Practical information
Money
The currency used in Japan is the yen. There are four banknotes (10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 1,000 yen) and six coins (500 yen, 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen, and 1 yen).
Only cash payment is accepted at some shops and restaurants in Japan. It is necessary to carry a small amount of cash around.
Credit cards
American express, Diners club, Mastercard, and Visa can be used at large hotels,restaurants and stores. But some small stores and restaurants do not accept credit cards.
ATMs
Most post offices have ATMs that accept foreign-issued credit cards. ATMs at 7-Eleven convenience stores can also accept foreign-issued credit cards. International ATMs of Citibank are located in major international airports and their branches.
Post offices http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html
Visa-ATM Locator http://www.visa.co.jp/visitjapan/atm-locator/
Seven Bank http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/card2.html
Instructions (Seven Bank ATMs) http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/service2.html
Changing money
All major currencies can be changed into yen at foreign exchange banks, and major post offices.
World Currency Shop http://www.tokyo-card.co.jp/shop/wcs-shop-e.html
Telephone
International calls can be made at all major hotels or from some public phones. Some foreign mobile phones may not work in Japan. Please check with your mobile-phone company before coming to Japan.
Mobile phone rental is available for travellers. For more information, please refer to the links below.
<International calls>
KDDI http://www.kddi.com/english/personal/service/phone/index.html
NTT http://506506.ntt.com/english/service/public/
<Mobile phone rental>
softbank http://www.softbank-rental.jp/e/
NTT DoCoMo http://roaming.nttdocomo.co.jp/en/index.html
JAL ABC http://www.jalabc.com/english/index3.html
Pupure http://www.pupuru.com/en/
Rentafone Japan http://www.rentafonejapan.com/
Internet
LAN cables are provided and internet access is available at most hotels. Free WiFi access is not widely available in Japan. Please refer to the links below and locate free WiFi spots.
<Free WiFi spots>
FREESPOT Association http://www.freespot.com/users/map_e.html
Starbucks http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/pc/index_en.html
Internet cafes and Manga cafes provide cheap internet access.
Electricity
The 2-flat-pin plugs are used in Japan. The voltage is 100V AC. The eastern part of Japan is on 50 Hz and the western part of Japan is on 60 Hz. Adaptors can be purchased at electronics shops.
Time
Japan time is 9 hours ahead of G.M.T. Daylight saving time has not been introduced in Japan.
Post offices
Postal services are provided at post offices. Express mail service(EMS)is a fast international mail service perfect for sending documents and parcels from Japan to other countries.
Postal Service http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html
Medical services
A lot of hospitals and clinics do not have English-speaking medical staff in Japan. If you search for hospitals and clinics, please contact the following information centres.
Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center TEL：03-5285-8181
AMDA International Medical Information Center Tokyo TEL: 03-5285-8088
Osaka TEL: 06-4395-0555
<Hospitals and Clinics in Tokyo>
St Luke’s International Hospital
9-1 Akashicho, Chuo-ku,Tokyo
Tel: 03-3541-5151
http://www.luke.or.jp/eng/index.html
Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic
32 Shiba koen Building, 2F 3-4-30 Shiba-koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3436-3028
http://www.tmsc.jp
International Catholic Hospital (Seibo Byoin)
2-5-1 Naka Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3951-1111
http://www.seibokai.or.jp/hospital/english.html
Tokyo Midtown Medical Center
Midtown Tower 6F, Akasaka 9-7-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6206,
TEL: 03-5413-0080
http://www.tokyomidtown-mc.jp/en/
Insurance
You can receive treatment at a clinic or a hospital without insurance,but you will need to pay the full amount for treatment. Medical costs are high in Japan and travellers are recommended to purchase travel insurance.
Emergency
◇Police 110
General Information (03) 3501-0110 (Japanese/English)
◇Fire/Ambulance 119
◇Japan Help-Line (0120) 461-997
<Lost & Found>
Tokyo Metro (03) 3834-5577
JR (03) 3231-1880
Taxi (03) 3648-0300(Japanese)
TOEI Bus/Subway (03) 3812-2011
＜Lost or stolen passport＞
◇In case of loss or theft of your passport,please contact an embassy or a consulate.
<embassies and consulates>
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/protocol/a-h.html
◇In case of loss or theft of your credit card,please contact a credit card company.
<Credit card companies>
Master Card Tel:03-5728-5200
Visa Card Tel:00531-44-0022
Customs
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/passenger.htm
VISA information
◇Guide to Japanese visas
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/
◇Exemption of visas
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html
◇Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau
Address :5-5-30, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8255
Telephone :03-5796-7111
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/index.html
Tourist Information
Tourist Information Centers Tokyo (03) 3201-3331
Narita Terminal 1 (0476) 30-3383
Narita Terminal 2 (0476) 34-5877
Kansai Tourist Information Centre (072) 456-6025
Transportation
■Airport access
<Narita airport>
◇Train
Narita Express http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html
Keisei http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/index.html
◇Bus http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
<Haneda airport>
◇Monorail http://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english/
◇Keikyu http://www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/
◇Bus
http://hnd-bus.com/index.html
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
<Kansai airport>
◇Train http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/routemap/kansai-airport/
◇Bus http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/index_e.html
◇Railways and trains
Japan rail pass http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html
http://www.japan-rail-pass.com/?ap=j0095g
JR east http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html
JR west http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/
JR central http://english.jr-central.co.jp/
JR hokkaido http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/index.html
JR Kyushu http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/index.html
JR shikoku http://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/global/en/
Tobu railway http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/
Odakyu http://www.odakyu.jp/english/
Tokyu http://www.tokyu.co.jp/global/index.html
Keio http://www.keio.co.jp/english/
SEIBU Railway http://www.seibu-group.co.jp/railways/tourist/english/
◇Subway
<Tokyo>
Tokyo metro lines http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/index.html
Toei lines http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/index.html
<Kyoto>
Transport in Kyoto
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html
◇Highway bus
Willer express http://willerexpress.com/en/
Rakubus http://www.rakubus.jp/english/
Highwaybus.com
https://www.highwaybus.com/rs-web01-prd-rel/gp/foreign/frgSelectLine?lang=en
◇Car rental
Toyota Rent a car http://rent.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html
