passed a bill that sets out steps for holding a referendum on revising the country's pacifist constitution--the lower house had already cleared it. The legislation passed said, however, that a referendum on the issue cannot take place before 2010, and will need approval from a majority of voters.

Civil unrest

There are occasional demonstrations by farmers and members of other trades. There have been demonstrations opposing the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and other protests of U.S. nuclear testing, as well as a series of antiwar protests before, during and after the war in Iraq. Individuals, however, have seldom been singled out for attack. Protest marches and rallies usually are nonviolent and are carefully monitored by police.

In January 2006, some 800 Japanese protested near a U.S. naval base south of Tokyo, demanding an end to crimes committed by U.S. military personnel, after a U.S. sailor was indicted for beating a Japanese woman to death. An alleged rape of a local girl by a U.S. soldier sparked additional protests in February 2008. The Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement allows a U.S. military court, rather than a local court, to handle such cases. Residents of communities that host U.S. military bases have called for a review of the agreement. They believe U.S. laws are too lenient toward service members who commit crimes in Japan and say local laws should be applied.

Human-rights abuses

Although the government respects human rights, continuing reports speak of physical and psychological abuse and mistreatment of prisoners by police and prison staffers. Long-standing discrimination against the Ainu (the country's indigenous people) and the Burakumin (a group whose members historically have been treated as outcasts) continues, as does discrimination against some foreign residents. Violence against women and children, child prostitution and trafficking in women remain problems in Japan.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance

Unexploded bombs remaining from World War II are unearthed occasionally.

Additional information

Smoking on the streets is prohibited in some areas of Tokyo, including the Chiyoda-ku district around the Imperial Palace and the Akihabara electronics shopping area. Police may issue an on-the-spot fine to people smoking in areas where it's prohibited.

Japan's parliament enacted a law to allow for fingerprinting and photographing visitors on 20 November 2007. Under the law all foreigners age 16 or older will be photographed and electronically fingerprinted upon entry into the country through its 27 airports and 126 ports.

Japan's crime rate is low compared to most Western nations. Most crime involves personal disputes, theft or vandalism.

Petty crime

Incidents of pickpocketing in crowded shopping areas of Tokyo, on trains and at airports have been a sporadic concern.

A group of pickpockets caused panic in April 2006 when they indiscriminately squirted pepper spray in Tokyo's Nishinippori train station as police attempted to arrest them. More than a dozen people were injured in the melee. Three of the thieves, who were said to have been armed with knives, escaped.

Violent crime

In July 2008, a 14-year-old boy used a knife to hijack a bus on a major highway in Okazaki. No one was injured, and the situation was resolved by police after about an hour.

Gang violence has been blamed for a nearly 25% increase in shooting incidents during 2007. Japan recorded 66 shooting incidents during the year, 22 more than the previous year.

Organized crime

Japan is home to an estimated 85,000 members of the organized-crime group Yakuza. Despite its fearsome reputation, this group's activities rarely have any impact on visitors, but there is some risk to individuals unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In February 2007, the shooting of a top gangland boss sparked fears of a turf war between rival gangs in Tokyo. Within hours of his death, the offices of a rival gang had been fired on. In April 2007, the mayor of Nagasaki was shot dead by a senior member of one of Japan's largest crime syndicates, the Yamaguchi-gumi. A few days later, a series of gangster-related shootings rattled Tokyo and left one man dead. Although these had no connection to the Nagasaki killing, police were again investigating whether the latest incidents signaled a brewing war between rival organized-crime syndicates.

Drug-related crime

Possession or sale of illegal narcotics in Japan can bring severe penalties.

Police effectiveness

There is a perception among some Western visitors that Japanese police procedures may be less sensitive and responsive to a victim's concerns than would be the case at home, particularly in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.

Additional information

Six incidents of individuals mixing chemicals to create hydrogen sulfide gas for purposes of committing suicide have occurred in 2008, one of them forcing the evacuation of a hotel. If you notice a foul smell like rotten eggs at your accommodations, it's a good idea to leave the area and report the problem as soon as you can safely do so.

Natural hazards in Japan include earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic activity. Upon arriving in Japan, familiarize yourself with safety procedures in the event of an emergency and register with your embassy.

Summers in Japan can be very hot. In August 2007, temperatures hit record highs at 106 F/40.9 C, killing at least a dozen people across the country. Take precautions against sunburn and heat-related illnesses.

Earthquakes

Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world, and earthquakes occur frequently. On the other hand, many buildings in larger cities have been built to withstand earthquakes, and safety standards are generally excellent. Be sure to familiarize yourself with safety guidelines for the places you will be visiting.

Japan's coastal regions are subject to tsunamis following offshore earthquakes.

Flooding

Landslides and mudslides can occur after heavy rains or during earthquakes.

Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons

Japan regularly experiences typhoons June-September.

Volcanoes

Japan has a number of volcanoes.

Animals

Japan has few dangerous animals. Some rocky coastal areas are home to sea urchins, spiny creatures that can be painful if stepped on. Watch for spines protruding from rocky holes and crevices.

Extreme cold conditions/avalanches

Avalanches occur occasionally on snow-covered mountains in Japan.

Roads can become icy in winter.

Excellent medical care is available throughout Japan, but it is expensive, and language barriers can be an issue.

Some medicines available over-the-counter in other countries cannot be brought into Japan legally. These include inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications, especially those containing stimulants. Some prescription medications also cannot be imported into Japan, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. Japanese physicians often can prescribe similar, but not necessarily identical, substitutes. If you intend to travel to Japan carrying prescription medication, consult the nearest Japanese Embassy to confirm whether you will be allowed to take it into Japan. Japanese customs officials do not make on-the-spot "humanitarian" exceptions for medicines that are prohibited in Japan.

Medical facilities

Japan has excellent hospitals and state-of-the-art medical technology, but health authorities warn a shortage of doctors recently has forced hospitals to turn away patients, in some cases even those with serious illnesses or injuries.

Diseases

An outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, was reported in Japan in late 2003. Although the danger to visitors is low, you should avoid contact with live birds, as the disease can be transmitted from infected birds to humans.

At present there's no conclusive proof that avian flu can be transmitted from one human to another. Some health agencies are recommending that people visiting affected destinations should avoid direct contact with birds and ensure that any poultry products, including eggs, are fully cooked before eating them.

Most short-term visitors choose not to drive in Japan, in part because the public transportation system is well-developed, safe and reliable any hour of the day.

Road conditions

Driving in Japan is quite complicated and expensive. Traffic moves on the left, and turns at red lights are forbidden unless specifically authorized. Unless you can read Japanese, you will have trouble understanding road signs. City traffic is often very congested, and there is virtually no roadside parking. In mountainous areas, roads often close during the winter, and cars should be equipped with tire chains. Be alert to traffic on secondary roads, which does not come to a full stop at traffic lights or stop signs. Japanese insurance is mandatory for all automobile owners and drivers in Japan.

Japanese law provides that all who drive in Japan are liable in the event of an accident, and it assesses fault in an accident on all parties. Motorists stopped for driving under the influence will have their licenses confiscated. People found guilty of "drunken, speeding or blatantly careless driving that results in death" are subject to up to 15 years in prison. Japanese police, under these laws, also are permitted to contact financial institutions directly to determine whether an offender has the financial wherewithal to evade payment for traffic violations.

Public transportation

Taxis are generally safe and use a fixed meter system for fares, but they are very expensive. You should have your destination written in Japanese before setting out in a taxi. Note that taxi fares to and from the airports in Osaka and Tokyo can be very high.

The national rail network is generally efficient, reliable, safe and affordable.

Women should exercise caution on railways, as more than 60% of women say they have been fondled while riding trains or subways. Some lines offer "women-only" cars during times when trains are especially crowded, as perpetrators often use a crush of passengers as a cover for their actions.

Facilities for travelers are widely available. Credit cards are not universally accepted, especially outside major cities, and ATMs may not accept cards issued overseas. Many ATMs only operate during normal business hours.

No matter how safe you perceive a destination to be, it's important to use good judgment.

• Pay attention to local media.
• Avoid open displays of wealth, jewelry or other valuables. Safeguard travel documents such as passports and airline tickets.
• Avoid confrontations with locals.
• Avoid demonstrations and protests, especially if they appear political in nature.
• Don't permit people you don't know to enter your accommodations. Keep your door locked. Don't leave valuables in your room unless they can be locked in a safe.
• Avoid illegal drugs, and don't drink alcohol if its use is prohibited. Even if drinking is legal, don't overindulge.
• Be cautious of unsolicited offers of assistance from strangers.

In recent years, political terrorism has become a global phenomenon - an attack could occur with little warning anywhere in the world, even in destinations long regarded as safe. Travelers should keep themselves informed of developments that could affect their safety, no matter what their destination.