JAPAN MINI GUIDE
Location: Asia
Local time: GMT +9
Capital: Tokyo
Language: Japanese, English
Electricity: 100V AC 50Hz (Tokyo & East Japan); 100V AC 60Hz (Osaka & West Japan)
International direct dialling code: 81
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit required
Currency: Yen (JPY)
Notes: JPY: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: JPY: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500
Traditions/Mores: On meeting and taking leave give a slight bow, but shaking hands is usually practiced with non Japanese. Business cards to have Japanese translation on reverse side. Some business executives speak English. Japanese customs and conventions are very different from those in Europe and North America and specialist travel guides should be read. Visitors should be perceptive to local customs. Laughter may disguise embarrassment. Small gifts from one`s home country are welcome as tokens of appreciation. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 20 years
Emergency services: Police: 110. Fire & Ambulance: 119
Air Travel
Japan’s largest international airline is Japan Airlines (JL) (website: www.jal.co.jp). Many international airlines fly to Japan including: Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, IBERIA, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
Approximate flight times:
From Tokyo to London is 12 hours; to New York is 12 hours 30 minutes; to Los Angeles is nine hours 30 minutes; to Hong Kong is five hours; to Sydney is nine hours 30 minutes.
International airports:
Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) (Narita City) (website: www.narita-airport.or.jp) is 65km (40 miles) east of Tokyo (travel time – one hour 10 minutes). Airport facilities include duty free shops, bank/bureau de change, car hire, restaurants and a tourist information centre with multilingual staff located in both terminals. Luxury coaches depart regularly from the airport to city-centre hotels. There is also a bus to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT). A shuttle bus links the airport with major hotels in the city centre. Tickets for all services can be bought in the terminals.
Japan Railways' reservation-only Narita Express line runs from Narita station terminal located beneath the airport to Tokyo station (travel time – one hour), Shinjuku (travel time – 90 minutes) and Yokohama (travel time – 105 minutes) every 30 minutes from 0745-2145. JR also operates a slower, cheaper service that departs every 45 minutes (travel time – one hour 20 minutes). First-class and private compartments are available. JR Passes can be used on these trains; see under Rail below for more information. Keisei Electric Railway also runs from the airport terminal to Keisei Ueno station in central Tokyo (travel time – one hour) from 0920-2200. There are taxis to the city, with a surcharge after 2200 (travel time – 60 to 70 minutes). Travellers should note that these are five times as expensive as the trains. There is a free shuttle bus connecting both terminals every 10 to 15 minutes (travel time – 10 minutes).
(Osaka) Kansai International (KIX) (Kansai) (website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp) is 50km (31 miles) southwest of Osaka. Airport facilities include duty-free shops, car hire (includes Japaren, Nippon, Nissan and Toyota), banks/bureaux de change, tourist information and bar/restaurant. There is a bus to the city every 30 minutes from 0800-2120 (travel time – one hour). The Nankai RR service goes to Namba station every 15 minutes (travel time – 30 minutes). The JR West service goes to JR Osaka station every 30 minutes (travel time – one hour 10 minutes). Taxis are available to the city (travel time – 60 minutes), although a surcharge may be imposed after 2200. It is also possible to take the jetfoil from Kansai Airport to Kobe’s Port Island (travel time – 32 minutes).
Fukuoka International (FUK) is 20 minutes’ travel time from Fukuoka City. Airport facilities include an outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.
Nagoya International (NGO) is 10km (6 miles) north of the city and has flights to 29 international destinations including: Bangkok, Brisbane, Frankfurt/M, Hong Kong City, Honolulu, Melbourne, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei.
JAPAN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where to find cheap, possibly non-stop tickets to Japan? Can I get the best lowest airfare at the last moment? Which airlines fly to Japan? Which travel documents, passport, visa required, what are health immunization requirements in Japan.
Recommended immunisations:
*Japanese B encephalitis, polio, tetanus
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month
Japan: Passport & Visas
Restrictions:
Passports issued by Korea (North) & those issued to Chinese residents of Taiwan are not recognised. Such persons must obtain a Japanese Travel Document
Japanese Passports
Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of proof of nationality issued to nationals of Japan by Japanese consulates abroad
Notes:
Passport validity:
Passport must be valid for duration of stay
Japanese Visas
The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Japan
2) For stays up to 90 days by:
a) Citizens of United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Bulgaria, Czech Rep, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland Rep, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland & United States
3) For stays up to 3 months by: Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey & Uruguay
4) For stays up to 14 days by nationals of Brunei Darussalam
Notes:
Transit
Required by all except those as noted above
Notes: Tokyo Haneda Airport & Tokyo Narita Airport are recognised as the same airport for transit purposes
International Cheap Airfares to...
Argentine, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Serbia, Thailand, Tunis, Ukraine, USA |
