Siblings of French tourist missing in Japan arrive to help find her

Ohh, it doesn't bode well. I do hope she shows up soon.

I believe that somewhere I read or heard on TV that she as a hiker - so that brings up several possibilities, none with good outcomes.  Of course I do hope she is found well.

Keeping my fingers crossed that she is found healthy!

It expresses concern about her health because she has epilepsy.

Epilepsy and probably went hiking alone? That doesn't bode well.

She left her passport in her room, so maybe she wasn't planning on coming back.

I hope I'm wrong, but most tourists to Japan would keep their passports on them, wouldn't they?

She left her passport in her room, so maybe she wasn't planning on coming back.

I hope I'm wrong, but most tourists to Japan would keep their passports on them, wouldn't they?

Most foreign tourists dont actually know its illegal to walk around Japan without their passport on them, so not really. If you're staying in a hotel and only expect to go hiking in the morning and come back for lunch, why would you bring your passport?

My father always made me carry my passport when we were in a foreign country.

Maybe he was too much by the book, but that's how I was raised.

I would never leave my passport in my room, unless it was in a safe.

Stormcrow I'm pretty sure most people don't carry their passports on them when they travel abroad (depending on the country). Do you want to get robbed and lose your passport or keep it in your hotel safe?

Commanteer, have you ever been to Japan? Are you aware of how much crime there is in Japan?

@doggar

I guess it's a matter of opinion. I think, from the way my father taught me anyway, that the passport is your right to be where you are when you're in a foreign country.

Besides, what about situations where you may have an accident or, for whatever reasons, end up dead on the street.

I recall a story I was told about a young American woman who traveled to Mexico with a U.S. tour group years ago. She didn't even bring a U.S. passport, as many U.S. citizens have done and still continue to do when going there. Anyway, at the airport on the return from Mexico back to the U.S., she was detained by Mexican security. Her offense? She looked like a Mexican and they thought she was trying to illegally enter the U.S. She couldn't speak a word of Spanish and she was in a state of panic by the time she figured out what they were accusing her of. Luckily for her she was with a tour group and they were finally able to persuade Mexican security that she was indeed an American.

Now I know this is different from the case involving this French woman and I do hope that she is found safe and sound.

Moral of the story: Always carry a passport when abroad because you never know.

This story is not about whether or not to carry your passport, it is about a missing person.  Hope she turns up safe and well, but omens don't look good.

Stormcrow how about this: carry a photocopy of the important information in your passport and leave your passport in the hotel safe :)

Wakarimasen you are right. I don't know why they are talking about passports so much.

Moral of the story: Always carry a passport when abroad because you never know.

Unless you're planning to get smashed &/or mingle with the locals (obviously!)

@doggar

That sounds like a good idea. However, I can remember using my own U.S. passport for ID when cashing traveler's checks issued in Japan on the U.S. side because they wouldn't accept my Japanese driver's license, so it did come in handy for that.

@Wakarimasen

Many apologies for getting offtrack. I do that from time to time. Signing off.

Lets say hypothetically that she is still alive but perhaps injured in the woods. With the coming typhoon her chances of survival have fallen to pretty low, unfortunately :/

Commanteer, have you ever been to Japan? Are you aware of how much crime there is in Japan?

I have spent half my life in Japan. It's never a good idea to leave your passport in a hotel room, unless it is in a safe. This is common sense, even in Japan.

I have spent half my life in Japan. It's never a good idea to leave your passport in a hotel room, unless it is in a safe. This is common sense, even in Japan.

I agree. Unfortunately, so many Japanese hotels don't come with safes. I suppose if your stuff is safe in your room anywhere, it would be in Japan. That said, I still prefer a safe so there is no issue.

Typically I am the LAST person to care about the +/- on this board....what peaked my interest however, this time, is the folks who are thumbing down posts wishing that she be found healthy!

I guess there are some here that would prefer otherwise, and THAT is sad beyond comment!

That's worrying. The family explained she is an experimented traveler, she always carries around her emergency medicine and for this trip, she had the explanation in Japanese. They doubt she would go on an unplanned hiking on her own, particularly on her first day there.

 I don't know why they are talking about passports so much.

Usual... ritual victim blaming. She is not missing because she has not the original of her passport, neither because it's not safe for women to go out of their kitchen, etc.

The main issue is where is Ms Veron?

The Japanese police need to up their game!