Should I contact professors directly if a visitor's office exists? I want to visit certain laboratories at Tokyo Institute of Technology (TITECH) when I go to Japan three weeks from now to get a feel for the research they do and if I would be a good Master's candidate for their labs.

My advisor has offered to contact the professors directly so as to give my request more visibility.
However, TITECH has a Center for Public Affairs and Communications.

I'd much rather contact the professors directly since I'm on a rather short notice and I feel as a less formal visit would accelerate things up.

Here's some other information that could be relevant:


I will finish my undergraduate degree in about two years.
I am NOT asking for any monetary compensation, theses visits are on my own vacation time and at my own expenses (unless that would be unusual?)
I'm mostly looking for simple tours of the labs, discuss their research a bit and talk about employment possibilities. 


Would it be innapropriate to bypass the "official" process and contact professors directly?
I know people in Japan, have friends in Japan doing research, and traveled to Japan several times. One thing to remember: Obey the rules and hierarchy. Their system is based on respect for one another. Do not bypass a rule even though in your mind it sounds stupid/lame/waste of time. 

So in your case, contact the center and wait for their response.