Proof of onward travel in Japan?
UPDATE: I just found out about a service called "flyonward.com". Apparently, they book a real ticket on your behalf for $10 and cancel it 24 hours later.
Has anyone ever used that service?
I am planning to travel for a few months, starting with Japan then moving on, but I am not sure yet how long I will stay in Japan so I would like to get a one way ticket for maximum flexibility.
What's the cheapest option as "proof of onward travel"?
I have heard about the ferry from FUK to Busan, but the English "JR Beetle" ferry page is badly outdated and only allows internet reservations for 2013/2014, which is of course useless, and the prices I have found on various travel sites (12,000 yen) are pretty expensive for a throw away ticket anyway.
I have also heard about buying a refundable ticket, but I have no idea where to find a fully refundable ticket (a lot of so called "refundable" tickets have significant non-refundable fees).
Getting a round trip ticket and discarding the return ticket would cost for that is about 12,000 yen, which is reasonable but not ideal since it will be wasted.
Does anyone know where I can book a cheap ferry ticket, or is there a cheaper option I haven't considered?
Best Answer
A throw-away Peach ticket from Osaka or Okinawa to Korea or Taiwan can be bought for about 6000 yen (including taxes) if in low travel season (middle of the week and not during holidays). Buying it on a promotional offer (currently none, but they have them regularly) can save perhaps 1,000 or 2,000 yen. Buying the more expensive "Plus" fare is useless because refunds on cancellation are made in "Peach points", not cash.
Obviously, a fully refundable ticket would be preferable, but (AFAIK) requires paying the ticket up front, which may not be affordable.
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How do you get proof of onward travel?
Take a print of the booking or simply show it on your phone. After you arrive in your destination country and pass through immigration, you can simply cancel the booking to get a full refund. This is the best and foolproof way to get proof of your onward travel.Is onward ticket legal?
In a nutshell: Yes, Onward Ticket.com is legit and you can book with it. It is safe and legal! You will receive your ticket instantly and no printing needed!Can I fly without a return ticket?
If you're travelling to the US with an US airline, you'll be asked to provide a return ticket. In some cases, if you're travelling without a return ticket, you may also be obligated to buy one to be allowed to board the plane.What does return onward ticket held mean?
The main use of an onward ticket is for proof of return (for one-way flight) to show at the immigration while traveling. That means you can show that you have fixed travel plans to leave the country which you're hoping to enter.How to Show Proof of Onward Travel | Avoid Getting Stuck on Your Next Trip!
More answers regarding proof of onward travel in Japan?
Answer 2
When you enter Japan you will fill in a landing card and submit it to the Japanese immigration inspector. One of the questions is "Intended length of stay in Japan". You need to have an answer to the question, or you will not be admitted. (Once I forgot how long I would be staying and left that part of the form blank by mistake, but luckily the immigration inspector was quite understanding. Still it is always wise to have some idea.)
If you wish to buy a fully refundable ticket, you may do so directly from the airline. I took the liberty of investigating a fully refundable oneway BA fare from TYO to LON on ba.com, which applies no change fees:
However there is a 3500 JPY administration charge if you cancel by telephone instead of online, as noted further down the page.
I am sure other options can be found without difficulty.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: ArtHouse Studio, Leih Quimson, Leih Quimson, Pixabay