Originally Posted by
joejones
The Japanese government websites are a mess when it comes to explaining how the landing process works at the airport.
It
is clear that you need an onward ticket in order to change your status to "temporary visitor" if you are already in Japan under a different status. That may be the basis of Timatic suggesting that you need an onward ticket when you arrive in Japan.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/te.../Table3-1.html
I think I also saw it somewhere in conjunction with citizens of countries who require visas. They are more likely to overstay, I suppose, and are more like to have "funding" issues.
Nevertheless, I will be prudent going forward and book something. If anything to avoid problems with airlines like with NZ.