Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO JAPAN

 

CAPITAL

Tokyo

LANGUAGE

Japanese (Hyojungo) is the official language of Japan.

LOCAL TIME

Japan Time (JST) is 9 hours in front of GMT.

ELECTRICITY

100 Volts AC. To make it more confusing Tokyo and eastern Japan operate at 50Hz while parts of western Japan operate at 60Hz. Electrical items brought from home are unlikely to work reliably. Some North- American items, with plugs that are the flat two pin type, may be an exception.

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

Japanese Yen (JPY; symbol ¥). Notes are in denominations of ¥10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of ¥500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM

Japan is still very much a cash-based society. Large department stores, hotels and large restaurants will accept credit cards but most other places including grocery stores are often cash-only. That means you’ll need to convert your money if you want to buy or eat anything. The best way to get money in Japan is with an ATM card as there are now ATM machines at most post offices and 7-Eleven Convenience stores. The machines are identified with a sticker saying, "International ATM Service" and you can opt for instructions in English. They handle cards in nine networks, including Visa, PLUS, Master Card, Cirrus, American Express and Diners Club; you will need your PIN to make a withdrawal. In major post offices the ATMs are accessible at weekends and after the counters have closed, though none are open 24 hours. As this is a new system and there are still some teething troubles it is worth bringing some money in cash in the case of an emergency. Cash can be changed between 9am & 3pm at Authorized Foreign Exchange Banks, which are found in cities. You must show your passport when making an exchange and you should be prepared for the transaction to take some time. It is best to bring US dollar travelers cheques as sterling and other currencies are not always accepted. Excess yen can be converted back on departure. It is a good idea to retain the original exchange certificates throughout your stay in Japan.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Japan no matter what time of the year you will need to be prepared for great variations in temperature, so generally it’s best to pack several thin layers rather than one thick layer. Other than that, almost anything goes in Japan! It is particularly important in Japan to travel light. Except for trains servicing the airport, there are no special racks for large luggage. On the Shinkansen (Bullet trains), luggage space is limited to a small overhead rack and the legroom in front of your seat, which is sufficient for a small-medium daypack.

COMMUNICATION

Telephone: 

Credit cards can be used directly in some phone boxes, although public phones are becoming increasingly difficult to find and are most likely to be located near train stations. They are green and grey, and accept coins and magnetic prepaid cards, available from convenience stories and vending machines.

Mobile phone: 

The Japanese mobile network uses PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) technology, which is not compatible with GSM or other mobile services. Visitors can hire handsets at the airport from companies such as DoCoMo (www.nttdocomo.com), and Softbank (www.softbank-rental.jp). In the UK, phones can be rented in advance of travel from Adam Phones (www.adamphones.com). Coverage is generally good.

Internet: 

Wireless hotspots are popping up all over major cities in Japan, so you should never be too far from a Wi-Fi connection. However, for guaranteed access, especially if you are traveling to more remote areas, Wi-Fi rental is recommended. Alternatively, there are many internet cafés located in Tokyo and other main cities. 

Post: 

Letters in Tokyo can be taken to the International Post Office (www.japanpost.jp), near exit A-2 Otemachi subway station, which provide English-speaking personnel. Airmail to Europe takes four to six days.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (1900 at bigger branches). Some main post offices are open 0900-1500 on Saturdays; 0900-1230 on Sundays. Some branches have an after-hours service window.

FOOD
Mention Japanese food and most people think immediately of raw fish and seaweed. These are indeed quintessential Japanese dishes, but Japan also offers a surprising variety of dishes and cooking styles. Western food (including most major fast-food chains) is also available. Restaurants and bars tend to specialize in one type of food. There is seldom a menu in English, but often there are plastic displays in the window of meals and prices. Teishoku (set meals) are common, easy to order and generally good value. Knives, forks and spoons are only provided in western restaurants so you will need to adapt to eating with short chopsticks called hashi. Soup is drunk straight from the bowl. Sticky rice is such a staple that breakfast, lunch and dinner translates as morning rice, midday rice and evening rice. One bowl meals of rice topped with other ingredients, e.g. a deep-fried pork cutlet (katsu-don) makes a great, filling lunch. Japanese breakfast can be a bit unappetizing to foreigners. It usually consists of a small piece of cooked fish, soup, boiled rice, pickle, and tea. Occasionally a western alternative is available from a local bakery or convenience store.

Things to know:

Most traditional Japanese cuisine is eaten with chopsticks. Restaurants have table service and in some places, it is customary to remove footwear. There are no licensing hours. Drinking is subject to long-standing rituals of politeness. The host will pour a drink for the visitor and will insist on the visitor's glass being full. It is bad manners for a visitor to pour one for him or herself.

Specialties: 

• Teriyaki (marinated beef/chicken/fish seared on a hot plate).
• Tempura (seafood and vegetables deep-fried in a light batter).
• Sushi (slices of raw fish and seafood placed on light and vinegary rice balls).
• Sashimi (slices of raw fish and seafood dipped in soy sauce).
• Ramen, soba and udon (varieties of noodles, which can be served hot or cold, in soups or with dipping sauces).
• Kushikatsu (crumbed fish, meat and vegetables deep-fried on skewers)
• Yakitori (skewers of grilled chicken)
• Okonomiyaki (grilled savoury pancake made with shredded cabbage, seafood, pork and noodles)
• Champuru (Okinawan style stir-fry usually cooked with goya bitter melon)
• Obanzai (Kyoto home-style cooking based on vegetables, tofu and fish)
• Shojin-ryori (traditional Buddhist cuisine using vegetables, tofu and rice with very light flavouring)

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - US$3
• Simple breakfast - US$5
• Lunchtime set meal - US$6-8
• Evening restaurant (dinner) - US$17+

DRINKS

Complimentary Japanese green tea and tap water is generally provided with meals in restaurants. All other drinks: bottled water, soft or alcoholic drinks are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below.

Tea is drunk everywhere in Japan. O-cha, green tea, has a delicate and distinctive flavour. Coffee, hot or iced, is widely available too, but coffee shops are generally looked on as places to meet and sit and charge accordingly. A wide range of soft drinks (e.g. Coca-Cola, Pepsi and locally produced alternatives) are available throughout Japan. Ancient communal and religious practices have made alcohol an integral part of life in Japan. Sake (pronounced O-sa-kay) is a rice wine usually served warm. Shochu is the traditional distilled spirit and should be mixed with water before drinking. Beer is now the most popular alcoholic drink and Japan produces excellent quality light, lager-type beer such as Kirin, Asahi and Sapporo. Imported wine is available but is relatively expensive.

Note: Prices in restaurants and hotels are usually at least double those specified.

• 1l of water - US$1.5
• 300ml can of soft drink - US$1
• 500ml can of beer - US$3

Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in Japan but is not particularly tasty.

TIPPING

If you are from a country where tipping is routinely practiced, it may come as a surprise that there is no such culture in Japan. This might be especially shocking as the standard of customer service in Japan is often regarded as the best in the world. If you are visiting bars, cafes, or restaurants, taking taxis, or staying in hotels, there is simply no need to tip.

There is one case, however, when tipping might be appropriate. If you have a private guide, or interpreter—someone who is used to western practices—then they may accept a tip from you (although it is certainly not expected). If you do decide to tip, make sure to put any bills in an envelope. You can buy these at convenience stores or 100-yen shops.

Social conventions:

Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. A strict code of behaviour and politeness is recognized and followed by almost everyone. However, Japanese people do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs but do expect them to behave formally and politely.

A straightforward refusal traditionally does not form part of Japanese etiquette, and a vague 'yes' does not always mean 'yes'. (The visitor may be comforted to know that confusion caused by non-committal replies occurs between the Japanese themselves.)

When entering a Japanese home or restaurant, shoes must be removed. Bowing is the customary greeting, but handshaking is becoming more common for business meetings with Westerners. The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing all men and women; for instance, Mr Yamada would be addressed as Yamada-san.

Table manners are very important, although the Japanese host will be very tolerant towards a visitor. However, it is best if visitors familiarize themselves with basic table etiquette and use chopsticks. Exchange of gifts is also a common business practice and may take the form of souvenir items such as company pens, ties or high-quality spirits.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Generally, Japan benefits from a temperate climate with four very distinct seasons. Spring (Mar-May) is warm and sunny, summer (Jun-Aug) hot and humid, with high rainfall. Autumn (Sep-Nov) is mild and pleasant; rainfall is low and days clear. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cold and dry and the mountainous areas and the northern island of Hokkaido experience heavy snowfall. Overall, spring and autumn are considered the best seasons to travel. However, if you are planning to climb Mt Fuji, it is only possible in July and August due to the extreme conditions on the mountain at other times of the year.

Tokyo: (approx)

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for the latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance from your travel agent. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.