HANDBOOK
INDEX
1 | SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS
2 | MONEY MATTERS
3 | WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TAXIS
4 | TIPPING
5 | WHAT TO PACK
6 | USEFUL JAPANESE WORDS
7 | SITTING ON THE FLOOR
8 | BOWING AND WAVING
9 | SHOES
10 | REST ROOM
11 | SOME POINTERS FOR ENJOYING YOUR ONSEN EXPERIENCE
12 | EATING
13 | HOW TO MAKE A PHONE CALL
14 | CUSTOMS
15 | WEATHER
16 | DIFFERENCE IN TIME
17 | ELECTRICITY
18 | ADDITIONAL POINTS OF ETIQUETTE
19 | GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN
20 | GETTING FROM
NARITA AIRPORT TO NARITA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU
21 | GETTING FROM OSAKA KANSAI AIRPORT TO
NIKKO KANSAI AIRPORT HOTEL
2 | MONEY MATTERS
You can exchange money in the airport, in the commercial banks or in most
Western-style hotels where you are a guest. They should have the current rates of
exchange clearly on display. Youll need your passport handy when you want to
exchange some money.
Citibank operates ATM machines at Narita, Haneda, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and
Chitose (Sapporo) Airports, as well as at numerous locations around Tokyo and
in other parts of Japan. For exact ATM locations -- including maps -- log onto
Citibank Japans website www.citibank.co.jp (Click on English, and then Branches
and ATMs). You will have no problem using a foreign ATM card at Citibank, and
Citibank ATMs are open 24 hours.
Note: Kansai Airport has no Citibank ATM, but there are six ATMs that accept a
foreign VISA card at Kansai Airport.
Seven Bank ATMs (www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html), open 24 hours
and located at 13,000 7-11 convenience stores across Japan accepts: Visa/PLUS,
MasterCard/Cirrus (210 JPY fee for withdrawal), American Express.
You can also obtain currency at over 20,000 Post Offices ATMs nationwide.
The post offices ATM network accepts foreign issued credit and debit cards,
including: American Express, Cirrus, Diners Club, MasterCard, PLUS and Visa.
These also have an English-language button. However, these ATMs are only
available when the post office is open, usually 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
You will get a better exchange rate when exchanging dollar travelers checks for yen
than dollar bills for yen. Plan on exchanging enough for one day each morning
PLE
PLE
PLE
PLE
PLE
PLE
SAM
SAM
SAM
SAM
SAM
SAM
1yen
5yen
10yen
50yen
100yen
500yen
PLE
SAM
1000yen
4 | JAPAN TRAVEL HANDBOOK
PLE
SAM
2000yen
PLE
SAM
5000yen
PLE
SAM
10000yen
before leaving your hotel. Dont plan on bringing travelers checks with you to
purchase items or meals at shops or restaurants.
Japan is a cash society, especially in rural areas. Credit cards are fine in large
establishments in Tokyo and Kyoto, but even in these cities, small hotels, inns,
shops, and restaurants only accept cash.
The highest denomination note is the 10,000 yen note (Ichiman-en satsu in
Japanese). Japan is still a cash based society and relatively safe, thus despite their
high value you will see plenty of ichiman-en notes in circulation. The other notes
are worth 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen (a newcomer - introduced in the year 2000) and
1000 yen (sen-en satsu). As for coins, there are three silver coins: the 500 yen coin,
the 100 yen coin, and the 50 yen coin which has a hole through its center. The 10
yen coin and 5 yen coin (again, with a hole in it) are both bronze. Finally, the one
yen coin which is made of aluminum.
4 | TIPPING
Japan is a tip free country and you do not have to tip chambermaids, taxi drivers,
and hotel or restaurant personnel. At All Japan Tours, we do not have tipping
guidelines nor expect to receive gratuities from our customers. It is up to your
discretion to tip our staff in Japan only if you believe that you have received
excellent service from them.
In some cases, while tipping is not expected at all, maybe if you feel obliged for
some extra effort, you can hand them a fairly neat bill or two, but you need to
mention, this is for you/please keep it. Its also not so rare to tell the taxi driver to
keep the change.
5 | WHAT TO PACK
An umbrella or you can buy one.
It can rain in Japan, especially in June and early July.
At least one pair of thick socks since people remove their shoes when entering
temples and shrines and since these places are not heated, you will spare your feet
from the cold. Also, holey socks are considered impolite.
Summertime: Even though it may be hot outside, the air conditioning inside the
building and tour bus can be strong; always carry a light jacket or sweater. For
women, no matter how hot the weather is, it is not proper etiquette to wear overly
skimpy and revealing clothing at temples and shrines or in crowded public places.
My name is John.
jyon desu
Amerika kara kimashita
I am from America.
Watashi wa
35
I am 35 years old.
sanjyu go sai desu
Anata no namae wa
What is your name?
nandesuka
Anata wa nansai desuka How old are you?
Shinagawa eki wa
Where is Shinagawa Station?
doko desuka
Hai
Yes
Iie
No
9 | SHOES
Shoes are considered dirty, and you will take them off when you enter most private
inside spaces. Whenever there is a step up, especially on to polished wooden
floors or tatami (straw mats), take off your shoes. Many restaurants and temples
will provide a shoe cupboard for you to place your shoes into.
When using the restroom in a place where you have already taken off your shoes,
there will be SPECIAL RESTROOM SLIPPERS to put on inside the facility area.
These slippers are to be left in the restroom when you are finished. DO NOT
WEAR these slippers out of the restroom into the common area!
10 | RESTROOMS
Depending on where you travel in Japan, you may encounter a traditional Japanese
style toilet. These can be found in public rest room in shopping malls, train
stations, and in small town minshukus (family run inns). These commodes are at
floor level. To use, face the hump.
In a location with several toilets there may be a Western toilet as indicated on the
door, and if there is a queue, line up by the stall. On the Shinkansen (bullet train)
go for the handicapped stall. This is always a Western-style toilet.
In public rest room, you may need to be prepared with a travel pack of tissues.
These packages are often handed out free (with advertisements on the reverse) as
you walk along major thoroughfares in the large cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka.
So you dont make a mistake and walk into the wrong door, especially when
traveling in rural areas, memorize the Kanji for:
Men
Women
On the other hand, Japan is recognized for its extremely high tech toilets. In upscale
hotels and ryokans (high-end Japanese inns), and even many upscale restaurants,
you will find toilets with heated seats -- a blessing on a cool, autumn day -- along
with an array of other buttons that spray water to wash you, air to dry you, etc.
There is a good chance you will miss these when you return home.
12 | EATING
Its customary to say Itadakimasu before eating and Gochisosama deshita after
eating, especially if youre being treated, as well as Kampai for Cheers.
Soup: Making loud, slurping sounds while eating noodle soup is perfectly
acceptable. Also, you will not eat soup with a spoon. You will use your chopsticks
for the noodles, meat and vegetables, and drink the soup by bringing the bowl to
your mouth.
Sushi: When eating sushi, try not to soak your rice in the soy sauce. Dip the top
portion with the fish into the sauce and put the sushi into your mouth with the fish
top facing down upon your tongue, so you can savor the flavor.
Rice: The Japanese dont pour sauces onto their rice. Leave any sauces in their
serving dish and dip your food in lightly. When you have finished eating your rice,
put the chopsticks down along the side of your plate. Usually chopstick holders are
provided. DO NOT PLACE YOUR CHOPSTICKS STRAIGHT UP IN THE RICE.
This is how rice is served to the dead.
Pouring Drinks: If youre eating with other people, dont pour your own drink. Fill
your neighbors glass and wait for him or her to reciprocate.
Its customary to say Itadakimasu before eating and Gochisosama deshita after
eating, especially if youre being treated, as well as Kampai for Cheers.
14 | CUSTOMS
When you enter Japan, you are requested to hand in the Customs Declaration
form of both your accompanied and unaccompanied baggage at the Customs
Clearance. Customs Declaration forms are available on the plane/ship or at the
Customs office.
Personal effects and unaccompanied baggage that are for personal use, are free of
duties and/or taxes within the allowance specified below. If you have both personal
effects and unaccompanied baggage, please consider them together when referring
to the allowance.
Clothes, toiletry articles, and other personal effects that are for personal use, as well
as professional equipment that will be used during your stay in Japan, are all free of
duties and/or taxes, if they are considered quantitatively appropriate and are not for
sale.
Duty-free guide
Item
Quantity
Notes
Alcoholic beverages
3 bottles
Cigarettes
400
Cigars
100
500g
Perfumes
2oz
Other items
200,000yen
15 | WEATHER
Average Temperature & Precipitation in Major Cities:
Winter (Jan)
Spring (Apr)
T(F)
T(C)
P(mm)
T(F)
Sapporo
26.4
-4.1
110.7
Sendai
34.7
1.5
33.1
Tokyo
42.4
5.8
Nagoya
39.7
Osaka
42.4
Fukuoka
43.5
6.4
Naha
61.9
16.6
Summer (Jul)
T(C)
P(mm)
T(F)
T(C)
44.1
6.7
60.9
68.9
50.2
10.1
98.1
71.8
48.6
57.9
14.4
130.3
4.3
43.2
57.4
14.1
5.8
43.7
58.6
14.8
72.1
58.6
114.5
70.3
Autumn (Oct)
P(mm)
T(F)
T(C)
P(mm)
20.5
67.2
22.1
159.7
52.3
11.3
124.1
58.6
14.8
99.2
77.7
25.4
161.5
64.8
18.2
163.1
143.3
78.8
121.1
81.0
26.0
218.0
63.7
17.6
116.9
27.2
155.4
65.7
18.7
109.3
14.8
125.2
21.3
180.7
80.4
26.9
266.4
65.7
18.7
80.9
83.3
28.5
176.1
76.8
24.9
162.9
resorts in mountainous areas. Summer is when many interesting festivals and other
events are held all over the country.
Clothing: light clothes (cardigans and other similar kinds are handy, since indoors
are mostly air-conditioned.)
AUTUMN (September - November)
Autumn always brings such freshness with a light breeze and cool temperature
after the hot and humid summer. All forests are dyed in glorious autumn colors.
Chrysanthemums create beautiful displays with their abundance of flowers
to enchant visitors to parks and gardens. Autumn is also the season for many
exhibitions, music concerts and sports tournaments in Japan.
Clothing: light jackets, light sweaters and other similar kinds of tops.
16 | DIFFERENCE IN TIME
All of Japan is in the same time zone, 9 hours ahead of G.M.T. No Daylight Saving
Time is practiced in Japan.
Shown below is a list of time differences between Japan and other major
international cities.
America
Sao Paulo
12 hrs
Sydney
Toronto
14 hrs
Seoul
New York
14 hrs
Hong Kong
Chicago
15 hrs
Mexico City
Los Angeles
+1 hr
Europe
Moscow
6 hrs
Frankfurt
8 hrs
1 hr
Geneva
8 hrs
Beijing
1 hr
Paris
8 hrs
15 hrs
Singapore
1 hr
London
9 hrs
17 hrs
Bangkok
2 hrs
Jakarta
2 hrs
0 hr
17 | ELECTRICITY
The voltage in Japan is 100 Volt, which is different from North
America (120V), Central Europe (220V) and most other regions
of the world. Japanese electrical plugs have two, non-polarized
pins, as shown above. They fit into North American outlets.
Japanese power outlets are identical to ungrounded (2-pin) North American outlets.
While most Japanese outlets these days are polarized (one slot is slightly wider than
the other), it is possible to encounter non-polarized outlets in some places.
Some North American equipment will work fine in Japan without an adapter and
vice versa. However, some sensitive equipment may not work properly or even get
damaged. If you intend to purchase electronic appliances in Japan for use outside
of Japan, you are advised to look for equipment specifically made for overseas use.
The frequency of electric current is 50 Hertz in Eastern Japan (including Tokyo,
Yokohama, Tohoku, Hokkaido) and 60 Hertz in Western Japan (including Nagoya,
Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku, Kyushu). However, this frequency difference
affects only sensitive equipment.
19 | GETTING FROM
THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN
Tokyo City is located about 100 km or 60 miles West of Narita Airport. Osaka City
is located 50 km or 31 miles from Kansai Airport, which is situated on a man-made
island in Osaka Bay.
Comfortable and convenient airport limousine buses are available for less than
US$40 one way. These motor coaches will transport you and your luggage directly
to most hotels in Tokyo from Narita Airport or Osaka from Kansai Airport. Buses
are also available from Kansai to the main railway station in Kyoto. You can then
take a short taxi ride from Kyoto station to your Kyoto hotel. The limousine bus
kiosks are easily identifiable with English sign on the arrival floors of Narita Airport
Terminals 1 & 2 and Kansai Airport.
Airport Limousine Bus schedule information for travel between Narita/Haneda Airport and
Tokyo can be found on-line at http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
Schedule information for Kansai/Itami Airport to and from Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto can be
found on-line at http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/
Terminal 1 to Hotel
Departure Time
Terminal 2 to Hotel
Departure Time
5:00
9:30
17:00
22:00
8:00
15:00
20:00
8:08
15:08
20:08
5:30
10:30
17:30
22:50
8:30
16:00
20:30
8:38
16:08
20:38
6:00
11:30
18:00
9:00
16:30
21:00
9:08
16:38
21:08
6:30
12:30
18:30
9:30
17:00
21:30
9:38
17:08
21:38
7:00
13:30
19:00
10:00
17:30
22:20
10:08
17:38
22:28
7:30
14:30
19:30
11:00
18:00
23:10
11:08
18:08
23:18
8:00
15:30
20:00
12:00
18:30
12:08
18:38
8:30
16:00
20:30
13:00
19:00
13:08
19:08
9:00
16:30
21:00
14:00
19:30
14:08
19:38
* Schedule is subject to change without notice, please check at the shuttle bus stop.
From Terminal 1
From Terminal 2
NEW No.16
South Wing
1F
North Wing
T1
Pedstrian
bridge
Pedstrian
bridge
26
Domestic
A zone
Arrival
Exit
Main
North
Entrance Entrance1
Parking
North
Entrance3
B zone
Narita Airport 2nd Terminal Station
Arrival
Exit
North
Entrance2
21 | GETTING FROM
OSAKA KANSAI AIRPORT TO
NIKKO KANSAI AIRPORT HOTEL
Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel is located about 5 minutes walk from Osaka Kansai
Airport.
*Your tour guide will be waiting at your exit unless we indicated that you have to go to the hotel by yourself.
P1
Airport
parking
P Hotel parking
Hotel Nikko
Kansai Airport
Railway
station
P4
Airport
parking
P2
Airport
parking
Proceed to the 2nd floor, walk pass the railway station to your hotel.