The JR West Pass is a special pass, only available to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing. You must hold a passport issued by a foreign government and enter Japan as a “Temporary Visitor”, which is a status of residence defined under Japanese immigration law. "Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigra- tion Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight- seeing, etc.". If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JR West Pass. * Japanese citizens living abroad can not use this pass. * If you hold both a Japanese passport and a passport of another country (Dual Citizenship), please be sure to enter Japan with the non-Japanese passport and obtain the "temporary visitor" stamp to be eligible to exchange.

Caution:Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JR West Rail Pass, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "temporary visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "trainee" or "entertainer", you can not change the Exchange Order for a JR West Rail Pass.Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "temporary visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.When you exchange to JR West Rail Pass, you must submit the original Exchange Order. A copy is not acceptable.