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  Frequently Asked Questions  
  ■Visa and Customs
  1. Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
  2. What can I bring through customs?
  3. Do I need any vaccinations to enter Japan?
  4. Do I need travel insurance?
■Transportation
  1. Where can I find information on flights and tours?
  2. How do I plan my train trips?
  3. How do I reserve seats on Shinkansen? 
  4. How do I get from either Narita Airport to Central Tokyo or from Kansai International Airport to central Osaka?
  5. Are there any travel passes for getting around Tokyo?
  6. I am going on a cruise which leaves from Osaka Port. How do I get to Osaka Port from Kansai International Airport?
  7. I will be travelling long distances in Japan, but I will not be using the bullet train. Is there an economical alternative?
  8. I would like to travel to Sapporo by train. Where can I get information on costs and timetables?
■Attraction
  1. I am stopping over in Narita for a couple of hours. What can I do?
  2. I am going to Japan with children. Where can I find information about things to do?
  3. Where can I find information on events and festivals?
  4. Where can I watch and/or participate in a tea ceremony?
  5. How can I see a Sumo Tournament?
■Accommodation
  1. I need to book some accommodation. What do you suggest?
  2. How can I book to stay in a temple at Mt. Koya?
  3. How can I find and book minshuku?
■Other useful information
  1. I cannot speak Japanese. Will it be difficult to travel in Japan?
  2. Can I use my mobile in Japan?
  3. Travellers' cheques, cash or credit card? What is the best way to carry money in Japan?
  4. How can I send my luggage throughout Japan?
 
     
  1. Do I need a visa to visit Japan?  
  No, Australian/New Zealander does not need to apply visa and can travel up to 90days. For any duration longer than 90 days or if you are not Australian citizen, you need to contact the Japanese Embassy/Consulate.
For more information, please visit Visa Requirements.
  
     
  2. What can I bring through Customs?  
  Within the limits specified below, the following articles may be imported to Japan duty free:

Item Allowance Remarks
Alcoholic Beverages 3 bottles A bottle contains approximately 760cc.
Tobacco Products *100 cigars*400 cigarettes*550 grams of other tobacco If there is more than one kind, the total allowance will be 500 grams.
Perfume 2 ounces  
Others ¥200,000 The total overseas market value of articles other than the above items must be under ¥200,000.

* The tobacco allowance for Japanese residents is half that indicated above
* There is no duty-free allowance for alcohol or tobacco products for travellers aged 19 years or younger.
Other articles may be prohibited from entering Japan or be subject to restricted entry.
 
     
  3. Do I need any vaccinations to enter Japan?  
  There are no requirements for foreign travelers from any country regarding certificates of vaccination.  
     
  4.Do I need travel insurance?  
  Visitors to Japan are advised to purchase travel insurance prior to departure. Japan is a relatively safe place, with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, but when traveling abroad it is always wise to be covered against theft, loss of property, accident and illness. Travel agents can usually offer advice on the most suitable insurance policy for a visit to Japan.
  
     
  5. Where can I find information on flights and tours?  
  Japan is easily accessible from Australia with direct flights every day. Information on flight schedules and fares can be obtained by contacting the airlines directly, or through your travel agent or tour operator.
There are many tour operators offering a variety of travel options to help you make the most of your visit to Japan. Search directory to find the operator nearest you.		  
     
  6. How do I plan my train trips?  
  Please use Hyperdia to plan your trips. Information about the timetables, prices, time duration can be obtained here. Please contact our office if you are unable to find the timetable you are looking for.  
     
  7. How do I reserve seats on Shinkansen?  
  Not all Shinkansen seats are reserved seats and most of seats in the Green Cars (first class) need to be reserved. If you are traveling in busy time (E.g. 28 Dec-6 Jan New Year holiday, 27 Apr-6 May consecutive holidays, and 11-20 Aug Obon season). It can be reserved through Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or go to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. Reservation for JR-East Shinkansen can be made through online; JR-East Shinkansen.

Please do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.		  
     
  8. How do I get from either Narita Airport to Central Tokyo or from Kansai International Airport to central Osaka?  
  There are a variety of convenient transportation options connecting Narita Airport with both central Tokyo and Haneda (domestic) Airport to the south. Similarly transportation between Kansai International Airport and Osaka as well as other key Kansai cities such as Kyoto, Nara and Kobe is quick and reliable. Visit Airport Information section for details.
  
     
  9. Are there any travel passes for getting around Tokyo?  
  There are several different passes available for multiple journeys within Tokyo, although you should bear in mind that given the relatively low cost of a single trip (usually less than 200 yen), you will need to make numerous trips for the pass to be economical. You can see information about some of the different types of passes on the Japan Railways(JR) websites, which you can access through the Links page of the JNTO Sydney's website under Railway Services.

Japan Rail passes can be purchased from Japanese specialists in Australia. The list of Japanese Specialists are listed in out website under Tour Operators.

You can also click on the link below for a list (in PDF form) of some travel passes available in Tokyo.
Useful tickets in Tokyo (47KB)		  
     
  10. I am going on a cruise which leaves from Osaka Port. How do I get to Osaka Port from Kansai International Airport?  
  Most international passenger ships leave from the Tempozan port in Osaka. To get to Tempozan from Kansai International Airport, you need to catch a train to Shin-Imamiya. From there you need to catch another train to Bentencho, then change and catch the train to Osaka-ko station. There is also a limousine bus service directly to Tempozan from the Airport. For timetables and other information, please refer to the Kansai Airport Transport Enterprise website. You can find a link to this website on the Links page of the Japan National Tourist Organisation Sydney's website under Buses.  
     
  11.I will be travelling long distances in Japan, but I will not be using the bullet train. Is there an economical alternative?  
  There are overnight coach services to many major cities in Japan, which can cost less than half the price of a bullet train ticket, and also save you on a night's accommodation. Please click on the link below for more information (in PDF format) on long distance buses.
Night bus services from Tokyo to major cities(90KB)
  
     
  12.I would like to travel to Sapporo by train. Where can I get information on costs and timetables?  
  Please click on the link below for more information on both daytime and overnight trains from Tokyo to Sapporo. Please note these times and costs are subject to change without notice. If you plan to catch the train to Sapporo using a Japan Rail Pass, remember that daytime services will cost you no extra. However, if you use an overnight service, you will have to pay a limited express fare (around 3000 yen) and also the cost of a sleeping berth, which will vary depending on the train you catch and the type of berth you want.
Tokyo to Sapporo by JR (46KB)
  
     
  13.I am stopping over in Narita for a couple of hours. What can I do?  
  You can visit Narita City, within 10 minutes train ride from the Airport terminal or there is dayroom / Shower room facilities within the terminal. For more information please see Narita Airport Website.  
     
  14.I am going to Japan with children. Where can I find information about things to do?  
  There are so many fun things to do with children in Japan. We can provide you with a list of activities and attractions guaranteed to keep you and your family occupied. You can also visit the the homepages of some of the most popular theme parks in Japan. You can find links to these websites on the Links page of the JNT O Sydney's website under Attractions.
  
     
  15.Where can I find information on events and festivals?  
  Japan's festivals are world renowned, and you can find a comprehensive listing of the major events in the Things to Do section of the JNTO's website. You can see the annual calendar under "Festivals". You can also see our Practical Travel Guide, called Events in Japan, available in PDF format. The prefectural or city websites of many regions in Japan also list upcoming events, so please contact us for more information on specific areas.  
     
  16.Where can I watch and/or participate in a tea ceremony?  
  Please click on the link below to see a list (in PDF form) of places that run tea ceremony presentations and/or lessons in English in Tokyo.
Tea ceremony for English speaking visitors in Tokyo (47KB)
  
     
  17.How can I see a Sumo Tournament?  
  You can only see Sumo Tournaments at certain times and places during the year.
Tokyo - January, May, September Tournament
Osaka - March Tournament
Fukuoka - November Tournament

Dates for tournaments differ every year. To confirm dates visit the Nihon Sumo Kyokai website. You must be in Japan to order tickets as this can not be done overseas or online. General Admission tickets start from around 2100 yen and range to 61,800 yen for private seating. You can purchase tickets at Japanese convenient stores such as Lawson, Family Mart, Seven-Eleven and Sunkus, or even some Japanese Travel Specialists like JTB. 		 
     
  18.I need to book some accommodation. What do you suggest?  
  In Japan you will find a variety of accommodation styles to suit all tastes and budgets. These range from western-style lodgings including Deluxe Hotels, Business Hotels and Pensions to Japanese-style accommodation
There are also many options available for visitors who are travelling on a budget, including Welcome Inns, The Japanese Inn Group and Youth Hostels.
Visit accommodation which will help you to make on-line booking.. 		 
     
  19.How can I book to stay in a temple at Mt. Koya?  
  There are over one hundred temples on Mt. Koya and about half of them are Shukubo where you can stay overnight. Most of these Shukubo cost around 9,500yen per person per night including dinner and breakfast. The food there is Shojin Ryori, which is vegetarian meals that monks enjoy, and at most of shukubo, guests are able to enjoy morning pray at 6am. It takes about 100mins, catching two trains from Osaka (Nankai line, Namba Station).
For more information, please visit the website of Koyasan Tourist Association which offers area guides as well as a list of Temple lodges. 		 
     
  20.How can I find and book minshuku?  
  There are two groups that can assist you with finding minshuku and making reservations: the Minshuku Association of Japan and the Japan Minshuku Center. Please contact our office for their contact details.  
     
  21.I cannot speak Japanese. Will it be difficult to travel in Japan?  
  In Japan's major cities signage on public transport is provided in English and Japanese. Also, all Japanese people learn English from the first year of high school, some even earlier. If you are having trouble communicating with a Japanese person, you could try writing down what you want to say. Due to different accents and a lack of experience with native speakers, it is often easier for Japanese people to understand written English.

You can also phone or visit one of the Tourist Information Centres or "i" Tourist Information Offices, where English speaking staff will be able to assist you.
For a full list of their locations, please see the Essential Information section on the JNTO Sydney's website. Click on the "Tourist Information Center" link under "Travel Support". The JNTO Sydney Office can send you a Tourist's Language handbook, which is full of useful phrases for travellers. 		 
     
  22.Can I use my mobile in Japan?  
  The Japanese mobile telephone system is not compatible with those of other countries. This means that your Australian mobile phone will not function in Japan. Foreign visitors to Japan are able to rent mobile phones at Narita or Kansai Airport.  
     
  23.Travellers' cheques, cash or credit card? What is the best way to carry money in Japan?  
  Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and is generally a safe place to carry cash, however travellers' cheques remain the safest and most practical way to carry money while you are travelling. Travellers' cheques denominated in Japanese yen or American dollars are the most practical for a visit to Japan.
For more information please check Cash, Cheques & Credit Cards
 
     
  24.How can I send my luggage throughout Japan?  
  Through out Japan, there are carrier services that operate. The major three companies are Yamato Unyuu (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express and Nihon Tsuun (Perikanbin) . You are able to choose what time it reaches its destination, making it rather convenient. You can send them from their service stations as well as most of the convenience stores and super markets, or you even can arrange someone to pick it up from your location.
Price ranges from about 1000yen to 5000yen per box and should be delivered in the next day or two if it’s a remote area like Hokkaido and Okinawa.

From and to the Airport, you should be able to receive your luggage on the day or the next day. Prices are around 2000-4000yen depending on the operators and the destinations. If you want them to pick up your luggage in order to send it to the airport, usually you need to book 2-3days in advance and organize the pick up.

For more information on operators, please visit their website for Narita Airport and for Kansai International Airport.

For more answers to commonly asked questions, please go to the FAQ in the Japan National Tourist Organization's website.
  

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