Passports

Hotels in Japan require foreign guests to show passports at check-in, but police are unlikely to ask foreign visitors for on-the-spot identification, although crime crackdowns on nightlife areas of big cities and political tensions with North Korea or Russia can alter local circumstances in some areas.

U.S. Passport Information

U.S. Department of State. 877/487-2778. travel.state.gov/passport.

U.S. Passport and Visa Expediters

A. Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors. 800/806-0581 or 202/464-3000. www.abriggs.com.

American Passport Express. 800/455-5166 or 603/559-9888. www.americanpassport.com.

Passport Express. 800/362-8196 or 401/272-4612. www.passportexpress.com.

Travel Document Systems. 800/874-5100 or 202/638-3800. www.traveldocs.com.