Contents
- Introduction of Japan
- Access to Japan
- Time Difference
- Money
- Climate and Seasons
- Language
- Religion
- Electricity
- Alcoholic Beverage
- Smoking
Introduction of Japan
5 islands and 8 regions
Japan (called "Nippon" or "Nihon" in Japanese) is an island country divided 8 regions and consists of "Hokkaidō （北海道、ほっかいどう）", "Honsyū （本州、ほんしゅう）", "Shikoku （四国、しこく）", "Kyūshyū （九州、きゅうしゅう）", "Okinawa （沖縄、おきなわ）" and other 6,846 islands. The area of Japan is 377,914km^2 (near to Germany) and the population is 126,530,000 (near to Russia). Japan is rich in nature, and 70% of the land in Japan is mountains and forests. Therefore, most Japanese people live in urban areas, so you may be surprised at the crowdedness of urban area especially if you are in Tokyo or Osaka. Also, Japan is rich in water resources too, so there are a lot of hot springs ("Onsen （温泉）"). The climate of Japan is temperate, and Japan has four seasons. Then, Japan is a vertically long country, so the temperature difference is very big. Therefore, it changes the lifestyle and culture according to each regions, and this is one attraction of Japan.Access to Japan
4 international airports in Japan. Narita International Airport （成田国際空港）[NRT] and Haneda Airport （羽田空港）[HND] are near to Tokyo. Kansai International Airport（関西国際空港） [KIX] is near to Osaka (2nd largest city). Chūbu Centrair International Airport （中部国際空港）[NGO] is near to Nagoya (3rd largest city). You can go to central cities from each airports by trains within 1 hour.Time Difference
Japan standard time is UTC+9.Current local time in Japan is:
Money
Currency
(This image is a quotation from JNTO)
Japanese currency is yen （円）. 4 kinds of bills (10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, and 1,000 yen) and 6 kinds of coins (500 yen, 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen, and 1 yen) are mainly used. The basic rate is "One dollar = 110 yen". Exchangers （ryōgae, 両替） are open all over the Japan, especially in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Of course, you can exchange in airports and luxury hotels. (Coins are not accepted to exhange.)
Credit Cards, Travelers Checks, and ATMs
You can use major credit cards and travelers checks in uraban areas. However, if you schedule to travel in country side, you need to have some cash.Some kinds of credit cards or cash cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club are acceptable to use at ATMs that are in post offices and seven-eleven (convenience stores).
Climate and Seasons
Regions/Month |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hokkaidō |
-4.7 |
-4.0 |
0.0 |
6.3 |
11.3 |
17.6 |
22.5 |
23.1 |
18.8 |
12.9 |
6.3 |
0.8 |
Tōhoku |
-1.0 |
-0.6 |
4.0 |
9.0 |
14.7 |
20.3 |
22.8 |
25.3 |
21.1 |
15.6 |
7.7 |
3.0 |
Kantō |
3.9 |
4.5 |
10.7 |
13.6 |
18.6 |
22.0 |
26.8 |
28.8 |
24.5 |
19.4 |
12.5 |
7.5 |
Chūbu |
2.6 |
3.4 |
9.1 |
12.3 |
18.0 |
22.7 |
26.7 |
28.0 |
23.5 |
19.0 |
10.5 |
5.5 |
Kinki |
4.6 |
5.0 |
10.0 |
13.5 |
19.1 |
23.7 |
27.9 |
29.0 |
24.4 |
20.2 |
12.1 |
7.1 |
Chūgoku |
3.9 |
5.3 |
9.9 |
12.8 |
18.9 |
23.5 |
27.9 |
28.7 |
23.6 |
19.1 |
11.4 |
6.1 |
Shikoku |
5.2 |
6.6 |
11.3 |
14.1 |
19.7 |
23.5 |
28.4 |
29.3 |
24.6 |
20.35 |
12.9 |
7.5 |
Kyūshū |
5.9 |
8.1 |
12.4 |
14.8 |
20.4 |
20.4 |
28.8 |
29.4 |
25.2 |
20.7 |
13.1 |
7.8 |
Okinawa |
17.0 |
18.6 |
20.4 |
20.6 |
23.7 |
23.7 |
29.4 |
29.6 |
28.3 |
25.3 |
21.3 |
17.3 |
Regions/Month |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hokkaidō |
102 |
117 |
108 |
115 |
31.5 |
62 |
54.5 |
184 |
173 |
131 |
116 |
124 |
Tōhoku |
198 |
68 |
41.8 |
100 |
45.3 |
52.8 |
346 |
181 |
196 |
224 |
123 |
106 |
Kantō |
52.2 |
33.3 |
33.4 |
192 |
68.5 |
146 |
118 |
108 |
214 |
352 |
22.4 |
47.1 |
Chūbu |
133 |
104 |
67.6 |
160 |
78.8 |
146 |
248 |
209 |
277 |
245 |
216 |
169 |
Kinki |
40.7 |
89.2 |
79.9 |
107 |
49.4 |
227 |
73.4 |
116 |
307 |
227 |
61.4 |
54.9 |
Chūgoku |
77.3 |
88.6 |
74.3 |
109.3 |
76.4 |
257 |
247 |
237 |
255 |
258 |
102 |
120 |
Shikoku |
46.5 |
87.6 |
69.1 |
128 |
70.5 |
288 |
116 |
113 |
413 |
370 |
69.6 |
87.8 |
Kyūshū |
49.8 |
140 |
73.1 |
139 |
68.1 |
363 |
81.6 |
281 |
206 |
239 |
93.9 |
72.1 |
Okinawa |
100 |
85 |
141 |
203 |
603 |
105 |
4.5 |
212 |
178 |
200 |
121 |
130 |
(Date are from Japan Meteorological Agency)
The Japanese seasons divide spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November), and winter (December-February). The temparture in spring is between 15 C-25 C, and spring is the most suitable to traval. Especially, cherry blossoms blooming between late March and early April are worth seeing. However, the weathe condition in spring is very changeable.The temparture in summer is between 25 C-35 C. In this season, temparture and humidity are very high, so it may be hard for Europeans and Americans not gettinh used to Asian climate to travel in summer. Beside, June is called "Tsuyu （梅雨）", and it rains a lot in ths season. Also, between July and August, many typhoons come to Japan. Therefore, cancellations of flight, train, and sailing are happen well. However, many attractive festivals such as firework festival and tanabata festivals held in summer.
The temparture in autumn is near to that of spring, and this season is suitable to travel, too. When autumn comes, leaves turn yellow and red, and its scenery must suprise you.
The temparture in winther differs to place to place. You can see snow in more north place than where Tokyo is. If you enable to be in Japan on 1/1, we recommend you to go shrines. Most Japanese visit to shrine on 1/1 (it is called "Hatsumōde （初詣）"), and you can have an interesting experience at shrine.
Language
An official language in Japan is only Japanese. 3 kinds of characters are used; "Hiragana （ひらがな）"[50 characters], "Katakana （カタカナ）"[50 characters], and "Kanji （Chinese characters、漢字）"[more than 50,000 characthers]. It is very hard to understand the sentences used Kanji, but you can read sentences written in only Hiragana and Katakana by useing table.If you cannot understand Japanese, don't mind. If you travel urban area in Japan, you will see a lot of English signs in stations, sightseeing spots, and important facilities for tourists. Besides, in case of restaurants, many restaurants prepare menu with pictures. Also, all Japanese must learn English in junior high school. Not many Japanese people (including me) can speak English well, but if you speak slowly with easy words, some Japanese understand what you say. Of course, there are many Travel Information Centers (TICs) in Japan, especially Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Almost all TICs hire English speakers and give you maps and informatuon about toursim. More detailed information is written in this page.
Religion
Main religions in Japan is Buddhism and Shintō. Buddhism came to Japan in 538 from India through China. More than 75,000 temples including the oldest wooden temple "Hōryū temple （法隆寺）" (since 738） and 300,000 Buddhism statues are in Japan, and Buddhism is a major religion. Japanese Buddhism differs to that of India and China, so unique ceremonies and ideas appeared in Japan.Shintō is a native religion of Japan. The idea of Shintō is to believe that spirits or holyghosts reside in all things and respect them. Therefore, it's said that Shintō is polytheism and animism. Shirines is like churches in Shintō, and they are located in all over Japan.
The ideas and ritual of both religions are so tied closely with Japanese lifestyle that Japanese cannot recognize the idea and ritual are religious, so Japanese have less adherence to religions. Therefore Japanese have no religious prejudice discrimination. Generally Japanese go worshipping at shrine on 1/1 and make a Christian style wedding, anf hold funeral services in accordance with Buddhist rituals.
Electricity
| Scket type according to IEC | Type A |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 100V |
| Frequency | 60 and 50 Hz |
The voltage in Japan is 100 V, and many other countrues use more than 100 V. Therefore please confirm the voltage what the electrical appliances that you bring to Japan can be used with. Also, the frequencies in Japan are 50 and 60 Hz. 50 Hz is used in the eastern Japan, and 60 Hz is used in western Japan. (Details: electricity_map)
The type of the plugs and the outlets in Japan is type A (2 pins). One slot connecting to the ground is slightly longer than the other. In most cases, there is no problem if you connect the longer plug to the shorter slot.
Alcoholic Beverage
People under 20 years of age drinking alcoholic beverage is prohibited by law in Japan!Alcoholic beverages are called "Sake (酒)" in Japanese. However, the word means Japanese rice wine "Nihon-shu (日本酒)" too, so you should use the name of types of liquor (e.g. beer, wine) in ordering.
Alcoholic beverages are sold at supermarkets, department stores, liquor shops "Sakaya (酒屋)", and convenience stores. (When you buy liquor at convenience stores, you are asked to press a button on the screen of the cash register. The button means "I'm over 20 years old".) Also, you can enjoy alcohol in many restaurants and Japanese-style bars "Izakaya (居酒屋)". Drinking in public is not prohibited by law, but it is treated as bad behavior in Japan.
Drunken driving is strictly prohibited in Japan! If your breath alcohol content is over 0.15 mg/L, you shall be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than three years or by a fine of not more than 500,000 yen.
Smoking
People under 20 years of age smoking is prohibited by law in Japan!Many areas in Japan is non-smoking areas "Kinen (禁煙)". Many restaurants and public areas are non-smoking area, and if you smoke in these areas, you shall be punished by a fine. If you want to smoke, you need to go to smoking areas "Kotsuen-jyo (喫煙所)" or convenience storas. Some convenience stores set ashtray at the front.
Cigarettes are sold at convenience stores, tabacco shops, some supermarkets, and vending machines. However, you need a TASPO card to buy cigarettes by vendingmachines. Cigars are sold at only some tabacco shops.