There are so many beautiful places to explore in Japan it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start, especially if it’s your first visit. From the towering city skyscrapers to the stunning countryside you see from the windows of the bullet train, there is so much to love about Japan!
When To Visit: Visit Japan during the spring time months of March and April to experience the iconic cherry blossoms and see the city in full bloom. Visiting during autumn, from September to November is also a great option to avoid the more extreme weather patterns.
June to August is known to be monsoon season in Japan, so avoid travelling during this time to miss the bulk of the rain.
Language: The official language of Japan is Japanese, although you will find that most people in the tourism and hospitality industries will speak at least a little English.
International Airport: Tokyo has two main international airports – Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT). Flying into either of these airports is a good choice to start your adventures through Japan.
Osaka also has an airport – Osaka International Airport (ITM) which has started offering more international flights recently, especially for low cost carriers to and from Australia.
Time Zone: Japan follows the Japan Time Zone GMT + 9.
Currency: The currency in Japan is Japanese Yen ￥. At that time of writing, $1AUD converts to ￥77.48YEN, $1USD converts to ￥ 110.71YEN and £1GBP converts to ￥ 145.21YEN.
Credit Cards & ATMs: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted all over Japan and ATMs are accessible everywhere. These is little need to carry cash while you are travelling through Japan.
Driving: Always drive on the left side of the road in Japan. Visitors will need to carry an international drivers permit (IDP) if you want to drive around Japan.
Power: In Japan the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 100 V and the standard frequency is 50 / 60 Hz.
Internet Access: High speed wifi is available all over Japan, including in hotels, restaurants and cafes, shops and main streets, as well as in every train station. There are very few places in the cities of Japan where you can’t easily access the internet, although it might be a little more difficult if you travel to remote locations.
Visa Requirements: Visas are not required to enter Japan for stays of under 90 days for anyone travelling with a passport from Australia, USA, all European Union countries and more. Make sure you check the visa requirements for your nationality before you go.
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