At the port of entry, you will have to go through customs. Depending on how many flights have landed with or before yours you might find the lines a bit long. On board the flight entering into Japan you will be handed one or two forms to complete. Have a pen at hand and complete the forms with your correct details and passport number to avoid unnecessary delays. Know where you’ll be going to, the purpose of your visit and the address of the hotel or person where or with whom you will be staying. If in doubt take me along on your next trip to Japan…
Just follow everyone else once you’ve cleared customs or follow the signs that will guide you to baggage collection.
Most staff working at information desks on most airports speaks a bit of English. Simply greet hello or konichi wa (hello in Japanese) and ask where you can purchase a train or bus ticket to get to your Hotel. It helps knowing the name of the Hotel and in which town it is.
Now depending on the exchange rate at the time of your arrival in Japan, the best thing for you would be to make use of a calculator. Japanese prices are funny in that the bus ticket from Haneda airport to Ikebukuro is 3000 yen. Simply divide the 3000 with the current exchange rate and you will know what the price is in rand. Ikebukuro is the name of the town you would probably be going to, this is where Honbu dojo is situated and where kyokushin karate started, the weigh inn takes place at Honbu dojo, don’t mistake Honbu for Ichi Geki plaza, two different places.

The Organisation prefers that we make use of the following hotels when attending tournaments held in Japan, 
The Sunshine Prince = 20-25 minute stroll to Honbu dojo. (Much to see)
The Daiichi Inn = 7- 10 minute walk to Honbu 
The Crown Metropolitan Plaza bit more expensive = 1 minute walk to Honbu
Expect to pay anything from between R 800 and R1000 per night per person sharing (the price in rand is naturally dependent on the exchange rate)
The weigh inn takes place at Honbu the day before the tournament, be patient and make sure to go as one group, by now all your monies should have been paid into the account of Kyokushin karate South Africa. Having to deal with money matters on weigh inn day will only cost you more time.

If your students have never participated in the International tournament held in Japan, they are going to need the following fighting equipment;
Shin pads, Gloves, knee guards, groin guards, breast guard, head guard and mouth guard.
Don’t buy these things at home, its only going to cost you double, you might get away with your locally bought mouth guard. The Organisation has a table where you can purchase the equipment from at the weigh inn your students will NOT be allowed to use equipment other than that sold by the organization. The fighter wear and gear are sold in dollars…

Free bus rides are available from the three Hotels mentioned to the tournament venue. The tournament has been held in Chiba the past four years. It’s about an hour bus ride, sadly there’s not that much to see so some earphones and your favorite music should do the trick. 
PLEASE note, the bus only takes you to the tournament venue, getting back to the hotel is your responsibility.
Kia Makuhari station is a ten minutes stroll from Mukuhari Messe (tournament venue).
Stand with your back towards the Mukuhari Messe entrance and walk straight ahead in a westerly direction till you get to the escalator, you really can’t miss it. By using the stairs or escalator you will actually be crossing a very busy intersection. At the furthers end on top go left, down with the escalator you are now about 5 minute walk from the station, continue walking south until you past the food and restaurant mall on your right, turn right and you should be at the station. 
The train ticket from Kia Makuhari to Ikebukuro costs 690 yen; well that’s what I paid this year anyway. About R69, 00, your train will depart from platform 3 to Tokyo station. At Tokyo station you need to change trains, get to the Yamanote line platform 5 and this train will get you to Ikebukuro. It is a long walk from the platform where you got off at Tokyo station to the next; you should be going up the longest escalator your eyes had ever seen. Note the ticket bought at Kia Makuhari covers you for the full journey back to Ikebukuro. Yellow directional signs at the Ikebukuro subway should guide you to the exit closes to your hotel. Also note the train will first pass the station closes to the Sunshine Prince hotel before it gets to Ikebukuro station.