I was wondering if I were to get a visa here in Canada(international one). Would I be able to buy stuff from J-sites?(J-PSN,amazon.jp,etc). Without actually having Jp visa? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing. I want to hear your stories.

Thanks in advance

Damn, I thought this was going to be about good ways to get a visa...as in go visit/live/work in Japan for more than 3 months...

On that note, if anyone knows of any way I can utilize both my American and Swiss citizenships to find a way into Japan, let me know.


As for the question in the post -- no idea.

ta12121 Wrote:I was wondering if I were to get a visa here in Canada(international one). Would I be able to buy stuff from J-sites?(J-PSN,amazon.jp,etc). Without actually having Jp visa? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing. I want to hear your stories.

Thanks in advance

It will differ for each websites so it's best to check what credit cards each one accepts. I'm pretty sure for PSN though you have to have a Japanese card so you'll probably have to buy a Japanese voucher card. Amazon accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard, JCB and Diners.

I also initally thought this was going to be about visas for travel...

pudding cat Wrote:

ta12121 Wrote:I was wondering if I were to get a visa here in Canada(international one). Would I be able to buy stuff from J-sites?(J-PSN,amazon.jp,etc). Without actually having Jp visa? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing. I want to hear your stories.

Thanks in advance

It will differ for each websites so it's best to check what credit cards each one accepts. I'm pretty sure for PSN though you have to have a Japanese card so you'll probably have to buy a Japanese voucher card. Amazon accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard, JCB and Diners.

I also initally thought this was going to be about visas for travel...

thanks for the info. As for the travel visa, not just yet. But all in good time.

ta12121 Wrote:I was wondering if I were to get a visa here in Canada(international one). Would I be able to buy stuff from J-sites?(J-PSN,amazon.jp,etc). Without actually having Jp visa? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing. I want to hear your stories.

Thanks in advance

You need a Japanese address, or to be in Japan. You need a visa to be in Japan. For Canadians all you have to do is show your passport when you get to Japan, they will stamp a 3 month one in your passport.

Omoishinji Wrote:You need a Japanese address, or to be in Japan. You need a visa to be in Japan. For Canadians all you have to do is show your passport when you get to Japan, they will stamp a 3 month one in your passport.

ta12121 is talking about the other kind of visa. Maybe he should change the title to 'International Visa card'? Or put this image at the top of the thread?

pudding cat Wrote:

Omoishinji Wrote:You need a Japanese address, or to be in Japan. You need a visa to be in Japan. For Canadians all you have to do is show your passport when you get to Japan, they will stamp a 3 month one in your passport.

ta12121 is talking about the other kind of visa. Maybe he should change the title to 'International Visa card'? Or put this image at the top of the thread?

Another mistake. It makes absolutely no difference what type of Visa card that you use. They should accept it. I have used a regular Visa (Canada) to by things on Amazon, but that was about 5 years ago. A regular Visa card might give you a short delay, but my orders were shipped the next day. However, the shipment will take some time to clear customs.

I don't think it matters. I have even used mit American Debit(! not even credit) card to make contracts in Japan. Any of them should work. However, you might need an address in Japan.

Shouldn't be a problem. However, because the price is in a different currency the card company will have to convert the price from Yen to your own currency on the bill (or when they deduct it from your account). I think they usually charge a small fee, or give you a slightly poor exchange rate for this so the price may end up being a little more than you expect when converted.

Quote:On that note, if anyone knows of any way I can utilize both my American and Swiss citizenships to find a way into Japan, let me know.

Involves a lot of $$$, a nice dress and a big cake.

On many Japanese sites you need to enter the billing address registered to your creditcard, and there is no way to enter a non-Japanese address.
Still others won't even accept a visa number not issued by a Japanese bank.
Even if they do accept the card, most sites do not ship internationally.

Getting a traveler's/international visa probably won't solve many of those issues. I think they just give you better conversion rates?

ta12121 Wrote:I was wondering if I were to get a visa here in Canada(international one). Would I be able to buy stuff from J-sites?(J-PSN,amazon.jp,etc). Without actually having Jp visa? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing. I want to hear your stories.

Thanks in advance

Also, long as they the 'product' ship outside of Japan there should be no problem. Electronics and video games are one type of product that they don't ship outside of Japan. So, check the site first. They will let you know the accepted payment method also. The best of luck.