applying a japan visa i had to provide

1. an invitation letter (i was visiting my brother) from relative there (together with their alien IC/passport copy). if no relative then have to state your purpose in a letter i guess. or company letter for your business trip.
2. company letter that states i am an employee (they don't want you to go there unemployed and looking for jobs on visiting visa).
3. copy of bank account/latest credit card bill that has more than RM8k balance. trust fund account also can.
4. copy of flight information. e-tix or the ticket itself.
5. copy IC/birth certs/marriege certs. IC is enough if you're not married (i dont remember).
6. copy of hotel/accommodation information if any.
7. passport.

i'll update the list if i remember anything else. it's a chore to provide them with all that. but when i arrived, it was all worth it. japan treated me well. really dont mind doing it all over again. hehe

here are the documents i submitted, i am going backpacking
1. passport
2. application form + photo
3. copy of flight ticket
4. copy of all my hotel reservation
5. bank statement
6. my kids birth cert to proof that they are my kids
7. my itinerary in Japan
8. company letter that states i am an employee and when i return to work, also i will bear the traveling expenses at my own

i have the letter save in my pc, so i just change the date each time i apply for a visa. my friend said that it look difficult than apply for a loan from bank.