*TADAAA!!* So I've finally completed the Visa Application process. However, this Entry Permit does not constitute the right of entry into the country. Dis-consonant as it sounds, but upon arrival at Japan's Immigration in the airport, you'll need a Landing Permit. I'm lazy to scan how a landing permit looks like from my last visit to Japan in 2005, so I've filched from a random search in Google Images. This will usually be stamped / stuck beside the Entry Permit in your passport.
To recap the process on getting a Visa Approval aka Entry Permit into Japan on a Visa Sponsorship basis, here's what you can do:
Step 1
Check out my 1st post, Getting Started, for details on what's needed for the application. As a side note, if you've visited Japan before, it'll be good to include a verified copy of your passport showing the Landing Permit on your last visit to Japan when applying for Visa.
Step 2
Once you've consolidated and submitted the necessary documents to Japan, it'll take about a month to process before your future employer notifies you whether your application is successful or not.
If it's successful, they'll follow-up by sending you the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) package that consists of the COE, a Visa form you need to complete and submit to the Embassy of Japan in your country, and a letter written in Japanese issued by your future employer stating the terms of your contract and Visa Sponsorship.
If you have to submit original documents for the Visa Application process in Step 1, you should be receiving these documents back together with the COE package.
Step 3
The instructions given to me when I received the COE package was to head to the Japan Embassy within 3 days upon receiving the package to apply for the Visa (Entry Permit).
This is because if you're expected to arrive Japan in mid-March, and depending on your native country's system, this application may take up to 2 weeks to process. A processing fee is charged according to nationality.
Mine was done in 3 business days. I went to the Embassy, submitted those materials in the COE package along with whatever materials stipulated in the website, was given a receipt stating the amount I had to pay upon collection. That receipt is used for collecting back my passport with the Entry Permit and the COE stapled in one of the pages in the passport.
Submission of Visa is only done in the mornings from 8:30am - 12noon, Monday - Friday.
Collection is only in the afternoons from 1:30pm - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.
The materials needed for submission vary between countries. Do check with the Japan Embassy in your native country before heading down.
Step 4
Once you've gotten all these settled, it's time to acquaint yourself with the various regulations in regards to Lodging, Taxes, Insurance, Banks, Mobile lines etc, which you may find it all in the Japan Preparation category.
Step 5
Don't forget to register yourself with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave. If there are associations of your home country in Japan, it'll be good to register yourself with them too.
MFA eRigister (Singapore)
Singapore Association in Japan (SAiJ)
*Praying squirrel & Landing Permit pictures from Google Images, the rest are my own.
Related Posts:
Getting Started 
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