Japan

Flight.co.uk Overview

It makes no difference which point in the world you are coming from, you will have no trouble finding long haul flights to Japan. Flights to Japan arrive at several international airports throughout the country: on the main island of Honshu there are airports at Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka and Tokyo, while on Kyushu Island flights to Japan touch down at Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Nagasaki. Okinawa and Hokkaido also have international airports. Cheap long haul flights to Japan come from most major north American and European cities, arriving at New Tokyo International (or Narita) Airport, 37 miles from Tokyo. Easy access to this fascinating island country, off of the coast of Asia, is a relatively new phenomenon. For centuries Japan voluntarily isolated itself from the western world; today Japanese goods, technology, cuisine and culture are legendary and well-known, encouraging travellers to book flights to Japan. Discount flights to Japan open the door on a world of modern neon-bright metropolises, still retaining corners where the mystical oriental charm of this country is tucked away behind rice paper screens. Japan flights whisk visitors into a surprisingly well-ordered society, where rigidly raked Zen gardens, avenues of cherry blossom, neat rice paddy fields and even the snow-capped mountains of the interior are precisely set out to enchant.

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.

Local Customs

The Japanese are formal and reserved and visitors are expected to behave politely. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant it is customary to remove shoes, and bowing is the customary greeting.

Business

Business in Japan can be highly formal and greetings are usually rather ritualistic due to the hierarchical society; a third party introduction is useful. A polite bow is customary; the more senior the person, the deeper the bow. Business cards are exchanged often, using both hands. Cards should be treated with respect and should be studied a few moments and either left out in the open on the desk, or stored in an appropriate cardholder or wallet. It can be useful to have cards printed with both English and Japanese, and one should present the card with the Japanese side facing the recipient. Punctuality is very important and dress is formal. Women can encounter some sexism as traditionally women are seen as caregivers and wives. Gift giving is an important aspect of Japanese society and in a business context; gifts are usually given after the first or second meeting. It is wise to consult someone locally on what is appropriate in order not to cause offence. Business hours are usually from 9am to 5pm on weekdays; some businesses are open on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm.

Health

No vaccination certificates are required for entry to Japan. On 26 June 2005 an outbreak of bird flu was reported on a farm at Mitsukaido, in Ibaraki. There are no reports of human infection. Travellers to Japan are unlikely to be affected, but live animal markets and places where contact with live poultry is possible should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked. Medical facilities are very good, but medical assistance in Japan can be very expensive and visitors have to pay the whole cost up front. Travellers should ensure that they have adequate medical insurance before travelling. Visitors using prescription or common over-the-counter medications (such as inhalers or allergy and sinus medicines) should note that some may be prohibited in Japan and customs officials may detain travellers carrying them. Such travellers are advised to contact the Japanese embassy in their home country before departure to ascertain whether their medication is permissible. The possession of Vicks inhalers and other common medications used for allergies and sinus problems are banned under the strictly enforced anti-stimulant drugs law, and visitors are advised to check with the Japanese embassy if in doubt.

Safety

The vast majority of visits to Japan are trouble-free. It is generally a very safe country with low levels of common crime, and is stable, highly developed and modern. Travellers should, however, still be vigilant about personal safety and belongings. Typhoons are common particularly from June to September and travellers should take note of storm warnings along the coastal regions if travelling during this period. Japan is in a major earthquake zone, and earthquakes of varying sizes occur very frequently.

Duty Free

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.

Tipping

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.

Language

Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or understand what is said to them.

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.

Time Zone

Local time is GMT +9.

Electricity

Electrical current is 100 volts, 60Hz in the west (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima); 100 volts, 50Hz in eastern Japan (Tokyo, Sapporo, Yokohoma). Flat two- and three-pin plugs are used.

Money

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.