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Gollum
Joined: 04 Sep 2003
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:27 pm Post subject: Osaka Visa Run Questions -- also hotel question |
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Well, I'm running to Osaka next week (darn same-day return flights are all full -- figures).
I've done this before, but forgot it all. Does anyone have a detailed site explaining how to get to the korean consulate there? Some foreigners I happened to group-up with last time had some pretty detailed instructions. Mine sucked.
Also, if I have to stay over a night, where would you recommend that I stay in Osaka? |
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Zed
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| I took the bus to the Namba (OCAT) bus station. You get the tickets from wall vending machines just outside the airport doors at the far right end of the platform. (You can take a train too but it's more expensive and only marginally faster.) From OCAT you want to get into the Namba walk (underground promenade) (follow the signs in the building - you should be exiting the bus station building on the north side and then going into an underground walkway). From the walkway you want exit 8 marked in red (not black and yellow - these are for the train/subway station. If you see them you've gone too far. Turn back. Come out of the exit and continue forward. You will go around a corner to the left. This is Mido-Suji road. The consulate is on the left side of this road about 2 blocks up, shortly after you cross a canal. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:16 am Post subject: |
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The following is a few years out of date and concerns doing Osaka in one day, but it should give you a start until someone posts more current info:
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The One-Day Visa run to Osaka
1. Always double-check your consolate arrangements since Japan has MANY holidays and on holidays the Embassy is closed. The Embassy number in Osaka is 81-6-213-14-1 and the hours are Mon - Fr 9 AM - 12 PM and 1:30 PM - 5 PM (but there are often breaks in the afternoon). The consolate is NOT OPEN on weekends
2. Do not bring Korean won to Japan - no one will accept it and its VERY HARD to exchange anywhere (besides that it slows you down looking for a place). Don't forget to keep 10,000 won with you for the airport tax out of Korea.
3. Get to the airport on time and get everything taken care of long before your flight. The lines for seats at the airport for flights to Japan are long and aggravating. You must be on the first flight out of Korea (leaves at about 10 AM) if you are going to make it in one day.
4. Once in Japan� pass through Customs and Immigration. If you are planning a one day trip then get a voucher to exempt you from the airport tax on the way out of Japan. For a one day visit you DO NOT pay the airport tax.
5. As you exit the customs area you'll see an information booth directly ahead of you. If you are not sure, you can ask them for help, but the instructions here are clear. Check if you are not sure. Don't dawdle though - this calls for quick walking and quicker thinking.
6. Off to the left of the Information Counter is an escalator going up. Take it and turn right at the top. You'll find yourself at a train ticket station. Buy a ticket for the Namba station for about 1,400 yen (express). (*updated 11/24/2000 - Prices vary so just make sure you have a goodly amount of cash on hand - its better to have too much than not enough.) The ride takes about 30 minutes.
7. At Namba station, find the Japanese subway line by going down about three levels and in the opposite corner of this huge station (The line you want is maroon in colour - be careful there are lots of them there) and head to Shin Saibashi station. Keep looking for the line, it didn't take too long to find. Ask for directions if you are lost.
8. At Shin Saibashi get out at exit #7 and turn right. The Embassy is about 200 metres down the street (on your right hand side).
9. Go downstairs to booth #9 or #10 and get the E-2 application and fill it out. To ensure that this happens properly BE THERE BY 1:00 PM. (The doors may still be closed for lunch (apparently as long as 11:30 - 1:30) but that gives you time to eat somewhere - but be quick). Ask the person to process you as quickly as possible (in a nice polite tone of course - if you look angry then they slow down just to piss you off - because they can). The E2 teaching visa costs 5,500 yen (*updated 11/24/2000 - Once again, prices vary so be warned)
10. Bring a recent photo with you to Japan. There is a booth there but its very expensive and slow you down. And you never know if it will be broken or something unpredictable. The whole process should take anywhere from a half-hour to two hours. Check with the lovely girl at the counter and then you are free to wander around until its time to pick up your visa.
11. Once you have your Visa in hand you are free to do as you please. Simply reverse the directions back to the airport and you are on your way!
Good Luck! I have done this exact run myself several times so I know it can be done. |
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oneiros
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Location: Villa Straylight
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:24 am Post subject: |
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I followed those instructions posted above, and they work like a charm. I have a tendency to get lost very, very easily, and I didn't get lost at all, so that's a good sign. Well, I only got lost once because I went through the wrong set of turnstiles to board the train from the airport, but the staff was really nice and brought me to the right place.
As for hotels, there are quite a few in Shinsaibashi. I would definitely recommend making a reservation before you go, because I didn't, and it took me a bit to find a hotel with a vacancy. If you take a look in the archived messages, somebody has posted a link to a guide of hotels in the area. If I had any computer savvy at all, I'd paste it here for you, but I don't. Just try searching "visa run Japan guide", and it should pop up. |
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Zed
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:16 am Post subject: |
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| Where did you find so many hotels? I found a million pay-by-the-hour places but that's not exactly cheap. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I found a decent hotel just a half block away from Namba station. I can't remember for the life of me what it was called, but it was in the opposite direction from the station as the Baseball stadium/Hard Rock Cafe.... I know somebody has mentioned before cheap accommodation right across the street from the Korean Consulate. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| There's a capsule in about 100 to 150 metres behind the embassy. |
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Gollum
Joined: 04 Sep 2003
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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SWEET! I've always wanted to try one of those capsules!
Did you mean behind the consulate? |
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