How to Retire Without Money
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE: JAPAN (page 3)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS. No visa is needed for a 72 hour layover, if you leave from the same port by which you entered. This time can be doubled if you have valid reason. You can also stay for a maximum period of six days if you apply to the immigration authorities at the port of entry for permission to land, in transit, for sightseeing.But in other cases a visa is necessary and there are several types of these. A transit visa is good for 15 days, a tourist visa for sixty days and if you wish to stay a longer period an entrance visa is required.
In applying for a visa at any Japanese consulate or embassy you must be able to produce your ticket or a receipt for it as well as your return ticket to the United States, or a guarantee from some air or shipping line that you have reservations with them to leave Japan. Or, if you are to be staying in Japan for a time, a letter from your bank confirming your financial position (or some other proof that you won't became a liability to the Japanese government).
In short, Japan is one of the more difficult countries to enter.
§ TRANSPORTATION. Japan is a considerable distance from our own country whether you head either east or west, but she can be reached readily by either sea or air.
From the west coast by air both Pan American Airways and Canadian Pacific Airlines run to Tokyo. Prices at this writing are in the midst of changes but it is unlikely that they will differ much from the current $650 one way. Going from New York to Europe and then on to Tokyo by KLM or SABENA costs considerably more, however, if you're making a trip of it this can give you a look at a considerable portion of the world, since you are allowed without extra cost to stop off at any joint. Then, of course, there is the possibility of taking the Paris to Tokyo route over the North Pole with Air France.
By ship you can get to Japan either from New York or from our west coast. There is such a multitude of lines, both freighters and passenger liners that make the run, that we couldn't begin to list them all. Inquire of your nearest travel agency. With most of these lines rates start at about $350 San Francisco to Yokahoma, tourist class. This can be beaten somewhat. For instance, the Japanese NYK Line runs a passenger ship between Seattle and Yokahama at $425 cabin class and $300 third class with European food, or only $280 third class with Japanese food. Sometimes this ship runs from Vancouver, Canada and rates are lowered still further.
From New York direct to Japan prices are considerably higher. Once again there are quite a few lines, most of which go through the Panama Canal on their way to the Orient although some go eastward and through the Mediterranean or around Africa. Consult your travel agency. Minimum rates are about $500. The cheapest rate of which we know is with the De la Rama Lines which have at this writing a minimum rate of $470.
Once again, if you'd like to see a great deal on the way you might consider taking a student ship to Rotterdam from New York at a cost of $155. Here you would catch a Holland-East Asia Line passenger-cargo ship which takes nine weeks to get to Yokahama, stopping at Genoa, Italy; Port Said, Egypt; Aden, Arabia; Singapore; Hong Kong; Manila and possibly other ports on the way. Cost, $252 minimum.
Internally, Japan has her own airlines JAL (Japan Airlines Company) which connects all major cities on all the islands. We have never heard adverse criticism of JAL which operates with as much precision as does her train system. Considerable damage was inflicted on the Japanese railroad system during the war but all that that has been repaired and train service is again fast and dependable. First, second and third class are available and the usual sleeping accommodations, dining cars and observation cars.
Inter-island traffic, of course, is largely by ship and there are a considerable and dependable number of such lines with inter-island craft running in size from small ferries to ocean going ships which ply up and down the Sea of Japan.
Highways are quite adequate and bus service good. If you want to drive a car yourself you must present your International Driving License to the Traffic Bureau, Prefectural Government and they will automatically grant you a Japanese driving license.
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