FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS

Before you make your flight arrangements, be aware of the following:

• See if you have an 'Emigration Clearance Not Required' or ECNR stamp on the last page of your passport. If it says ECR or 'Emigration Check Required', talk to your travel agent and have him get you ECNR status, or tell you how to get it.
• Be sure of your itinerary before finalizing your ticket because last minute changes are subject to penalties.
• Most flights out of India leave early in the morning. Be sure to confirm departure times and connections from where you are to the city of departure, and onwards.
• If you are vegetarian, most airlines provide special meals on their flights. Make sure to call your airline well in advance and request this, especially if you have any other restrictions, such as no fish or eggs. Also confirm that all your connecting flights are aware of your needs. Some foreign airlines are also able to provide what is called a "Hindu Vegetarian Meal" if specifically asked for one.
• Make sure to carry enough money to pay the International Departure Tax (airport tax) at the airport, which is About Japan Rs.300.
• You are allowed to carry foreign exchange, and you can change your money at the airport, or you can get it done through your travel agent. You have to present your passport and valid visa for the exchange.

LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

All airlines have baggage restrictions that you must observe as follows:

• The weight limit for Japan is 20 kilos, but you should confirm this.
• You are allowed to check-in one suitcase not larger than 62 inches (combined dimensions of length, width and height) and another not more than 55 inches.
• You are allowed one piece of baggage on board the plane, but it must be no bigger than 45 inches so that it fits in the overhead compartments. Along with that, you are allowed to carry a handbag or camera.
• You should confirm the baggage allowances of your airline because they can change.

TRAVEL SMARTS

Here's a list of things you should do to avoid being stranded, losing your baggage or any other complications that may arise during your travel:

• Make sure that your passport, Visa and ARC are valid and in order.
• Make photocopies of the important pages of your passport and visa. Pack one set of these separately from your passport and leave another with someone in India who can be reached easily.
• Make a note your visa duration, i.e. the date of expiry, and any other forms that may be issued to you.
• Also note the duration and expiry date of your Alien Registration Card.
• Write down the serial numbers of your traveler's checks, if you are carrying any, in your diary or notebook.
• Carry your passport and ticket in a safe and convenient place on yourself, like a jacket pocket or purse because you will need to pull them out quite often.
• Make sure that you have foreign exchange and that you have enough of it.
• Carry a list of contact names and telephone numbers of people in Japan in case you need help.

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

Japanese customs laws are quite generous in their allowances, especially for liquor.

• Three 760 ml bottles of alcoholic beverages.
• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco with a maximum combined weight of 500g.
• Two ounces of perfume.
• Two watches valued no higher than Y30,000 each (including any in current use).
• Other goods with a total value of not more than Y200,000.

Alcohol is expensive in Japan, so you can carry your own, and it would be a nice gift for people you might visit with.

The Customs officials are generally lenient, and they won't open your luggage unless they are suspicious of the contents.

• On arrival, a verbal declaration is usually sufficient if you have no unaccompanied baggage. If you have unaccompanied baggage, you need to fill in a form that's provided, and declare it. If you don't declare it, you may have to pay duty.
• Packages of food and low value items or gifts usually come through without trouble.
• The Japanese authorities come down very hard on narcotics, marijuana and stimulant drugs (amphetamines). You are punishable by law if caught with any of these substances.

ABOARD THE FLIGHT

On the plane, you will be given certain forms to fill in like disembarkation forms. Make sure you fill these out and have them ready for presentation to the Immigration counter at the airport. Part of this form may be attached to your passport, and you must keep this carefully because they'll need to see it when you leave the country.