4 Japanese laws that shock most foreigners

[davidpdx]

1. Foreigners must have their passport on them at all times.

According to the US Department of State, Japanese law allows police to stop anyone at any time on the street to see identification.

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2. Certain over-the-counter medications that are legal in the US are illegal in Japan.

While Japanese law allows Americans to bring up to a two month supply of certain over-the-counter medications that are considered legal in Japan, there are a fair amount of OTC medications common in the US that are considered illegal in Japan, the US Department of State says. Any product that contains a stimulant (pseudoephedrine) is illegal in the country so this includes inhalers as well as sinus and allergy medications such as Sudafed.

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3. Smoking is allowed in most restaurants and bars, but not everywhere outdoors.

Up until recently, smokers had the luxury of smoking pretty much anywhere in Japan — inside and outside — and since tobacco is cheaper there than in most other countries, smoking has always been pretty prevalent. However, according to the Japan Times, recent laws have made it illegal to light up in certain urban public spaces. This includes not only on the street, but also in restaurants and bars, which now have designated areas for smokers and non smokers.

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4. Drinking on the street is legal in Japan.

Unlike in the US, open container laws do not exist in the majority of places in Japan. While it is generally frowned upon to drink or eat in public outdoor spaces in the country, it is legal. There are even vending machines that offer beer and sake, and traditional festivals that involve drinking outside, such as Hanami where participants enjoy a picnic under blooming cherry blossoms.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-japanese-laws-shock-most-190400839.html

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Foreigners in Japan don't have to carry a passport if they have a permanent resident card

But they (we) do have to carry one or the other.

However, in all my years in Japan, I have only been stopped one time to show my passport/resident card. That was during a bizarre incident in Ueno Station (Tokyo) where two young plainclothes guys ran up to me as I was heading for a train platform, and asked to see my identification. I don't even know if they were real policemen or immigration agents, because they never showed me their identification.

Drinking on the street is legal in some places, but around where I live I never see anyone doing it. And beer/sake machines are a thing of the past, as they were grandfathered out some time ago due to stricter laws against underage drinking. And all stores that sell alcohol now have signs posted everywhere saying that there will be no sales to anyone under 20, and if you buy alcohol in convenience stores, you have to push a button on the register screen affirming that you are at least 20 years old (and show ID if you look too young). In supermarkets, a little beep comes on if an alcohol purchase is being rung up, to remind the clerk to check for ID if necessary.

[davidpdx]

2. I see

Yeah if you were a resident it would be different. I only carry my resident ID card here in Korea. If I was a tourist I'd at least carry a copy of my passport.

I don't recall being stopped here ever except when I was driving. A few years back I had to go through a DUI checkpoint, the first time I had seen one in Korea.

[yuiyoshida]

3. Hey thanks for posting this...

was interesting, and I hope you and Art post more information. I can't always find stuff to post, so it helps if this place had a bit more people posting.

[davidpdx]

4. I feel bad because I so rarely have anything to contribute to this forum

The only other groups besides the main ones I ever post in besides the Asian group are: TV Chat, Americans Abroad, and Bernie Sanders groups. Outside those four groups I really don't feel I fit in to any of the others. Of those four the only one that gets a fair amount of traffic these days is the Bernie Sanders group.

[yuiyoshida]

5. Well youare in Asia...

Maybe there are more Asian websites that are in English that carry news stories or topics about Asia? I guess you could always ask around. Thanks