Japan Country & Tourist Information

Location
Far East.

Area
377,864 sq km (145,894 sq miles).

Population
127.8 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
343 per sq km (13,800 per sq km in central Tokyo).

Capital
Tokyo.
Population:  (central Tokyo): 8.4 million (census, 2005).

Government
Constitutional monarchy.

Language
Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in Tokyo, but is less usual in other big cities.

Religion
Shintoism and Buddhism (most Japanese follow both religions, although religion does not play a major everyday role in most Japanese lives, with frequent temple visits being more usually attributed to tourism). There is a Christian minority, and in the island of Okinawa, some people believe in Niraikanai, a paradise that lies beyond the sea.

Time
GMT + 9.

Electricity
100 volts AC, 60Hz in the west (Osaka); 100 volts AC, 50Hz in eastern Japan and Tokyo. Plugs are flat two-pin plugs.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Taro Aso since 2008.

Head of State
Emperor Akihito since 1989.

Recent History
The  LDP (Liberal Democratic Party, or Jiyu Minshu-to) has been in power almost continually since its foundation in 1955. Prime Minister Taro Aso, the LDP's leader, was elected in September 2008 following the resignation earlier that month of Yasuo Fukuda, who had held the post for less than a year.

In October 2002, the Koizumi government finally unveiled plans to tackle the country's financial crisis. Barring unemployment, which reached an unprecedented 6%, the program had begun to show results by late 2003 as government measures began to take effect.

In September 2006, when his term as president of the ruling LDP ended, Koizumi stepped down and was replaced by Abe, his former chief cabinet secretary. Under Abe, the economic improvements have continued, with Japan moving out of negative inflation, ending a five-year period of stagnant or falling prices.

However, in September 2007, Shinzo Abe announced his resignation admitting that ministerial scandals and defeat at the polls had destroyed the public's trust in him. He was replaced by veteran politician Yasuo Fukuda.

Telephone
Country code: 81. Three companies provide international communications services: KDDI, IDC and ISD, each possessing their own international access number (001, 0061 and 0041, respectively, so to call the UK, for example, you would use 0061 44). Credit cards can also be used directly in some phone boxes. Phone boxes are found virtually everywhere in Japan. They are green and grey, and accept coins and magnetic pre-paid cards. IC phone boxes accept IC cards only.

Mobile Telephone
The Japanese mobile network uses PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) technology, which is not compatible with GSM or other mobile services. Visitors can hire handsets from companies such as NTT or Sony Finance. For UK travelers, mobiles can also be hired before departure from companies such as Adam Phones (website: www.adamphones.com). Coverage is good.

Internet
Internet is available; there are many Internet cafes in Tokyo and in the main cities in Japan. Most Tokyo hotels have Wi-Fi access. The new grey telephones have modular sockets for computer network access.

Media
Japan’s broadcasting scene is advanced and vibrant, and very competitive, with established public and commercial outlets competing for audiences. Many millions now watch satellite and cable pay-TV services, including those provided by NHK. High-definition TV (HDTV) now has a dedicared NHK channel and is growing in popularity. Digital terrestrial TV broadcasting is in the process of being introduced, also. Newspaper readership is extremely high, and national dailies have circulations in the millions. The press in Japan is free to criticize the government, although freelance journalists find access to information difficult.

Post
Letters can be taken to the central post office in front of Tokyo Station or the International Post Office, near exit A-2 Otemachi subway station, which provide English-speaking personnel. Airmail to Europe takes four to six days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (1900 at bigger branches). Some main post offices are 0900-1500 on Saturdays, 0900-1230 on Sundays.

Press
• The English-language daily newspapers in Tokyo include Daily Sports, Yomiuri Shimbun, The Japan Times and The Mainichi Daily News.

Radio
• NHK is a public broadcaster that operates a news- and speech-based radio station, as well as a cultural and educational network, a classical music-based network and an external service, Radio Japan.
• Inter FM, J-Wave and Tokyo FM are all commercial stations.
• TBS Radio is operated by the Tokyo Broadcasting System.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
12 Jan Coming of Age Day.
11 Feb National Foundation Day.
20 Mar Vernal Equinox.
29 Apr Showa Day.
3 May Constitution Memorial Day.
4 May Greenery Day.
5 May Children's Day.
20 July Marine Day.
21 Sept Respect for the Aged Day.
23 Sept Autumnal Equinox.
12 Oct Sports Day.
3 Nov Culture Day.
23 Nov Labor Thanksgiving Day.
23 Dec Birthday of the Emperor.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
11 Jan Coming of Age Day.
11 Feb National Foundation Day.
20 Mar Vernal Equinox.
29 Apr Showa Day.
3 May Constitution Memorial Day.
4 May Greenery Day.
5 May Children's Day. 
19 Jul Marine Day.
20 Sep Respect for the Aged Day.
23 Sep Autumnal Equinox.
11 Oct Sports Day.
3 Nov Culture Day.
23 Nov Labor Thanksgiving Day.
23 Dec Birthday of the Emperor.

Note
(a) With the exception of New Year Bank Holidays, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is treated as a holiday instead. (b) When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday. (c) Between 29 December and 3 January government offices and many shops and offices are closed.

Contact Information:

Embassy of Japan in the UK
101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT, UK
Tel: (020) 7465 6500 or 6565 (visa section).
Website: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1330 and 1430-1730; 0930-1330 and 1430-1630 (consular section).

Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) in the UK
Heathcoat House, 20 Saville Row, London W1S 3PR, UK
Tel: (020) 7734 9638.
Website: www.seejapan.co.uk

Embassy of Japan in the USA
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 238 6700 or 6800 (visa section).
Website: www.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) in the USA
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020, USA
Tel: (212) 757 5640.
Website: www.japantravelinfo.com


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