Timezone
The Japan lies in the GMT +9 time zone, usually referred to as Japan Standard Time (JST).
Weather
Winters are relatively mild in Tokyo, with an average March temperature around 10 °C (50 °F).
Currency, traveler checks, credit cards and exchange rates
Only Japanese yen is acceptable at stores and restaurants in Japan. You can exchange money at the airport, foreign exchange banks, and other authorized exchanges upon presentation of your passport. We encourage you to exchange your money at the airport upon arrival.
Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club and JCB are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops and restaurants. Only major banks and hotels in principal cities can accept traveler's cheques, but their use in Japan is not as common as in some other countries.
Most banks are available for foreign currency exchange transactions from 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays.
Electricity
Electric power in the Japan is 100 volt. The frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan. It is convenient to bring an adaptor for these outlets to use your electric devices without problems.
Business hours
Bank Hours: Banks mostly open at 9 am and close at 3 pm, from Monday to Fridays. Usually closed during the weekend except the ATM machines.
Shop Hours: Shops are opened Monday through Fridays, from about 9 am to 8 pm (some of them, mostly in the big shopping centers are opened longer and also during the weekend in the same time).
Entertainment, sights
At the sites below, you may find useful information for travel plans, accommodation and shopping in Japan. Several regional maps are also available on the sites.
Tipping
Individual tipping is not common in Japan, not even to waitresses, taxi drivers, or bellboys. Rather, in lieu of tipping, a 10 to 15 percent service charge is added to bills at higher-priced hotels and restaurants. At higher-end Japanese inns with individualized maid service, a 10 to 20 percent service charge is added. No service charge is added to bills at business hotels, pensions, minshuku, youth hostels, and other inexpensive lodgings. Travelers can, however, tip tour guides and the head maid at a Japanese inn if special requests were made (guests should present the head maid with an envelope containing the tip at the beginning of their stay).
Tax
5% consumption tax will be added to your bill. The consumption tax is included in the price quote.
