Originally Posted by
harb2melb
Great that some people seem to have successfully got their visa using JGA or other agencies' ERFS-only services.
However some concerns still remain. Such as if when checking in your flight, the ground staff will be checking your itinerary is booked by an agency. Or worse at the customs after you have landed.
Also, when you are checking into hotels, if they see your booking is not from an agency, will they reject you due to government guidelines etc.
I think some of you guys working for airlines flying to Japan will soon find out more details..I will definitely wait until the first wave of unguided tourists have entered Japan to see what hurdles there might be by not going exactly as the government guidelines ask .. aka booking flights and hotels via agents.
I think what you're worried about is practically impossible. It's impossible to know who booked what from looking at flight or hotel information. Just because it's in your name means nothing -- the flight and stay info will always have the traveler's information, and there's no way anyone will be asking for some kind of reciept proving who purchased/booked the travel accommodations. Even a hotel or airline (they won't necessarily care or even know if your booking is for tourism) has little way to know how a flight or hotel is booked because a payment form is not usually tied to an agency but a single person within the agency. Quite honestly, once you get a ERFS and Visa issued, I don't see how you would be denied except under very unique and rare circumstances that invite additional scrutiny.