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Japan Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
Japan travel guide - Japan
holidays, holiday packages & Japan hotels.
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and Holiday Packages to Japan
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Top destination guides for Japan
holidays;
Tokyo Holidays
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Japan Holidays, Japan Holiday
Packages Overview
It is only comparatively recently
that Japan came out of the shell of its isolation, but the country
of genteel geisha girls and pink cherry blossom has made up for
lost time. There are few people in the western world who have not
driven a Japanese car, eaten sushi or played on a GameBoy or Sony
Playstation. The nation of Japan consists of an
island archipelago stretching from northeast to southwest off the
coast of mainland China, Russia and Korea, separated from its Asian
neighbours by the Sea of Japan. Between 1639 and 1859 Japan elected
to cut itself off from trade or traffic with the rest of the world,
except for some marginal contact through the southern Kyushu island
ports. Since opening up its doors once more, just 150 years ago,
the densely populated islands have developed in leaps and bounds
and much of the country is now covered by sprawling neon-lit cities
and the world's most sophisticated public transport
networks. Modern it may be, but Japan still
retains plenty of its mystical oriental charm. From the etiquette
demanded in social situations, to the minimalist décor behind rice
paper screens, Japanese culture is alive and well and cannot be
ignored, which makes a visit to Japan a fascinating
experience. The modern metropolises are dotted
with a myriad of ancient shrines and temples; the countryside is
riddled with hundreds of volcanoes and hot springs overlooking
pastoral paddy fields; parks are festooned with rigidly raked white
gravel Zen gardens or coated with layers of lilac and cherry
blossom. Japan's islands are mountainous in the
interior - 75 percent of the country's landmass is made up of
mountains - and most of the people are tightly packed within the
limitations of the coastal plains, particularly on the main island
of Honshu. Tokyo, the capital and largest city, situated on
Honshu's east coast, has a population of 12 million. Despite this
seething mass of humanity Japan is well ordered. Everything runs on
time, and crime levels are almost non-existent. It is still
possible to find beautiful vistas and wide empty spaces in the
countryside, and when you are forced to mingle with the urban
throngs you will find the Japanese to be charming, courteous and
friendly to foreign faces.
Tourist Offices - Tourist Information Centre, Tokyo: +81
(0)3 3201 3331 or www.jnto.go.jp
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Entry Requirements
for Japan Holidays & Japan Travel
All travellers must hold onward or return
tickets and all documents required for their next destination, as
well as sufficient funds to cover intended period of
stay.
- For Australians -
Australians must have a valid passport to enter Japan.
Also accepted is a blue-covered Emergency Passport issued after 1
December 2003. No visa is required for a stay of up to 90
days.
- New Zealanders require a passport but not a visa to
enter Japan for a stay of up to 90 days.
- United States citizens require a valid passport to
enter Japan. No visa is required for stays of up to 90
days.
- United States citizens require a valid passport to
enter Japan. No visa is required for stays of up to 90
days.
- British citizens require a valid passport. If holding
a passport endorsed British Citizen or British National (Overseas),
no visa is required for a tourist or business stay of up to 90
days. In all other cases, a visa is required.
Japan Holidays - Currency of Japan
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is
equal to 100 sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger
hotels and stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and
travellers cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and
currency exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday
9am to 3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are
best taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit
cards; only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and
some major stores.
Japan
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for Japan is
+81. The outgoing code depends on what network is used to dial out
on (e.g. 001 for KDDI) followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
0011 for the United States). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)3
for Tokyo and (0)82 for Hiroshima. Local calls can be made from any
public phone, but only some allow international calls. Telephone
cards are sold at kiosks and from vending machines. The local
mobile phone operators use technology that is not always compatible
with international networks, but 3G has roaming agreements with
most international networks, and local handsets can be hired from
the airport and various other locations. Internet cafes are widely
available.
Japan
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Japan over 20 years do not have
to pay duty on 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages; 200 cigarettes or
50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these
(non-residents are permitted twice the amount); perfume up to 59ml;
and gifts and souvenirs to the value of ¥200,000. Prohibited items
include all types of firearms and ammunition, narcotics,
pornography, meat products, counterfeit money, all plants and
vegetables with soil, fresh fruit, vegetables, and plants or parts
thereof.
Japan
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Tips and bargaining are not expected in Japan,
however a service charge of between 10 to 15% is generally added to
hotel and restaurant bills.
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