Facts


Population

127.7 million


Capital City

Tokyo (population: 12 million)


Area

377,915 km2


Location

Japan is an important gateway country to Eastern Asia, and is the island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula.


Climate

The weather is generally mild and humid with considerable variation from north to south, and between the Pacific Ocean side to the east of the central mountain ranges and the Japan Sea side to the west. The average temperature is 25°celsius in summer and, 5°celsius in winter.


JNTO Essential Info

www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/climate.html


Time Differences

All of Japan is in the same time zone,
9 hours ahead of G.M.T. No Daylight Saving Time is practiced in Japan.


Visas & Immigration Procedures

Any foreign visitor who wishes to enter Japan must have a passport, which will remain valid during the period of stay.

Nationals of many countries are eligible to enter Japan without a visa unless the purpose of the visit is to reside in Japan, to obtain employment or to otherwise engage in remunerative activities.

Immigration Bureau of Japan

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html


Tokyo Immigration Bureau

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/immigration.html


    Landing Examination Procedures of Japan

      http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1203.html


Credit Cards and Travelers Checks

International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also acceptable at these major establishments.
Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, Japanese ryokan inns and stores in major cities.


ATMs

Foreign credit and cash cards can be used at Japan Post Bank, Seven Bank ATMs (installed in Seven - Eleven Stores) and City Bank ATMs throughout Japan. It is, however, advised to contact each credit card company beforehand and check the location of each ATM and its availability as these conditions vary from machine to machine.

Japan Post Bank

http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html

Seven Bank

http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.htm

City Bank

http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/index.html


Emergency Info

Police 03 3501 0110 *
Fire/Ambulance 119
Hospital Information 03 5285 8181
*An English-language line to the Metropolitan Police in Tokyo (available from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.).


JNTO Emergency Info

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/emergency/index.html


Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Japan

http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/protocol/index.html


International Calls

A direct overseas call can be made from a public telephone displaying an International and Domestic Telephone sign. These phones can be found at airports, hotels, and other key facilities.


Mobile Phones

Now you can use your mobile phone number in Japan using SoftBank Mobile and NTT DoCoMo's 3G (3rd generation) service areas. Simply bring your own SIM card and insert it into a rental phone or your own 3G handset.


Electricity

The voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. There are two kinds of frequencies in use: 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka). There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan but 2-flat-pin plugs are used instead. It is therefore advised to purchase a plug adapter beforehand.


Transportation

For information on Japan’s airports, railways, and buses, as well as special discounts and other valuable information, please visit the following Web site:

JNTO　Transportation

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/transportation/index.html


News

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) disseminates news about Japan and information about various events, and also provides digital broadcasts, among other services.
http://www.nhk.or.jp/english