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Japan Practical information Japan

 
 
Area : 145883  sq.mi - Population 127400000 hab.
Japan

Our expert Japan

map

map Japan

Weather

  • Osaka  27°C 27°C 26°C 24°C
  • Fukuoka  24°C 25°C 26°C 25°C
  • Kitakyushu  25°C 24°C 25°C 25°C
  • Yokohama  23°C 24°C 23°C 23°C
  • Sapporo  17°C 15°C 17°C 18°C
  • Nagasaki  24°C 26°C 26°C 27°C
  • Sendai  22°C 23°C 20°C 18°C
  • Misawa  21°C 21°C 17°C 17°C
  • Yokota  25°C 25°C 23°C 25°C
  • Iwakuni  26°C 27°C 27°C 27°C
  • Miyazaki  21°C 24°C 25°C 25°C
  • Naha  25°C 26°C 26°C 27°C
  • Kadena  24°C 25°C 26°C 26°C
  • Chitose  17°C 16°C 15°C 15°C
  • Akita  20°C 22°C 21°C 20°C

Practical information Japan

superficie

Area

145883  sq.mi
vol

Flights

London-Tokyo: 11 hrs 45 mins (direct flight). Tokyo is 7,456 mi from London. Japan Airlines flies once daily from London Heathrow to Tokyo Narita airport. Britis Airways offers 7 flights a week from London Heathrow.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

127400000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Narita international airport,Tokyo, is located 40 miles east of the town. Several means of transport are available to travel to town. The trip by bus lasts 1h30 and costs JPY 3,000. By taxi you will pay roughly JPY 21,000 in the day and the trip will last 55 minutes. Finally, the train offers two possibilities: the Narita Express costs JPY 2,940, while the Sky Liner costs JPY 1,920.
securite

Security

Japan is one the safest countries in the world, even for women travelling alone. Movement is easy all over the town and the country at every hour and there are virtually no thefts or mugging.
The only risks are natural disasters: earthquakes
(1,500 per year for Tokyo alone!), volcaninc eruption, typhoons, floods.

langue

Languages

The Japanese language. English is spoken in the main towns.
formalites

Requirements

Passport valid for at least 6 months after the return date. A visa is not necessary for a stay of less than 3 months.
religion

Religion

The two main religions are Shinto (religion founded on ancestral worship and nature worship) and Buddhism. Several Japanese practise both religions.
monnaie

Currency

transports

Local transportation

Air travel: It is a practical means of travelling in the islands and is harldy more expensive than the train. Air lines offer discounts, where more than three women travel together or if the age of both members of a couple is more than 88 years!!!

Train: fast means of transport, comfortable, neat and... expensive!!! Tourists may take advantage of the "Japan Rail Pass" package to be bought prior to departure and is valid for an unlimited number of travels on the railway network over a 7-to-21-day period. Prices: JPY 28,300 for a 7-day pass. Ship: a dense network links the main islands and the smaller ones located close to Taiwan. It is an excellent means to discover the most inaccessible panoramas of the country.

Car: the roads are very good. The highways are very congested. You should therefore be patient when travelling for long distances. Driving out of Tokyo requires knowing the language, as all signs are written in ideograms. The international license is not recognised. In the city, the options are limitless: subway, bus, tramway and taxis (expensive!). Since a new signalling system was introduced in 2004 for foreigners, taking the Tokyo subway is no more a headache. The lines are designated by the first letter of their names and the stations by a number referring to the order they appear on the line. For instance, Stop H8 is the 8th station on the Hibiya line.
sante

Health


Avoid eating raw, or half-cooked food, and wash your hands with soap often.

No particular vaccination is required. Medical costs are extremely high in Japan, get insurance and check the limit given to reimbursement of medical expenses.
electricite

Electricity

Electrical power is of American style: 100 V. You will find electrical outlets of 220 V in certain hotels. An adaptor is however essential. If you have forgotten to buy one, you will easily find some in shops.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

Japan hosted 6,137,905 tourists in 2004.
taxe

Taxes and tips

Tips are not absolutely essential but you can give one as a mark of satisfaction.
Airport taxes: only if leaving from Tokyo (2,400 JPY) and Kansai (2,650 JPY) airports.
telephone

Telephone

To call the UK from Japan: dial 00 + 81 + city code (Tokyo: 3; Sapporo: 11; Yokohama: 45; Kawasaki: 44; Kobe: 78; Kyoto: 75; Osaka 6) + the number you are calling.
From Japan to the UK: dial 001 + 44 + the number you are calling.
Phone booths equally accept coins and cards, but all are not designed for international calls.
To make local calls from a fixed phone prepare roughly 10 yens per minute. On the other hand, needless to take your mobile phone along in your luggage. Indeed, the two national networks are not compatible with those of other countries. You will be able to rent one on the spot.