Job Discussion Forums

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

If you don't plan to use the return part, you give the travel agent a random date and then don't use it, although airlines don't like this much. There are also such things as "one-year open return" tickets although they tend to be expensive.

You actually might end up using your return section anyway- I didn't plan to when I first came here but after I had been here a few months there was a death in the family and I had to fly home on short notice. I was pleased I had the return part then- I just changed the date.

Mahik · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 89

The service I'm using doesn't appear to offer open return dates.

And no I don't fly much, so this is helpful to know. Razz

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Even though a one-way ticket worked for me, it makes more sense to go with a return ticket. The only reason I didn't have one was because I had come from Korea, where it's SOP to provide teachers with one-way tickets when they arrive, and give them the return ticket upon successful completion of their contract. Needless to say, i didn't complete my Korean contract.

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

I came into Japan on a one way and they didn't say anything about a return ticket. I went through customs and they didn't even look in my bags, they just checked out my passport and waved me through. I had a job lined up but no work visa. My coworkers have claimed to not have trouble either and they were in the same situation that I am in.

JD03 · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

I'm in China right now, and I'm going to Japan next week to visit a friend for a week before I fly home to Canada. I have a one-way ticket from China to Japan, and I was planning on buying my ticket from Japan to Canada once I was in Japan. Is this going to cause me trouble?

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

You should be fine, unless things have changed since I was in Japan (only six months ago).

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

My boyfriend just came to Japan on a one way ticket without any problems at all.

johnyuehan · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 22 Location: rural Japan

JD03,
In May I left China on a one way, arrived in Narita with a ticket to the States on a flight in Dec. Customs never asked to see my ticket, but they did think it was odd I had such big bags. They actually opened my bags & asked me why I had so many ties & other work clothes. I told them I was working in China & going to visit friends in Japan for 2 weeks, then return to the States. Think they were trying to get me to say I was looking for work in Japan, so I dodged that one by always saying I was just here to visit. They didn't hassle me much or take me off to a separate room or anything serious. In June I found a job in Japan & will probably not use my ticket back to the States. But like a previous poster said, nice to have in case of family emergency back home.

Like previous posters, I agree: get a round trip & maybe not use the return portion. A one way is probably safe, but not 100% safe.

ps - check out the ferries from Shanghai, Tangu & other ports with ships coming to Japan. Cheaper than flying, and ya can bring loads of stuff. Enjoyable voyages!