Q: Do I need any vaccinations to enter Japan?

A: There are no requirements for foreign travelers from any countries regarding certificates of vaccination.

Q: What can I bring through Customs?

A: Baggage or accompanying items arriving separately (within six months after either entry to or exit from Japan), which are accepted as for personal use only, are duty-free within the restricted quantity as specified by the customs regulations. For more details, please refer to Customs.

Q: Can I use my credit cards? If yes, what is the best way to carry money in Japan: Travelers Checks, cash or credit cards?

A: Although most stores and restaurants will accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express cards, travelers should keep in mind that there are smaller shops that may not have merchant account capabilities. More than 26,000 Post Office ATMs exist at various locations throughout Japan, and stickers indicate whether a Post Office has an ATM machine. Cirrus, Plus, Maestro and Visa Electron networks are accepted, as are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards.

Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, so carrying cash is not a real problem. Travelers Checks are also an option, although it is wise to have these available in either Japanese yen, or US dollars. Travelers Checks may not be accepted by establishments other than major hotels and banks, as establishments must have currency exchange capabilities in order to accept these.

Q: Is it possible to use my mobile phone in Japan?

A: At the time of writing, the Japanese mobile telephone system is not compatible with those of other countries; however, you may wish to confirm the compatibility of your mobile phone in Japan with your phone line service provider in your own country before departing for Japan. If you want to use a mobile phone in Japan, rental phones are also available. You can find rental shops at Narita Airport and Kansai Airport.

Q: I don't speak Japanese. Will travel in Japan be difficult

A: Traveling in a country where you don't speak the language can be both challenging and rewarding. But even if you don't speak any Japanese, finding your way around Japan needn't be difficult. English is widely spoken throughout the country, particularly in major cities and tourist centers. Public transportation announcements are frequently made in both Japanese and English, and signs generally include decipherable roman characters or an English explanation. A comprehensive range of tourist services also provides a helping hand to foreign visitors in Japan.

Q: Is it true that trains are the most convenient way to travel in Japan?

A: Railway networks are greatly developed across the nation. Japan Railways (JR) (which includes Shinkansen lines) connects all major cities nationwide, while private railway companies operate in each region. Large cities also have their fair share of subways and monorails. The Japan Rail Pass is a very economical and convenient method of accessing unlimited travel on JR lines within Japan, including the Shinkansen. For more details on fares, validity periods, restrictions and other details, please refer to Japan Rail Pass.

Q: Can I purchase tickets or make reservations for JR trains in advance?

A: You can purchase tickets and make reservations from abroad. The English web site of JR East has opened a reservation site for the Narita Express (limited express train that runs between New Tokyo International Airport and metropolitan Tokyo) and Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Line. For more details, please refer to Japan Railways Seat Reservation Service.

Q: Are there any unlimited ride passes for trains in Japan?
A: There is a variety of unlimited ride passes for trains, including the Japan Rail Pass, which covers a huge area of the country. Using this pass, unlimited travel is possible on JR lines (including the Shinkansen, but excluding the Nozomi train). An Exchange Order is necessary to acquire a Japan Rail Pass and can be purchased from overseas offices of JTB International, the Nippon Travel Agency Co., Ltd., the Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. and the Tokyu Tourist Corporation, as well as from their affiliated travel agencies in other countries. Exchange Orders are also available from overseas offices of JAL. For more details, please refer to Japan Rail Pass.

Sightseeing

Q: Is all of Japan urbanized like Tokyo? Is there no natural landscape left anywhere in Japan?

A: Metropolitan Tokyo is a big city with a population of over 12 million inhabitants. Here company headquarters, commercial establishments and government agencies are concentrated, impacting the Japanese and world economies. Since there are many office buildings and commercial facilities, you may have the impression that there is no natural beauty left in Tokyo, but the truth is that there are many parks and green spaces, such as Hibiya Park, the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens, and the Meiji Shrine Outer Garden, where greenery in Tokyo flourishes.

Since one-seventh of Japan's landscape is mountainous, abundant with rivers, ravines and lakes, you can enjoy beautiful scenery within a short distance of major cities. The Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains in Aomori and Akita Prefectures and Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture have even been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. There are also 28 national parks where the natural environment is protected. Furthermore, since Japan is a nation of islands surrounded by seas on all sides, you can enjoy the picturesque coastline from many parts of the country. In fact, in subtropical Okinawa, majestic ocean resorts with coral reefs and spectacular beaches stand their ground with first class ocean resorts worldwide.

Q: Do Japanese people eat sushi every day?

A: It is true that sushi is a typical and popular Japanese dish (particularly in the West), and many Japanese people like it. But Japanese people don't eat sushi every day. Sushi is not even a common Japanese everyday food.

In their everyday life, many Japanese people eat food that contains fish and vegetables as essential ingredients, but Japanese also eat Western food such as spaghetti, hamburgers, and beefsteak for their regular meals. You can find many fast food restaurants, such as hamburger establishments in Japan, and in big cities such as Tokyo, there are restaurants serving a variety of international cuisine. You can safely say that the Japanese diet is as rich or even richer in variety as that of other nations of the world.