Language

Japanese is the official national language, spoken as the primary language by almost all of the population. Many different regional dialects exist, however, Standard Japanese (as spoken in Tokyo) is understood nationwide and is the language used for news broadcasting

Written Japanese uses a combination of kanji (Chinese pictogram characters denoting specific words/concepts) and kana (Japanese phonetic characters denoting specific syllables, which form words when grouped together). The Latin/Roman alphabet is also used sometimes to spell Japanese phonetically (called romaji) for those who cannot read written Japanese

Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English, however, few Japanese are able to speak English at a high international standard due to a lack of rigorous English language training, the inherent shyness that is part of Japanese culture, and the difficulty for native Japanese speakers in pronouncing English words, due to the far greater number of different phonemes (syllable sounds) in English compared to Japanese

Currency

The unit of currency is the Yen

It is strongly recommended that you buy Yen prior to departure as the rate in your home country is likely to be more favourable than in Japan.

Japan is still very much a cash-only society.

Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of expensive shops and restaurants, and there are surprisingly few opportunities to change money.

Our inns will not have cashing facilities, and currency other than Japanese Yen will not be accepted.

Visits to ATM machines will be scheduled in Tokyo and again near the tour’s end. There will be an opportunity for one bank visit around the tour mid-point, which may be the only opportunity to cash travellers cheques.

International Dialing Code

+81

Electricity

Electricity in Japan is 100 Volts, at 50/60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

Visas

The following passport holders can travel to Japan for up to 3 months without a visa:

Australia

New Zealand

USA

UK (6 months)

Canadian

If you are travelling on any other type of passport we would request that you contact us, or your travel agent, to check the visa requirements.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.