gunmajet.net

this is for people who are leaving japan. if you plan to travel around japan before you go home, and want to get in on the JR pass, you can change your visa to a tourist one. (you'll still need to have the JR pass voucher mailed to an overseas address)
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i'm not an official voice of advice on this, but since i have been successful in getting this done (i think -- i'll know for sure in ~4 weeks), i thought i'd share what i did.
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to get a "temporary visitor" visa status, here's what i did.
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you go to the takasaki immigration office (the one where you get the re-entry permit), and you fill out the application to change your visa status that's at the office.
you need to bring some things with you too:
* your passport
* a letter saying what you'll be doing ※
* your official school contract, showing your contract end-date
* your gaijin card
* and the (¥4,000) application fee stamp from across the street.
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here's the takasaki immigration office's official website about visas: http://www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp/English/VisaInformation.html (this also mentions needing something they call a "Statement of Guarantee of proof of identifcation" but neither no one i asked has any idea of what this is.)
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if you still have time on your visa, they might look at you a little funny and try to explain that you don't NEED to do this since you can stay in japan for up to 90 days after your work contract without changing your visa. but, that said, i don't think they'll deny you.
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※ as for the letter, i wrote it like this:
I will finish my contract with my employer on Monday July 27th, 2009. I am finishing that contract because I plan to return to my home country on Saturday August 15th, 2009. After July 27th and before August 15th, I plan to be a tourist in Japan, traveling and sightseeing.
２００９年７月２７日の月曜日に、私と契約団体の契約が終わります。私がその契約を終える理由は２００９年８月１５日の土曜日に帰国するからです。７月２７日と８月１５日の間に日本のどこどこに行って見物するつもりです。