Japan holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Japan holiday, personal to you.
Japan facts
Capital: Tokyo
Language: Japanese.
People: Japanese (99%).
Religion: Shinto and Buddhist.
Size (sq km): 377,835.
Population: 127,433,494.
Population density/sq km: 337.2.
Etiquette
A strict code of behaviour and politeness is recognised and followed by almost all Japanese. They do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs but expect them to behave formally and politely. Bowing is the Japanese way of greeting, but it is also used in thanking and apologising. Giving and receiving gifts are part of every day life and it is a good idea to bring an assortment of gifts for your trip so that you can reciprocate. Shoes should be removed before entering most private indoor areas such as Japanese-style restaurants and accommodation, private homes, shrines and temples. The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing people (for instance Mr Yamada would be called Yamada-san).
Shopping
Oriental goods meet Western sales techniques. Look for kimo;nos, mingei (folk toys), Kyoto silks, fans, screens, and dolls, Shinto and Buddhist artefacts, lacquerware, electric goods.
Food & drink
Delicate flavours, crisp vegetables, bean curd and rice are the basis of Japanese food. Specialities include tempura (vegetables or seafood fried in a light batter), teriyaki (marinated chicken, beef or fish seared on a hot plate) and sushi - raw seafood served on vinegared rice).
International Airports
Tokyo - Narita (NRT) 65 km from the city, Osaka - Kansai (KIX) 50 km from Osaka, Fukuoka (FUK) 7 km from the city. Central Japan (NGO) 35 km south of Nagoya.
Internal travel
Extensive domestic air network covering Japan and its islands. Excellent train network, including 'bullet trains'. Buses slower but cheaper. Ferries connect islands. Self-drive out of cities may be difficult as signposting is all Japanese.
Red tape
Visas
None.
Vaccinations
BCG, Hep. A, Hep. B, JE, Rabies.
Driving requirements
International Driving Permit.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT, tel (020) 7465 6500, fax (020) 7491 9328, email info@jpembassy.org.uk. US: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 238 6700, fax (202) 328 2187, email jicc@embjapan.org.
UK/US reps in Japan
UK: 2 Kagurazaka 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825, tel (3) 3235 8031, fax (3) 3235 8040. US: 1-10-5, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420, tel (3) 3224 5000, fax (3) 3505 1862.
Currency
Yen (¥).
Finance
Major credit cards widely used, traveller's cheques generally accepted.
Business hours
0900-1700 Mon-Friday.
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Safe.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 78.67, F 85.56.
Useful websites for travel
www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp, www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/ http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/,www.seejapan.co.uk, www.japantravelinfo.com, www.japan-guide.com, www.jnto.go.jp, www.snowjapan.com.
Local media
The Mainichi Daily News, Yomiuri Shimbun, The Japan Times, and the Daily Sports are all printed in English.
Tourist boards
UK: Heathcoat House, 20 Saville Row, London W1S 3PR, tel (020) 7734 9638, email info@jnto.co.uk.
Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to Japan. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific Japan itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6561.
Tokyo is a great introduction for first time visitors to Japan - a metropolis awash with colour and movement, day or night, always on the go and never stopping. It’s busy, crowded and noisy but at the same time is clean, efficient and modern. This three-...
The award-winning Peninsula Tokyo is a paragon of luxury, located close to the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo....
Discover the best of Japan on this superlative 16-day tour, encompassing the buzzing capital of Tokyo, the natural beauty of the Japanese Alps in Matsumoto, Kamikochi and Shirakawago, as well as the rich cultural heritage and traditions in Takayama and Kyoto. ...
Take in the higlights of Honshu; Japan’s main island. Visit the immense and fascinating capital of Tokyo, the stunning Hakone National Park; renowed for its hot-springs and the cultural haven of charming Kyoto. Also taken in the sights on quaint Miyajama...
See the best of Japan, including bustling, contemporary Tokyo, the stunning national parks and the beautiful Hakone area, where you can travel on funiculars, mountain buses and pirate ships. Then head to Hokkaido Island. Discover a wealth of beauty in Hokkaido...
Explore Japan’s vibrant cities, breathtaking scenery and fascinating heritage with our 14-day tour. Travelling from the neon wonderland of Tokyo and lush mountains of the Japanese Alps to the cultural riches of Kyoto, you can compare skyscrapers and snow...
Japan is an intoxicating contradiction, a cosmopolitan country with a pervasive sense of antiquity and a fusion of culture and style, from the suited businessmen of Tokyo to the kimono-clad Geishas of Kyoto. This ten-night tour shows you the futuristic archite...
Our Gourmet Japan tour is a trip through Japan’s heart and kitchen. Experience the sights of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and have a gastronomic feast along the way. The tour gives you the opportunity to sample authentic Japanese cuisine and have an insight in...
Tokyo is a city constantly buzzing with activity. Suited businessmen rush from one meeting to the next, immaculately turned out girls totter precariously on impossibly thick platform soles, while kimono clad housewives fill the up-market department stores. Bar...
Experience the best Japan has to offer on this 14-day tour, meandering through the modern hi-tech, natural beauty, and the ancient and traditional. Start your tour off in one of the most modern, efficient and largest cities in the world - Tokyo. Visit small cu... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
More information »
Summer (June-September) can be very hot, while spring and autumn are generally mild. Typhoons are likely to occur in September or October but rarely last more than a day. Winter is cold.
GMT +9.
Yen (¥).
Get foreign currency online
