Passport A valid passport is required and must cover the full length of your stay in Japan. On arrival, you will be granted a "Temporary Visitor's Visa" for 90 days or less.
Currency The unit of currency is yen. Coins are 1,5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen, and 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 yen notes are available. Money is easily changed at foreign exchange banks in larger towns and cities.
Credit Cards Major international credit cards are accepted at leading banks, hotels, ryokan and stores. Be aware that Japan is still largely a cash-based society, so smaller shops, stores and restaurants do not accept credit cards. Major credit cards can be used in ATMs in larger towns and cities, and also at the ATMs of Post Offices nationwide, except in small towns and villages. Please note that in many places in Japan, ATMs are only open during office hours.
Traveller's Cheques These are accepted at leading banks, hotels and stores around the country.
Drinking Water Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Japan, and bottled water is widely available.
Inoculations None necessary.
Tipping None necessary.
Public Telephones The international dialling code for Japan is 00 81. Public telephones are widely distributed in Japan and take both coins and cards. Phone cards can be bought at convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart. International phone cards are also available at these stores.
Time Difference London -9hours (-8 in summer)
Paris -8 hours
Hong Kong -1hour
New York -14 hours
Los Angeles -17 hours
Sydney +1 hour
Clothing Winter: warm jacket, hat, gloves, sweater, sturdy footwear for walking in slushy conditions and a lighter pair of shoes for travel.
Spring/ Autumn: lighter jacket, shirts, light sweater, waterproof jacket, walking shoes and a lighter par for travel.
Summer: light clothing, T-shirts, shorts, lightweight trousers and a waterproof jacket. Long sleeved T-shirts or cotton shirts offer good protection from biting insects. Small towels, flannels or handkerchiefs are a good idea for brow-mopping, and are widely available in Japan!
At all seasons, we recommend travellers bring UV proof sunglasses to protect from sun and snow glare), and protective sun cream.
Electrical appliances Plugs are two-prong style plugs. Plug adaptors are available in large camera stores, department stores and airport shops. Batteries and digital camera accessories are widely available.
Chopsticks Knives and forks are available in every restaurant: don't be afraid to ask for them if chopsticks are proving tricky. When using chopsticks, don't pass food to another person's chopsticks, and don't stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice- these actions are only preformed at funeral ceremonies and would cause offence out of context.
Language Here are a few useful phrases that should come in handy. Everyone studies English in Japan, but there are many people who are not confident speakers. With a few words, you will be understood and get a cheerful response.
Hello kon-nichi-wa
How are you? O-genki-desu-ka?
How do you do? hajime-mashite
Good morning O-hayo-gozai-masu
Good evening kon-ban-wa
Good night O-yasumi-nasai
Good-bye sayon-nara
Thank you arigato
Thank you very much arigato-gozai-masu
You're welcome do-itashi-mashite
Excuse me! sumi-masen!
I'm sorry gomen-nasai
Please (when asking for something) kudasai
Yes hai
No iie
Where is the toilet? toire-wa-doko-desuka?
How much? ikura-desu-ka?
Expensive takai
Cheap yasui
Hot (weather) atsui
Cold (weather) samui
Delicious oishii
That was delicious oishi-katta
Birdwatching bado-uochin Crane tsuru
Birder ba-daa Eagle washi
Bird tori/ yacho Wader shigi
Many takusan Heron/ Egret sagi
Few sukunai Duck kamo
Rare mezorashii Sparrow suzume
Common futsu Swallow tsubame
Sorry, I don't understand. sumi-masen. wakari-masen.
Can you repeat that? sumi-masen. kore o mo ikkai kuri-kai shite ii-desu-ka?
Alright? dai-jobu?
Fine thanks dai-jobu.
Emergencies In Japan, dial 110 for the police and 119 to call an ambulance or report a fire.
Some language that may be useful in an emergency:
Help! tasu-ke-te!
Danger/ look out! abu-nai!
It hurts itai!
Currency The unit of currency is yen. Coins are 1,5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen, and 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 yen notes are available. Money is easily changed at foreign exchange banks in larger towns and cities.
Credit Cards Major international credit cards are accepted at leading banks, hotels, ryokan and stores. Be aware that Japan is still largely a cash-based society, so smaller shops, stores and restaurants do not accept credit cards. Major credit cards can be used in ATMs in larger towns and cities, and also at the ATMs of Post Offices nationwide, except in small towns and villages. Please note that in many places in Japan, ATMs are only open during office hours.
Traveller's Cheques These are accepted at leading banks, hotels and stores around the country.
Drinking Water Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Japan, and bottled water is widely available.
Inoculations None necessary.
Tipping None necessary.
Public Telephones The international dialling code for Japan is 00 81. Public telephones are widely distributed in Japan and take both coins and cards. Phone cards can be bought at convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart. International phone cards are also available at these stores.
Time Difference London -9hours (-8 in summer)
Paris -8 hours
Hong Kong -1hour
New York -14 hours
Los Angeles -17 hours
Sydney +1 hour
Clothing Winter: warm jacket, hat, gloves, sweater, sturdy footwear for walking in slushy conditions and a lighter pair of shoes for travel.
Spring/ Autumn: lighter jacket, shirts, light sweater, waterproof jacket, walking shoes and a lighter par for travel.
Summer: light clothing, T-shirts, shorts, lightweight trousers and a waterproof jacket. Long sleeved T-shirts or cotton shirts offer good protection from biting insects. Small towels, flannels or handkerchiefs are a good idea for brow-mopping, and are widely available in Japan!
At all seasons, we recommend travellers bring UV proof sunglasses to protect from sun and snow glare), and protective sun cream.
Electrical appliances Plugs are two-prong style plugs. Plug adaptors are available in large camera stores, department stores and airport shops. Batteries and digital camera accessories are widely available.
Chopsticks Knives and forks are available in every restaurant: don't be afraid to ask for them if chopsticks are proving tricky. When using chopsticks, don't pass food to another person's chopsticks, and don't stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice- these actions are only preformed at funeral ceremonies and would cause offence out of context.
Language Here are a few useful phrases that should come in handy. Everyone studies English in Japan, but there are many people who are not confident speakers. With a few words, you will be understood and get a cheerful response.
Hello kon-nichi-wa
How are you? O-genki-desu-ka?
How do you do? hajime-mashite
Good morning O-hayo-gozai-masu
Good evening kon-ban-wa
Good night O-yasumi-nasai
Good-bye sayon-nara
Thank you arigato
Thank you very much arigato-gozai-masu
You're welcome do-itashi-mashite
Excuse me! sumi-masen!
I'm sorry gomen-nasai
Please (when asking for something) kudasai
Yes hai
No iie
Where is the toilet? toire-wa-doko-desuka?
How much? ikura-desu-ka?
Expensive takai
Cheap yasui
Hot (weather) atsui
Cold (weather) samui
Delicious oishii
That was delicious oishi-katta
Birdwatching bado-uochin Crane tsuru
Birder ba-daa Eagle washi
Bird tori/ yacho Wader shigi
Many takusan Heron/ Egret sagi
Few sukunai Duck kamo
Rare mezorashii Sparrow suzume
Common futsu Swallow tsubame
Sorry, I don't understand. sumi-masen. wakari-masen.
Can you repeat that? sumi-masen. kore o mo ikkai kuri-kai shite ii-desu-ka?
Alright? dai-jobu?
Fine thanks dai-jobu.
Emergencies In Japan, dial 110 for the police and 119 to call an ambulance or report a fire.
Some language that may be useful in an emergency:
Help! tasu-ke-te!
Danger/ look out! abu-nai!
It hurts itai!