Japanese consulates in California

California is the only state Japan divides by ZIP code, and the line produces results that look wrong on a map: Bakersfield is served from San Francisco and Palmdale from Los Angeles.

Which Japanese consulate covers California?

California is divided by ZIP code, not by county. Los Angeles covers 900 to 931 and, as the single written exception, 935. San Francisco covers 932 and above, minus 935.

That is why Bakersfield, at 933, is served from San Francisco 281 miles away, while Palmdale and Lancaster, at 935, are served from Los Angeles.

Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles
Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco

Honorary consuls in this state

An honorary consul is a local contact point, not a counter: the post issues no passports and no visas and cannot notarise a document. For that you still go to the consulate general.

  • Fresno — Joy J. Goto

    • Distance from each city in California

    City Consulate Distance Driving time
    Oakland Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 10 mi 18 min
    Long Beach Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 25 mi 35 min
    Anaheim Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 27 mi 37 min
    Santa Ana Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 33 mi 43 min
    Irvine Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 40 mi 50 min
    San Jose Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 49 mi 1 h 3 min
    Riverside Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 56 mi 1 h 10 min
    San Bernardino Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 61 mi 1 h 13 min
    Stockton Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 81 mi 1 h 39 min
    Sacramento Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 86 mi 1 h 45 min
    Modesto Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 91 mi 1 h 50 min
    Santa Barbara Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles 95 mi 1 h 56 min
    Bakersfield Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco 281 mi 5 h 17 min

    Driving times are calculated at posted speed limits and without traffic, so treat them as a floor rather than a promise.

    Of the 13 places listed for California, the closest to its consulate is Oakland at 10 miles and the furthest is Bakersfield at 281. The average across the state is around 72 miles each way.

    What you can settle without going

  • You can have the Certificate of Eligibility applied for in Japan by your sponsor.
  • You can check the office hours: most consular counters close at midday.
  • You can check whether you need a visa at all, because most U.S. passport holders do not for stays under 90 days.

    • A single visit can often cover several services, so ask what else you can bring while you are there.

    This is an independent guide. It is not the Japanese government, and it does not process applications or book appointments. Details change: check anything that decides a trip against the office itself.
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