Read more about tips, currency, transportation, price levels and more in connection with your trip to Japan.

• Language: Japanese

• Capital: Tokyo

• Population: 127 million

• Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism and Christianity

• Currency: Yen

• Surface: 377,915 km2

Worth knowing

Time difference

The time difference between Sweden and Japan varies depending on whether Sweden has summer or winter time:

Summer time + 7 hours
Winter time + 8 hours

Transport in Japan

Bus
The buses in Japan are of the same standard as we are used to in Europe. We have chosen the best category, with air conditioning (where needed). All of our buses are non-smoking.

Flights
On our round trips in Japan, we often fly longer distances with domestic flights, including in connection with travel extensions. Prior to such flights, the tour guide informs about the time of departure and what applies at check-in at the airport. All flights in Japan are non-smoking. It is not permitted to carry liquids in hand luggage (alcohol, beer, soft drinks, perfume and the like) on domestic flights.

Trains
On our round trips in Japan, we often use the famous express train, the Shinkansen. All Shinkansen trains are air-conditioned and have plenty of legroom and seats that are adjusted to the train’s direction of travel. The newest trains are equipped with special smoke cabins. Otherwise smoking is not allowed.

Tip

It is not customary to tip in Japan. In some restaurants you pay a table fee of up to 10% of the total amount. When visiting companies and institutions, it is considered good practice to bring a beautifully wrapped gift. It can be something typically Swedish.

Currency and credit cards

The Japanese currency is called the yen – (JPY) and is found in banknote denominations 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. There are also coins, but they are mostly used as a currency and as payment in public transport.

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Diners) are accepted to a greater extent than before, even if they do not occur as often as with us. Therefore, it is an advantage to switch to Japanese yen from home. If you want to withdraw money at ATMs, you should try to avoid the banks, as they do not always accept foreign cards. It is easier to use the ATMs in the Seven Eleven kiosks, which are located on every other street corner.

Electricity

Japan has 100 volts – unique to Japan. The electrical outlets have two holes for flat pins. In some hotels, the bathrooms have electrical outlets with two round holes. Bring an adapter if you plan to use electrical appliances. Visit petwithsupplies for Accommodation in Japan.

Telephone and internet

The international country code for Japan is +81. It can be expensive to call home from Japan from your mobile phone, so feel free to contact your mobile operator regarding coverage and prices for calls from Japan. The telephone and communications network is rapidly expanding in Japan. This means that it will be both easier and cheaper to call out of the country even with a mobile phone. Swedish mobile phones work, but tariffs and coverage vary between the different telecom operators. You can also buy an IP telephony card with international telephony for SEK 3-5 per minute.

Internet cafes are very widespread. From experience, however, we know that you do not have time to visit such places other than during your own time or after the end of the day program. In most large hotels, you can rent a computer with internet connection, but at relatively high prices (approx. SEK 50 per hour).

You can send letters and postcards from most hotels we use. It is often also possible to buy stamps in the hotel foyer.

Drinking water and hygiene

Hygiene conditions in Japan are at a high level, and can be compared with Western Europe. In restaurants, hygiene is generally good, and there are always clean chopsticks or disposable chopsticks at the tables.

In hotels and larger restaurants, modern / western toilet conditions prevail, but in smaller places the lack of toilet paper is common and some toilets, especially in rural areas, can best be described as a hole in the ground. Bring your own toilet paper or a package of wet wipes and possibly. hand disinfection (available at Swedish pharmacies, among other places) if there is no possibility of hand washing.

Tap water in Japan is clean everywhere, but in some places it tastes more like chlorine than we are used to. However, the different bacterial culture can give rise to stomach problems. There are soft drinks, mineral water and beer to buy everywhere – even after the shops close, thanks to the many vending machines in the cities where you can also buy a mug of hot coffee.

Smoking

Smoking is also prohibited during all flights and train and bus transport. On the trains, however, there are often special places where smoking is allowed. In some tourist destinations, smoking is not allowed.