Yes, and I think it was a hassle to get this permit. After 3/11 immigrants formed long queues at Shinagawa or wherever to get their permits to flee the radiation.
Originally Posted by
railroadtycoon
When you enter as a temporary visitor, you get an entry stamp, when you leave Japan, they stamp a departure stamp into your passport (usually next to or under the temporary visitor stamp), they will also take out the second half of the landing card that was stapled into your passport by the immigration officer when you entered Japan. Your temporary visitor status will be cancelled at that time. If you come back to Japan, and if the immigration officer approves your entry, you will be stamped with a new 90 day temporary visitor permit.
Under the old system (pre July 9, 2012) if one had a status of residency in Japan and left (even for a few hours, eg Korea and back) they would of needed a re-entry permit (3000yen for one time / 6000 yen for multiple). Failure to have a re-entry permit meant losing one's status of residency in Japan (happened to someone I know, but they were able to regain it after lots and lots and lots of paperwork and apologies).
However, after the revision of immigration laws, from July 9, 2012, if one left Japan for trips of 1 year or less *special permanent residents have 2 years*, you do not need a re-entry permit, one is under the "special re-entry" system, and you mark the special reentry box on your exit card you give you immigration, immigration will then stamp "OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON SPECIAL RENTRY" into the passport or the card that is attached into the passport when you leave.
This system is not applicable to temporary visitors.