Japan - Country Information

Film Commissions

Kitakyushu Film Commission
Tel: 93 511 4422 Fax: 93 521 8845
E-mail: kfc@kitakyu-fc.com
Website: www.kitakyu-fc.com
Film Commissioner: Akihiro Oda

Kobe Film Office
Tel: 78 303 2021 Fax: 78 302 2946
E-mail: film@kcva.or.jp
Website: www.kobefilm.jp
Film Commissioner: Mako Tenaka

Osaka Film Council
Tel: 6 6944 6333 Fax: 6 6944 6330
E-mail: info@osaka-fc.jp
Website: www.osaka-fc.jp
Director: Takao Ohno

Sapporo Film Commission
Tel: 11 211 3676 Fax: 11 232 3833
E-mail: fc@plaza-sapporo.or.jp
Website: www.sapporofc.jp

Tokyo Location Box
Tel: 3 5388 3102 Fax: 3 5388 1327
E-mail: ml-tlb@section.metro.tokyo.jp
Website: www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.jp

Permits
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
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 14 Coming of Age Day, Feb 11 National Foundation Day, Mar 20 Vernal Equinox Day, Apr 29 Showa Day, May 3 Constitution Memorial Day, May 4 Greenery Day, May 5 Childrens Day, Jul 21 Marine Day, Sep 15 Respect for the Aged Day, Sep 23 Autumnal Equinox Day, Oct 13 Sports Day, Nov 3 Culture Day, Nov 23 Labour Thanksgiving Day, Dec 23 Emperors Birthda, Dec 31* Bank Holiday
Where there is a single day between 2 national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday
Holidays falling on Sat/Sun are observed on the following Mon

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

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Japanese B encephalitis*, hepatitis B*
* 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.

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 of proof of nationality issued to nationals of Japan by Japanese consulates abroad

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) For stays up to 180 days by:
a) United Kingdom citizens and holders of British National Overseas passports
b) nationals of Austria, Germany, Ireland Republic, Liechtenstein, Mexico & Switzerland

3) For stays up to 90 days by:
a) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (holders of Special Administrative Region or British National Overseas passports), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Korea (South), Latvia, Lithuania, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius, Macao, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay & United States
b) Nationals of Taiwan holding a Republic of China (Taiwan) passports with an ID number
4) For stays up to 14 days by nationals of Brunei Darussalam

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above

Notes: Tokyo Haneda Airport & Tokyo Narita Airport are recognised as the same airport for transit purposes

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
fax: +44 20 7491 9348
website: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
hours: 0930-1330 & 1430-1630 (Mon-Fri)