Tourism in Japan
Basic information on Japan
Important comunication:
In Japan, starting from 1 June 2008 will be compulsory fasten their seat belts on buses traveling on the highway.
Surface
Japan has an area of about 378,000 km2, is made up of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and its archipelago counts more than 6800 islands.
Population
Japan has about 128 million inhabitants
And capital cities
The capital of Japan is Tokyo (population of about 12 million inhabitants), other major cities are: Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Nara, Sapporo, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu
Official language
The official language is Japanese, English is taught from secondary schools
Currency
The currency in use is the yen. They are in circulation banknotes of 1,000, 2,000, 10,000 Yen and coins of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 yen.
They accept major credit cards, and ATMs may not be usable. It 'better to contact your bank before leaving.
The only ATMs currently used are those with the words CIRRUS.
Religions
The main religions of Japan are Shinto and Buddhism
Climate
Japan being an archipelago that stretches from north to south for over 3,000 km has a climate that varies from place to place and at different times of the year. Check the weather.
Passports and visas
For entry into Japan it has requested a passport valid for at least three months. Italian citizens do not require visas for stays of less than 90 days. For stays longer than must apply for a visa at the Embassy of Japan in Italy (Rome) or the Consulate General of Japan in Milan.
Since 2007, new laws on immigration that provide a set of fingerprints and photos of the face.
Embassy of Japan
Via Quintino Sella 60, 00187 ROMA
Tel: (+39) 06-487-991 - Fax: (+39) 06-487-3316
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 to 13:00 14:30 to 17:30
Hours to the public (Consular Section): 9: 30-12: 45; 14: 15-16: 30 (Mon to Fri)
Consulate General of Japan in Milan
Via Cesare Private Margigli, 2/4 20121 MILANO
the Visa Office of the Consulate is available at the following numbers and at the following times:
Tel: (+39) 02-62.41.14.35 Fax: (+39) 02-29.00.88.99
E-mail: consgpnvi@micronet.it
ATM hours: Monday-Friday '
from 9:15 to 12:15 and from 13:30 to 16:30
Embassy of Italy in TOKYO
2-5-4 Mita, Minato-ku
Tokyo 108-8302, Japan
Area code for Tokyo: +813
Tel .: (+81) 3 34535291 Fax: (+81) 3 34562319 Cell. On-call for emergencies active in the closing hours of offices: 090 3908 1006
E-mail: ambasciata.tokyo@esteri.it
Recommended clothing for your trip to Japan
March-May and September-November: light jacket, sweater
June-August: light clothing and short sleeves from December to February: wool sweater, coat, warm clothes
Time zone
The Japanese time is eight hours ahead compared to our own. During the summer time difference it is 7 hours (while in Italy are 8:00 am in Japan are 16.00 in winter and 15.00 in summer).
Japan does not use Daylight Saving Time.
Electricity
In Japan, the electrical voltage is 100 V, but there are two types of frequency: 50 Hz (in eastern Japan) - 60 Hz (to the west).
And 'advisable to get a universal adapter.
Call for
We may want to spend unless you use the phone in the hotel room, but to use the telephone booths available in the lobby of hotels or public phones, using international prepaid cards that you can buy in Italy before you leave or when you arrive in Japan.
To call Italy from Japan dial:
01039 + area code (with leading zeros) of the Italian city you want to call + phone number
To call Japan from Italy dial:
0081 + area code (without zero) + phone number
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations to be carried out
Health care
Health care in Japan is very good. The costs are very high, so it is advisable for tourists health insurance that covers medical costs and any return air health.
Emergencies
And 'you can call an ambulance by dialing grattuitamente from telephone boxes 119 (the service is also in English). The emergency care are extra.
Mance
It is not customary to tip in Japan. They are given only for extra sevices.
