SOFA and the Train Pass
Dec 14, 2007 | 11:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,236
SOFA and the Train Pass
I have to enter as a temp visitor to be eligible for the rail pass. Now, I'm not stationed in Japan but still eligible to enter under SOFA, just coming for a visit... If I enter under SOFA (hey... it's nice to have some relative extraterritoriality
, can I still use the rail pass? Anyone?
, can I still use the rail pass? Anyone?
Dec 15, 2007 | 1:45 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
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http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en002.html
The people at JR will look for the "temporary visitor" label in your passport before exchanging your voucher for a rail pass. I'm not sure what you get in your passport if you enter under SOFA but I think this means that you have to choose between SOFA and being eligible for a rail pass.
I am not a lawyer, but perhaps with SOFA you could evade rail fares, refuse to pay the fines and then demand to be tried in a court martial rather than under the Japanese legal system. (?) I doubt that it would save you money in the long run.
The people at JR will look for the "temporary visitor" label in your passport before exchanging your voucher for a rail pass. I'm not sure what you get in your passport if you enter under SOFA but I think this means that you have to choose between SOFA and being eligible for a rail pass.
I am not a lawyer, but perhaps with SOFA you could evade rail fares, refuse to pay the fines and then demand to be tried in a court martial rather than under the Japanese legal system. (?) I doubt that it would save you money in the long run.
Last edited by jib71; Dec 15, 2007 at 5:24 am
Dec 15, 2007 | 12:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: UA (former CO), TrueBlue, Etc.
Posts: 291
If you're travelling under SOFA, you are ineligible to the JR pass as you won't be there under temporary visitor status for sightseeing purposes.
They've gotten much stricter about enforcing the JR Pass requirements in the past few years.
They've gotten much stricter about enforcing the JR Pass requirements in the past few years.
Dec 17, 2007 | 4:06 am
#4
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Posts: 1,236
Dec 17, 2007 | 5:40 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: UA (former CO), TrueBlue, Etc.
Posts: 291
herzmeh - You'll still be able to get into the military hotels and stuff with your military ID - so if you need a HUGE HAMBURGER, don't worry. But if you want to travel for cheap, you need to be a temporary visitor. 
Dec 18, 2007 | 9:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Riding the rails
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According to what I read in Stars & Stipes you would need much more then just a Military ID card to be exempt from the fingerprint procedures. I'm not in DoD to know the items, but don't you require additional items like travel orders/leave orders and such?
Dec 18, 2007 | 9:12 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,236
You do, which I'd have.
Dec 19, 2007 | 3:01 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: AUS
Programs: DL PM 2MM HH LTD
Posts: 1,857
Although on SOFA status and exempt from fingerprinting and photo, I still had to use regular line last week. I think I will make the effort to register before my next departure just to get into the shorter line.
Marc
Marc