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flag Japan Japan: Practical information

In this page: Accommodation | Eating Out | Getting Around | Time and Time Difference | Climate | Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems | Paying | Speaking | Emergency Numbers | Communications

 

Accommodation

Hotel reservation websites
Japan National Tourist Organisation

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Eating Out

Rules For Eating Out
Lunch is usually served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and dinner between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Rules vary from one establishment to another, but it is generally usual to pay the bill directly at the cash desk, on entering, after ordering or after the meal. It is not commonto leave a tip. 'Gochisosama deshita' is said while leaving the restaurant.
 
Food Specialties
Sushi, one of the most well-known Japanese food preparations, consists of cooked rice and other ingredients, including raw seafood, vegetables or pickled products. Raw fish, when sliced and served without rice, is known as sashimi. Makizushi are generally wrapped in nori (seaweed) and can be served as temaki (a cone-shaped hand roll filled with a variety of ingredients), futomaki (a thick and large fat roll filled with several fillings and sliced into six or eight pieces) or hosomaki (a smaller cylindrical roll with typically only one filling and sliced into six or eight pieces).

Many Japanese dishes are served in bowls (known as domburi) with rice on top and meat/vegetables underneath. Some examples include: oyakodom (eggs and chicken), katsudom (fried pork chops), gyudom (eggs and beef), unadom (grilled eel), chukadon and tendon (seafood and vegetables).

Japanese cooking also includes salads (gomaae), seaweed, noodles (soba), soups, meat grilled on skewers and cheese.
Drinks
Tea is the most widely consumed beverage. Popular alcoholic drinks include: happoshu (a by-product of beer that is less strong in taste, but has the same alcohol content), sake (a spirit made from rice) and umeshu (a Japanese liqueur made from plum). Local and international varieties of beers and wines are also available.
Dietary Restrictions
None
Table Manners
Many houses or restaurants have very low tables and cushions laid directly on the floor. The Japan Guide website gives some advice on how to sit down.

The meal begins with ‘’itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") and finishes with "gochisosama (deshita)" (Thank you for the meal). Chopsticks are used instead of cutlery. The Japan Guide website gives some advice on how to use them.

It is good manners to finish one’s dish right to the last grain of rice, and to put one’s place setting back after the meal as it was at the beginning. It is bad manners to blow one’s nose at table, or to go to the toilet during the meal. The Japan Guide will give you further information about table manners.

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Getting Around

 

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Tokyo Narita International Airport 65 km / 41 miles JPY 30 000 / 60-90 min JPY 3000 / 90 min JPY 1000 / 75 min Available
Osaka - Kansai Intl (KIX) 38 km / 24 miles JPY 15 000-18 000/~50 min JPY 400 / 45 min JPY 900 / 40 min Available
Nagoya - Chubu Centrair Intl (NGO) 32 km / 20 miles JPY 13000 / 30-40 min Available 28 min -
 

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services
Japan Railways - Hokkaido
Japan Railways - East
Japan Railways - West
Japan Railways - Shikoku
Japan Railways - Kyushu
 

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Japan Airlines Major Yes Yes
All Nippon Airways Major Yes Yes
Jetstar/Jetstar Asia/Valuair Low Cost No Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

 
 
 

Travelling By Yourself

Car rental agencies
Tocoo
Times Car Rental
Real-time traffic conditions
Circulation
 

Rules of the Road

National Roads Organizations
The national road transport Bureau
Japan Automobile Federation
Drive a car in Japan

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Time and Time Difference

Current Local Time
It is %T:%M %A In Tokyo
Summer Time
None
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

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Climate

 
Type of Climate
Climate in Japan can vary noticeably from one island to another. The rainy season lasts from June to mid-July and the typhoon season lasts from August to September. Summers are damp and humid, with temperatures rising up to 38°C (100°F). The temperature can drop to under 5°C in winter. Autumn is the best time to visit Japan.
Hotel reservation websites
Japan Meteorological Agency
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

 

Climate

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Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems

System of Measurement Used
Metric system
Unit of Measurement of Temperature
Degree Celsius (°C)
 

Use our service Measurement Converter.

 
Electricity
 
  • Voltage
100V
  • Frequency
50 HZ (Tokyo, Kawasaki, Sapporo, Yokohama, and Sendai), 60 HZ (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima)
Type of Electric Socket
Type A and B
Type of Telephone Socket
Japanese, US RJ-11
DVD Zoning
Zone 5

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Japanese Yen
ISO Code
JPY
To Obtain Domestic Currency
It may be useful to arrive in the country with some Yen in your pocket. Currency exchanges may be expensive, so it is best to withdraw currency directly from banks' ATMs.
Possible Means of Payment
Payments are usually made in cash. Credit cards are also useful, but only taken in larger establishments. ATMs are easily accessible all day long and can be found in airports and town centres. Travellers cheques are typically not accepted outside of large hotels.
 

To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator

 

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Speaking

Official Language
Japanese (nihongo)
Other Languages Spoken
Korean and Chinese
Business Language
English is the most commonly spoken foreign language. Business professionals, including business leaders, often read English better than they can speak it.

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Emergency Numbers

Police 110
Fire and Ambulance 119
Marine Emergency 118
Tokyo Metropolitan Health & Medical Information Centre - with emergency interpretation service in English 03-5285-8185

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Communications

Telephone Codes
To Make a Call From Japan, Dial 00
To Make a Call to in Japan, Dial +81
Mobile Telephone Standards
Japan has its own mobile phone standards (both cell type and PHS type). Mobile phones bought in other parts of the world cannot be used in the country. You can buy a phone or also rent one for a short time, even for a single call. To avoid subscriptions, prepaid cards can be purchased.
National Mobile Phone Operators
eMobile, NTT DoCoMo, SoftBank Mobile
 

Availability of Internet

Internet Suffix
.jp
National Internet Access Providers
There are a great many providers; the biggest ones are NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, Softbank. Some of them offer fast and temporary connections: Live Door and Asahi Net .

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Latest Update: July 2024