Before Visiting a Military Host

There are some important things to touch on before visiting Japan, and especially if you are visiting/staying with a military family member or friend. You can reference my last post for things that you can expect to find during your stay but this is more on rules and things to do before you visit.

First and most important, you have to have a passport. I am pretty sure everyone knows this but this is essential to travel in and out of the country. No matter how long you are staying you must have this document. It is easy to get and you can apply at your local post office. To download the forms to make the process more easy click here. Depending on how fast you want your passport will determine the cost. Make sure to get the passport book though! The card I believe is only for travel to Mexico and Canada.

A visa to Japan is not needed according to http://japan.visahq.com/ for people coming for tourist purposes. But you may need a transit visa if you are connecting with other countries so please contact your airline. Look to the site for anymore info.

Medical Insurance is important to have no matter where you are, but if you are staying with a military host there are a few things to understand. If for some reason you are in need of medical attention while you are here and are a guest of the base and you cannot pay your hospital bill, if falls on the military member you are staying with to pay that bill. If you are not a military member or a dependant of one, you are not allowed to use the military medical facility and will be required to go to a Japanese hospital. Japan is not like America where you can leave and not pay because they have to treat you no matter what. If you do not pay, that hospital will no longer treat American military members for any reason, even though you yourself are not in the military. For this reason, it is a requirement to show proof of enough TRAVEL medical insurance coverage to me BEFORE you come to Japan. Sorry, but I am not willing to pay your medical bills.

When you stay with a military host on base or in housing that the military is helping to pay for, there are rules for guest who stay there. As it was told to me, people staying here as visitors cannot roam around the base on their own. So, that means if you want to go to the Navy Exchange, I will have to go with you. Even if you want to go to the Taco Bell across the way, I have to go with you. We are expected to shadow you while you are on base. Also, on base you cant buy things because you do not have a military ID. If  you would like to buy something, you would have to give me cash and I could pay for it then. You are not allowed in the commissary even to just walk with me. When you are out in town and visiting all the amazing places Japan has to offer, it must stay in your mind that your actions reflect directly on the military member you are staying with. If you get put in jail for some reason, you better believe that that military member will be in major trouble even if he wasn't with you. As they always tell us here, what we do reflects on this base which directly reflects on their view of America. If you are visiting, you are part of that, so please be respectful of the laws and know how your actions will absolutely effect others.

You may have heard about SOFA agreements. These are protections that are given to military personnel that are stationed in foreign countries. As far as I know, these will not protect anyone not involved in the military. You will be held responsible for your actions.

Beside these facts, things you must know are:

1. How to get in touch with the American Embassy...you can even let the Embassy know you are in the country.
2. Have a backup plan, this includes making copies of important documents and giving them to someone you can trust and that will be available to send them to you if needed.
3. Make sure to have more money with you that you plan on spending.
4. Understand that you are guest in the country and if staying with a military member, a guest of the military.
5. Be respectful.

These are not some fun things to go over but they are necessary to ensure that everyone involved in your travel is well looked after. If you do all these things before your trip to Japan, or any other country for that matter, will be something you can remember for a lifetime. If you are planning on visiting, do these things and let me know! I look forward to it.