Japan Travel Tips

Japan Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. A strict code of behavior and politeness is recognized and followed by almost all Japanese. However, they are aware of the difference between themselves and the West and therefore do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs (but do expect them to behave formally and politely).

A straightforward refusal does not form part of Japanese etiquette. A vague ‘yes' does not really mean ‘yes' but the visitor may be comforted to know that confusion caused by non-committal

replies occurs between the Japanese themselves. Entertaining guests at home is not as customary as in the West, as it is an enterprise not taken lightly and the full red-carpet treatment is given. Japanese men are also sensitive lest their wives be embarrassed and feel that their hospitality is inadequate by Western standards; for instance, by the inconvenience to a foreign guest of the custom of sitting on the floor. Bowing is the customary greeting but handshaking is becoming more common for business meetings with Westerners.

The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing all men and women; for instance Mr Yamada would be addressed as Yamada-san. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant it is customary to remove shoes - and there are separate ‘toilet slippers' that should be put on before entering a bathroom, and taken off again on leaving. Table manners are very important, although the Japanese host will be very tolerant towards a visitor. However, it is best if visitors familiarize themselves with basic table etiquette and use chopsticks. It is customary for a guest to bring a small gift when visiting someone's home. Exchange of gifts is also a common business practice and may take the form of souvenir items such as company pens, ties or high-quality spirits.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The largest national airline is Japan Airlines (JAL) (website: www.jal.co.jp).

Main Airports
Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) (Narita City) (website: www.narita-airport.or.jp) is 65km (40 miles) east of Tokyo (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). To/from the airport: Luxury coaches depart regularly from the airport to city-center hotels. There is also a limousine bus to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT). A shuttle bus links the airport with major hotels in the city center. Tickets for all services can be bought in the terminals. Japan Railways’ reservation-only Narita Express line runs from Narita station terminal located beneath the airport to Tokyo station (journey time - 1 hour), Shinjuku (journey time - 1 hour 30 minutes) and Yokohama (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes) regularly. There are taxis to the city, with a surcharge after (journey time - 1 hour). Travelers should note that these are five times as expensive as the trains. There is a free shuttle bus connecting both terminals (journey time - 10 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, car hire, restaurants, tourist information center in both terminals, post office, mobile phone and video camera hire and Internet facilities.
Departure Tax: ¥2040.

(Osaka) Kansai International (KIX) (Kansai) (website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp) is 50km (31 miles) southwest of Osaka. To/from the airport: There is a bus to the city (journey time - 1 hour). The Nankai RR service goes to Namba station (journey time - 30 minutes). The JR West service goes to JR Osaka station (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). Taxis are available to the city (journey time - 1 hour); a surcharge may be imposed after 2200. It is also possible to take the jetfoil from Kansai Airport to Kobe’s Port Island (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, car hire, banks/bureaux de change, tourist information and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥2650.

Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) (NGO) (website: www.centrair.jp/en) is 35km (23 miles) south of Nagoya. To/from the airport: JR Tokai Bus Company operates frequent services between the airport and Nagoya station (journey time - about 45 minutes). Meitetsu bus services are also frequent and call at Sakae and several hotels in the city. Taxis are available. Meitetsu trains offer the fastest way of getting into town (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Car hire, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants and shops.
Departure Tax: None
 
Fukuoka International (FUK) (website: www.fuk-ab.co.jp) is 20 minutes’ journey time from Fukuoka City.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥945.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Japan is easily accessible by sea, and passenger ships include the major ports on their schedules. Ferries operate daily from Osaka and Kobe to Shanghai (China) and weekly from Kobe to Tanggu (near Tianjin, China).

For Taiwan, ferries depart from Okinawa with Arimura Sangyo Lines (website: www.arimuraline.co.jp).  To confirm sailing times in English, try online (tel: (98) 860 1980; website: www.tokai-kyowa.co.jp/en/service/en_sv009.htm).

The Shimonoseki-Busan ferry runs across the Sea of Japan to Korea (Rep).

Links to the Russian Federation include weekly services between Yokohama and Nakhoda (near Vladivostok). Alternatively, there is a twice-weekly service to Wakkanai in Hokkaido from Korsakov in the Russian Federation. There are cruises between the Japanese islands en route to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Getting There by Rail
The Trans-Siberian route to Japan is an interesting and very well organized, if lengthy, trip. Connections can be made daily from London via Harwich or Dover through Europe to Moscow. The Trans-Siberian railway departs regularly from Moscow (see Russia section). Among the many tour operators that organize tickets for this is The Russia Experience (website: www.trans-siberian.co.uk).

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Japan without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco or 500g of a combination of these.
• Three bottles (approximately 0.76l each) of spirits.
• 56ml of perfume.
• Gifts up to the value of ¥200,000.

There is no duty free allowance for alcohol or tobacco products for travelers aged 19 years or younger. Oral declaration is necessary on arrival at customs.

Prohibited Imports
Counterfeit, altered or imitated coins, paper money, banknotes or securities; all plants with soil; most meats and fruits; animals without health certificates; firearms and ammunition; narcotics; obscene articles and publications (including films). Visitors should be aware that in Japan cold and flu medication containing stimulants are illegal. You are not permitted to take commonly available nasal decongestant medication such as Sudafed and Vicks Inhalers into Japan.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
All Nippon Airways (ANA) (website: www.ana.co.jp/eng) and Japan Airlines (JAL) (website: www.jal.co.jp/en) and several other airlines maintain an extensive network covering Japan proper and its islands. Tokyo’s domestic airport is Haneda (HND) (website: www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp/fl/english), its international airport is Narita (NRT) (website: www.narita-airport.jp/en). A monorail service runs from Hamamatsu-cho to Haneda. One international airline, China Airlines (website: www.china-airlines.com), serves Haneda. Other international flights to and from Haneda are made via Fukuoka (website: www.fuk-ab.co.jp), Nagoya (website: www.nagoya-airport-bldg.co.jp), Osaka (website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp) or Tokyo airports. Main routes are Tokyo-Sapporo; Tokyo-Fukuoka; Tokyo-Osaka; and Tokyo-Naha. Tickets can be purchased at automatic machines at Tokyo International Airport’s domestic departure counter and at Osaka International Airport.

Getting Around by Water
The Tokyo Ferry Terminal (website: www.tptc.or.jp/eng/ferry.htm) has frequent services by high-speed boat, ferry or hydrofoil to Japan’s islands. Popular routes include Tokyo-Hokkaido (in the north) and Tokyo-Okinawa (in the south). Major sea routes include Awaji Island: Akashi- Iwaya; Shodo Island: Himeji-Fukuda, Okayama-Tonosho and Takamatsu-Tonosho; Shiraishijima and Manabejima Islands: Kasaoka-Shiraishijima-Manabejima; and Ikuchijima and Omishama Islands: Mihara-Setoda. Bullet train services travel frequently to ports. Ferry companies include Shin Nihonkai Ferry (website: www.snf.co.jp) and Ocean Tokyu Ferry (website: www.otf.jp).

Getting Around by Rail
The Japan Railways Group (JR) (website: www.japanrail.com) runs one of the best rail networks in the world, and is widely used for both business and pleasure. Express and ‘limited express’ trains are best for intercity travel. Very frequent services run on the main routes. Shinkansen, the ‘bullet trains’, are the fastest, with compartments for wheelchair passengers, diners and buffet facilities. Supplements are payable on the three classes of express train and in ‘Green’ (first-class) cars of principal trains, for which reservations must be made. Other types of train include Kyuko (Express), Tokkyu (Limited Express), Kaisoku (Rapid Train) and Futsu (Local Train). For short-distance trains, tickets can only be bought at vending machines outside train stations.

Rail Passes
Japan Rail Pass: an economical pass for foreign tourists which must be purchased before arrival in Japan. Valid for seven, 14 or 21 days. The pass can be obtained from Japan Airlines, if flying with them; contact the tourist board for other vendors. It can be used on all trains except the new Nozomi super express trains, and also on Japan Rail buses and Japan Rail ferries. A Japan Rail Pass brochure is available from the Japan National Tourist Organization (see General Info). For travelers with a Japan Rail Pass, there are various other discounts in operation including a 10% discount at any JR Group Hotel.

Other rail passes include the JR East Pass, JR Kyushu Rail Pass, JR West Rail Pass, Kansai Passport and the Hokkaido Rail Pass - more localized and therefore slightly cheaper than the JR Pass. For details of other discount fares, contact the Japan Railways Group (website: www.japanrail.com).

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Driving in Japan is complicated for those who cannot read the language as understanding the road signs can be a problem. Traffic in cities is often congested. The Keiyo Highway, Meishin Expressway, Tohoku Expressway and the Tomei Expressway link Japan’s major Pacific coastal cities, passing through excellent scenery. Buses and coaches connect most major cities, run by big companies such as JR Local Lines or JR Highway LInes (website: www.jrbuskanto.co.jp for lines from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and across Kanto) or private companies such as Forest Bus (website: www.forestbus.jp/english).

Regulations: Seat belts are compulsory and speed limits on highways are between 80 and 100kph (50 and 62mph). Many international car hire firms are present.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. Minimum driving age is 18.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Public transport is well developed, efficient and crowded. The underground systems and privately run suburban rail services, which serve all the main cities, are very convenient but take care in rush hours. Tokyo also has one working tram line, 12km (7.5 miles) from Waseda via Ikebukuro to Minowabashi in northeast Tokyo.

Bus: These can be confusing and are best used with someone who knows the system. Otherwise visitors should get exact details of their destination from the hotel. Fares systems are highly automated, but passes are available (the one day economy pass is very good value). On buses, payment is made on leaving. Most buses in Tokyo are run by the Toei Bus Company, or To-bus (website: www.tachikawabus.co.jp).

Metro: All of Japan’s largest cities have subway systems. Tokyo has two underground systems: the Tokyo Metro Co Ltd operates the nine Tokyo Metro lines (TRTA) (website: www.tokyometro.jp/e/index.html), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TBTMG) operates the four lines on the Toei Subway. Tickets for Toei lines are not valid for the Tokyo Metro and vice versa, so a transfer ticket must be bought. A variety of tickets can be bought including a monthly open pass, one-day open ticket, 14 tickets for the price of 10 and a Tokyo Combination ticket; this can be bought six months in advance and entitles the passenger to unlimited travel on all the lines on the subway, JR rail, Toei buses and street cars for one day within the six months. Kyoto also has its own subway system with two major lines: the Karasuma and Tozai lines. Kyoto Sightseeing Passes can be bought enabling unlimited rides on buses and the underground (website: www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/subway.html).

Taxi: These can be expensive, particularly in rush hour (0730-0930 and 1700-1800). There is a minimum charge for the first 2km (1.2 miles) and there is a time charge in slow traffic. It is advisable for visitors to have prepared in advance the name and address of their destination in Japanese writing, together with the name of some nearby landmark; a map may also help, as Japanese streets are so complicated most taxi drivers will get confused. Hotels can provide this service.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Tokyo to other major cities/towns in Japan.