Isolated for so long by its position on the volcanic Pacific Rim, the Japanese archipelago retains an enigmatic fascination for visitors. A curious mixture of ancient and modern permeates Japan’s big cities, where futuristic towers and raucous karaoke bars jostle with ancient temples and teahouses. Diverse geography and climate lend the five main islands distinctive qualities. These beautiful and extreme contrasts are found throughout Japan, from the frozen peaks in Hokkaido to the tropical coral coast of Okinawa.
Getting into Japan
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival. Visas are not required for USA passport holders for stays up to 90 days.
Staying Healthy
Japan is an advanced country with high standards of hygiene and few endemic diseases. There are no special immunisations needed to visit and, other than bringing prescription medications from home, no special preparations to make. Hospitals and clinics can be found all over the archipelago, and only the smallest outer islands lack medical facilities. That said, there are some things to keep in mind.
Medical Care in Japan
While the Japanese medical system is extensive and comprehensive, the level of care can be uneven. Here are some things to note if you need to seek medical attention:
· It is better to seek care at university hospitals or other large hospitals, rather than clinics.
· Japanese doctors and hospitals are sometimes reluctant to treat foreigners. It helps to carry proof of insurance and be willing to show it. If a doctor or hospital seems reticent about giving care, you should insist on it (even though Japan has no Hippocratic oath, doctors can be told that they have to treat patients in need of care).
· Most hospitals and clinics have regular hours (usually in the mornings) when they will see patients.
· Hotels and ryokan that cater to foreigners will usually know the best hospitals in a particular area and will also know hospitals with English-speaking doctors.
· Most doctors speak some English. However, it helps to bring along a Japanese speaker if possible, to help you explain your condition and to navigate the hospital.
Money
The currency in Japan is the yen (¥). The Japanese pronounce yen as ‘en’, with no ‘y’ sound. The kanji for yen is 円.
Yen denominations:
· ¥1 coin; lightweight, silver colour
· ¥5 coin; bronze colour, hole in the middle, value in Chinese character only
· ¥10 coin; copper colour
· ¥50 coin; silver colour, hole in the middle
· ¥100 coin; silver colour
· ¥500 coin; large, silver colour
· ¥1000 banknote
· ¥2000 banknote (rare)
· ¥5000 banknote
· ¥10,000 banknote
Recommended Tipping
Below, is the recommended tipping information for Japan; these are general guidelines. No one should feel obligated to give tips; tips should be given just for very good service only. Generally speaking, tips are not part of the Japanese culture – good service is a duty the Japanese take seriously.
However – in the tourism business, it is the custom to tip, especially to guides, drivers (if you have a personal private driver – no tips for taxi drivers). In any case – a tip should be given only if you are happy with the service – it is not compulsory.
ATMs
Only a few branches of major Japanese banks – the big two are Sumitomo Mitsui (SMBC) and Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) – have ATMs that accept foreign-issued cards; there will be a sign in the window if the bank has an international ATM. Otherwise, even bank ATMs that display Visa and MasterCard logos only work with Japan-issued versions of these cards.
The easiest place to get cash in Japan is at one of the country’s ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience stores. Their Seven Bank (www.sevenbank.co.jp/english) ATMs consistently work with foreign-issued Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Plus, Cirrus, Maestro and Union Pay cards; have instructions in English; and are available 24 hours.
Other convenience-store chains have international ATMs, but Seven Bank is the most user-friendly.
Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行; www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html) ATMs, found inside post offices and sometimes at train stations, also accept most foreign-issued cards and have English instructions. The downside is that they have opening hours that are only slightly longer than regular post-office hours.
There is a withdrawal limit of ¥100,000 per transaction at Seven Bank ATMs (and ¥50,000 at Japan Post Bank ATMs). Bear in mind that your bank or card company may impose an even stricter limit; if your card is rejected, this might be the reason why.
Credit Cards
More places in Japan accept credit cards than they used to, and now many bookings can be paid for online. Businesses that do take credit cards will often display the logo for the cards they accept. Visa is the most widely accepted, followed by MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. Foreign-issued cards should work fine.
Note that Japanese tend not to use credit cards for small or sundry purchases; some shops and restaurants have a minimum purchase requirement (of maybe ¥3000 or ¥5000 to use a card).
Telephones
The country code for Japan is +81.
Japanese telephone numbers consist of an area code plus the number. You do not dial the area code when making a call in that area. When calling Japan from abroad, dial the country code 81, followed by the area code (drop the ‘0’) and the number. The most common toll-free prefixes are 0120, 0070, 0077, 0088 and 0800. Directory-assistance numbers:
Local directory assistance: 104 (¥60 to ¥150 per call)
Local directory assistance in English: 0120-36-4463 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
International directory assistance: 0057
For roaming agreements in Japan, please check with your cell phone operator before leaving.
Weather
The weather in Japan in October is mild.
· Daily High: 70°F
· Daily Low: 50°F
· Precipitation: low
· Sunshine Duration: sunny (129 hours)
Shopping
Tokyo is the fashion trendsetter for all of Japan; Osaka, the shopping capital of western Japan, has a street-smart style of its own. Kyoto is the place to pick up traditional goods such as anything tea and tea ceremony related, while Kanazawa is a city famous for its artisans who make lacquerware and gold leaf. Around the country are pottery towns and others famous for local crafts.
Etiquette
Japan is famous for its etiquette, though it’s not as strict (or as consistent) as you might think.
· Greetings: Japanese typically greet each other with a slight bow but may greet foreigners with a handshake; hugging and cheek kissing is considered alarming.
· Queuing: Join the queue, usually a neat line.
· Public Transport: It’s bad form to eat or drink on public transport, except when riding the shinkansen (bullet train), or reserved seat limited express trains; beverages in resealable containers are an exception.
· Shoes Off: Many lodgings and restaurants (and some attractions) request you leave your shoes at the door. Just take a quick look around – for a sign or slippers in the foyer – to see if this rule applies. Never wear shoes or slippers on tatami (woven floor mats).
· Religious Sites: There is no dress code for visiting a shrine or temple but it’s polite to keep your voice down.
Local Food & Drink
At its best, Japanese food is highly seasonal, drawing on fresh local ingredients coaxed into goodness with a light touch. Rice is central; the word for ‘rice’ and for ‘meal’ are the same: gohan. Miso soup and pickled vegetables often round out the meal. But from there Japanese food can vary tremendously; it can be light and delicate (as it is often thought to be) but it can also be hearty and robust.
Eating Etiquette
· This is really the only big deal: do not stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice or pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another – both are reminiscent of Japanese funeral rites.
· When serving yourself from a shared dish, it’s polite to use the back end of your chopsticks (i.e. not the end that goes into your mouth) to place the food on your own small dish.
· Lunch is one of Japan’s great bargains; however, restaurants can only offer cheap lunch deals because they anticipate high turnover. Spending too long sipping coffee after finishing your meal might earn you dagger eyes from the kitchen.
· It’s perfectly OK, even expected, to slurp your noodles. They should be eaten at whip speed, before they go soggy (letting them do so would be an affront to the chef); that’s why you’ll hear diners slurping, sucking in air to cool their mouths.
What to Pack
As we will be doing a lot of walking during the day, your daily dress should have comfort in mind and be in keeping with variable temperatures. Footwear is of the utmost importance and good slip-on flat shoes for the daytime are highly recommended. You will be frequently required to slip your shoes off and on.
Just before the trip, you will receive a list of suggested dress codes for each evening by email.
