Language
The official language in Japan is obviously Japanese, but most people would understand English. Most signs are easy to understand, most of them have English below. Also all train station announcement have English translation. All tourist centers can speak English. If you really need to ask a lock for help, make sure you speak slowing and clear, eventually they will understand. English is compulsory in schools in Japan, so in the future Japan will be no problem with asking locals. Why not learn some easy Japanese?
National Holidays
Visa
Any foreign visitor entering Japan must have a passport which is valid. Australia passport holders will not require having a visa to get in, unless staying over 90 days.
Heath
There are no health requirements for entering Japan no matter what country you come from.
Other Information for travelers
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Time: GMT/UTC +9
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Country code: 81
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International dialing code: 010
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Electricity: 100V; 50 Hz (Tokyo and eastern Japan),
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Weights & measures: Metric
- Useful Contacts:
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Ambulance: 119
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Fire: 119
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Police: 110
Currency
There is no limit of amount that you bring into Japan or leave. The unit of Japanese currency is “yen”. Coins are in 1, 5, 10, 100, 500 yen and notes are 1,000, 2, 00, 5,000, and 10,000 yen.
Current exchange rate
The current exchange rate with Australia and Japan is:
AUD$1=JPY77.5600
Rate date: Friday 21st November 2003
The exchange rate has changed much, still around 76-78 yen. It is best to exchange money in Japan other than exchanging in Australia. But, still bring reasonable amount of money before coming to Japan in case of any emergencies.
Types of money to take
Credit cards, travel checks, and cash obviously are accepted everywhere in every major city in Japan. International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Dinners Club and MasterCard are acceptable nearly everywhere. But it is advice to bring cash instead of credit cards in Japan’s countryside.
Availability of credit facilities & currency exchange
ATMs are practically everywhere in large urban area through Japan. However they do not accept foreign credit cards. ATMs usually operate in bank hours, some open till 18:00-20:00 on weekdays. Most likely Saturday mornings have restricted hours to get money. It is advised to check with your credit card company before going to Japan.
Getting to Japan
The best way to get to Japan from Australia is by plane because it is he fastest way to get there, 9 hours.
We suggest traveling with Qantas other than JAL because Qantas is cheaper than JAL. The price range on from Sydney to Tokyo on Qantas is AUD$1,200 to AUD$2,000. Price varies because of what day you planning to go. If it’s a Christmas season n, the price goes up to like AUD$1,890 and if it’s September the price can go to AUD$1,280. All depends on when you want to go.
All prices are from November till Christmas
Getting Around
After you arrive to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, you’ll have to take a train to the city which takes 60-85 minutes depending if you take the express train. There are few ways of getting around places:
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Buses- City buses are convenient, easy to use, English announcements. When you buy a bus ticket it is indicate what fare zone you going. Long distance buses are buses where you travel from city to city. They usually take longer but they are cheap (cheaper than trains!). This benefits you to save money on accommodation, comfortable, cheap, and sightseeing.
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Rental cars- this is the worst way to get around. Firstly cities like Tokyo are small and congested. Traffic jams are very often, especially in rush hours. Rental cars should be your last option.
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Ships- ships are useful to travel if you want to go to islands of Japan. Price can vary due to what ship you want to go on.
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Subways- subways are goes everywhere in the city. Very efficient transportation. Price aren’t expensive, all day same price.
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Trains- this is also a good transportation traveling city to city. Price also varies depending distance you traveling & type of train you sit (bullet train/first class trains/etc.). The Shinkansen (bullet train) is a world famous train that goes record of 443 km/h, average speed of 262 km/h. This can leave Tokyo to other major cities approximately 15 minutes.
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Taxi- taxis are always around the corner. Comfortable and safe, but often expensive never use taxi for long distances. Taxis are advised to be 2nd last options.
There is a special discounted fare only for visitor to Japan. Like unlimited use on buses & subways. Which cost 57,700 yen, but conditions apply.
There many types of accommodation to choose from like:
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Minshuku (Guest houses) - this one way of making you save money. Also a good way of seeing the way of Japanese people’s daily life. Usually minshuku are family running business with rented rooms being part of the family’s home. Price is moderate 6, 500yen include 2 meals, but compared to hotels these are real cheap. But in some families there are strict rules, you are expected to fold up their bedding when you wake up.
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Hotels-these are all western type of hotels, advice to book before especially in holiday season. There are hotel ranges from world-class hotels to ordinary hotels. Price is varies due to quality of room you want. A deluxe hotel would cost around 30, 000yen per night. Ordinary hotels would cost around 6, 000 yen – 10,000 yen per night.
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Ryokan- these are the best way to enjoy your Japanese experience of living. Sleep like Japanese, eat like Japanese, do things like Japanese. Price is usually fairly high for this experience. 12,000yen – 20,000 yen per person including meals. There is a cheaper ryokan but less places. Price would be around 5,000 yen excluding meals, but rooms are half the size the good ryokan.
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Youth hostels- this maybe the cheapest way to stay in Japan. Usually you have to apply before you get to go in. If you do get in, there are more rules to follow. Cost would only be around 2,800yen to 3,000yen per person.
Best place to visit in Japan:
Tokyo
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Tokyo is famous for its shopping, crowd, food! Ginza is properly the most famous place to shop in Japan, place to get all your clothes, technology, and food! It’s just filled lots of small individual shops, makes it great to shop or look around.
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Ueno-koen is a great place to relax and look at the best museums and galleries, which is for free!
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The good about national museum is that t heir free!!! The “Tokyo National Museum” and “National Science Museum” is full of great things to look at, and I doubt you some things you never seen (especially the technology)
- Senso-ji Temple, probably the liveliest place of Buddhist worship in all Japan. The place is worth looking around and taking pictures
Mt Fuji
- Japan's highest mountain it has a height of 3776m. It’s a extinct volcano which has became a popular attraction
- Best views are when winter or spring when the snow has fallen on the mountain
- The Fuji Five Lakes are popular to go to. It’s like an amusement park to go and it has a nice view of Mt Fuji. Not very expensive to get in and have fun, 1000yen.
Kyoto
- If you really interest to visit Japan’s festivals this is the place
Daisetsuzan National Park
- Japan’s largest national park in central Hokkaido.
- Park, which consists of several mountain groups, volcanoes, lakes and forests, is spectacular hiking and skiing territory. It's almost insanely popular in summer and early autumn when you really need a few days to get away from the crowds.
- Sounkyo is a place for those who want to experience hot-springs best for after walking mountains.
- Furano is the best ski resort in the world. Right next to Tokachidake Onsen and Shirogane Onsen where nice hot-springs are.
Nagasaki
- A very beautiful city after the a-bomb
- A-bomb museum is a nice place to look around and learn what happen in the a-bomb
- Hypocentre Park, which has a black stone column marking the exact point above which the bomb exploded plus relics and ruins from the blast.
In Japan the security is safe, crime rates aren’t high. This is proven by the “2002 World Cup” they held the world cup comfortable. It is safe as you walk around the street in Australia.
Japanese people are really now turning into a western world. So there is nothing to be scared of wearing clothes etc. just is that you do need to give respect in what they believe in.
Bibliography
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Jude Band Tokyo Night City
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Encarta->Japan
