Passport and visas
Any foreigner who wishes to enter Japan must have a valid passport for the duration of their stay. Australian passport holders are eligible to enter Japan without a visa unless the purpose of the visit is to reside in Japan, to obtain employment or to otherwise engage in remunerative activities.

Luggage delivery
Japan has a highly sophisticated transportation network however space and stations can be an issue with luggage. Japan has an excellent luggage delivery service which we have a our clients make use of in our packages.

Wi-Fi and Internet Access
Most hotels in Japan offer free wi-fi and LAN cable internet in guest rooms or in the shared lobby area. Some may charge a fee for access in your room. Currently, “Wi-Fi Spots” are being rapidly established throughout Japan however for those who want to be connected constantly then you might like to hire a portal Wi-Fi at the airport or in advance.

Power
The voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. There are two kinds of frequencies in use; 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka).
Only recommend you bring products with you if they have a worldwide voltage range, as a hair dryer, travel iron and shaver. Japan uses a 2-flat-pin plug so you might want to bring a plug adapter before you travel.

Food and dietary requirements
These days Japanese cuisine is popular around the world and considered healthy option. Note: Much of the Japanese food available overseas has been tweaked to suit the western pallet or is using only ingredients easily accessible here. In Japan a wider variety and in some cases more authentic cuisine can be had.

Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten free diets
Vegetarian options are becoming more common in Japan but it is not quite as common as you might be used to in Australia. NOTE: Options may be limited for strict vegetarians and vegans as many dishes without meat are made using Dashi (fish stock). For Gluten-free diet people this can be challenging at times as soy sauce (which contains gluten) is widely used as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

Mobile phones
Before travelling you might like to activate international roaming on your phone before you leave Australia or your home country. NOTE: The charges for this could be quite high so it is up to the individual if they wish to do this. Another option is one of the communication Apps is download such as Line or maybe Skype could be used while in Japan. Rental phone services are an option in Japan but they can be quite expensive. SIM cards are increasingly available at major retail outlets or airports for rental or you might want to hire a portable Wi-Fi device in Japan which would make Skype a very practical option if constant contact is required at a more affordable rate.

Currency
The unit of Japanese currency is Yen. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Yen and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000.

ATMs
You can withdraw cash using your international credit, debit, prepaid and cash cards nationwide at Japan Post Bank ATMs and most 7 Eleven ATMs and Post Office ATMs. Services are available in English and display stickers indicating which cards are accepted. Cards from the Cirrus, Plus, Maestro and Visa Electron networks can be used including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards. 7-Eleven is very convenient as many of the stores are open 24 hours a day and cash withdrawal is possible at any time. You can find the locations of ATMs placed by the Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank on your credit card company’s website.

Tipping
Individual tipping is not customary in Japan however often a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill at major hotels and restaurants. Don’t be surprised if the cashier tries to return the money of an intended tip.

Credit cards
International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also acceptable at these major establishments. Credit card transactions are not always convenient outside big cities have some cash safely on you is recommended when you travel to smaller regional areas.