Japan - Country Information

Film Commissions

(contact local/regional film commissions - see Japan Film Commission Promotion Council website)
Website: www.film-com.jp

Permits/visas
Required.

Recent productions
Ikanai, Junk Food, The Breath, Bad Film, Love Letter.

General Information

Location: Far East
Local Time: GMT+9
Capital City: Tokyo
Population: 127 million
Area: 378,000 square km, 145,946 square miles.
Language(s): Japanese, (English)
Dialling Code: 81
Emergency: Police: 110. Fire & Ambulance: 119
Directory Enquiries: 104
TV Standard: NTSC
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 100V AC 50Hz (Tokyo & East Japan); 100V AC 60Hz (Osaka & West Japan)

Business & Currency

Currency: Yen (JPY)
Notes: JPY: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: JPY: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards are widely accepted, travellers cheques can be exchanged at major banks and larger hotels. Money is recommended to be exchanged at banks, hotels & money changers. ATMs available at Post Office locations for credit card cash withdrawls

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1500 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 1000-1900

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day, 11 Jan Coming of Age Day, 11 Feb National Foundation Day, 20 Mar Vernal Equinox, 29 Apr Showa Day, 3 May Constitution Memorial Day, 4 May Greenery Day, 5 May Children's Day, 19 Jul Marine Day, 20 Sep Respect for the Aged Day, 23 Sep Autumnal Equinox, 11 Oct Sports Day, 3 Nov Culture Day, 23 Nov Labour Thanksgiving Day, 23 Dec Birthday of the Emperor.

Note
With the exception of New Year Bank Holidays, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is treated as a holiday instead. When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday. Between 29 December and 3 January government offices and many shops and offices are closed.

Business/Social Hints: On meeting and taking leave give a slight bow, but shaking hands is usually practiced with non Japanese. Business cards to have Japanese translation on reverse side. Some business executives speak English. Japanese customs and conventions are very different from those in Europe and North America and specialist travel guides should be read. Visitors should be perceptive to local customs. Laughter may disguise embarrassment. Small gifts from one's home country are welcome as tokens of appreciation. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 20 years

Tipping: Not customary. Advice should be obtained on how to show appreciation in the most appropriate manner

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Japanese B encephalitis*, hepatitis B*, tick-borne encephalitis*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: Passports issued by Korea (North) & those issued to Chinese residents of Taiwan are not recognised. Such persons must obtain a Japanese Travel Document

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:

1) Holders national indentity cards issued to nationals of Japan by Japanese consulates

Passport Validity: Passport must be valid for duration of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Japan

2) Nationals of Vatican City

3) For stays up to 90 days by:
a) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen, British Nationals (Overseas)

b) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR passports), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Republic, Israel, Italy, Korea (South), Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Macao (SAR passports), Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (with personal ID number), Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay & United States

c) Extension possible for holders of normal passports being nationals of Austria, Germany, Ireland Rep of, Liechenstein, Mexico & Switzerland

Notes: Visitors must hold confirmed return or onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance during their stay.

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:

Notes: If the Transit time is less than 72 hours, and the traveller is departing from the same airport of arrival, a shore pass may be issued

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Travellers should carry evidence of: the purpose of their trip, sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in Japan and plans to leave Japan after a reasonable stay

Climate

Generally a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and sunny in the south, getting colder further north with heavy snowfalls in Hokkaido and northwestern Honshu. Spring and autumn tend to be fairly mild and pleasant. Summer, between Jun-Sep ranges from warm to very hot. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread throughout the year, although between Jun- early Jul is the main rainy season. Typhoons are only likely to occur in Sep-Oct, rarely lasting more than a day

Clothing

Lightweights in summer for most areas, light or medium weights for spring and autumn and heavier, warmer clothing for the winter months. Much warmer clothes will be needed in mountains all year round

Charts for Tokyo

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 8 9 12 17 22 24 28 30 26 21 16 11 Min Temp (C) -2 -1 2 8 12 17 21 22 19 13 6 1 Humidity am (%) 73 71 75 81 85 89 91 92 91 88 83 77 Humidity pm (%) 48 48 53 59 62 68 69 66 68 64 58 51 Rainfall (mm) 48 74 107 135 147 165 142 152 234 208 97 56

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Japan National Tourist Organisation
Heathcoat House
20 Savile Row
London, W1S 3PR
tel: +44 20 7734 9638
fax: +44 20 7734 4290
e-mail: info@jnto.co.uk
website: www.seejapan.co.uk
www.jnto.go.jp

Embassy
Embassy of Japan
Consular Section
101-104 Piccadilly
London, W1J 7JT
tel: +44 20 7465 6500/ 6565
fax: +44 20 7491 9348
website: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
hours: 0930-1330 & 1430-1630 (Mon-Fri)