Things to See & Do
Eating Out
Special Events
General Info
Things to See & Do
Eating Out
Special Events
General Info
Things to See & Do
Eating Out
Special Events
General Info
Things to See & Do
Eating Out
Special Events
General Info
Things to See & Do
Eating Out
Special Events
General Info
Travel Advice
Japanese Events in Australia
CLIMATE
Japan experiences four distinct seasons: Winter (December - February), Spring (March - May), Summer (June - August) and Autumn (September - November).
| Average Temperature | ||||
| Winter (Jan) | Spring (Apr) | Summer (Jul) | Autumn (Oct) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | -4.1 | 6.7 | 20.5 | 11.3 |
| Sendai | 1.5 | 10.1 | 22.1 | 14.8 |
| Tokyo | 5.8 | 14.4 | 25.4 | 18.2 |
| Nagoya | 4.3 | 14.1 | 26.0 | 17.6 |
| Osaka | 5.8 | 14.8 | 27.2 | 18.7 |
| Fukuoka | 6.4 | 14.8 | 26.9 | 18.7 |
| Naha | 16.6 | 21.3 | 28.5 | 24.9 |
DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic beverages | 3 bottles | Approximately 760 ml per bottle |
| Cigarettes | 400 | If a visitor brings in more than one kind of tobaccoproduct then the total allowance is 500 g. |
| Cigars | 100 | |
| Others (e.g. loose tobacco) | 500g | |
| Perfumes | 2oz | 1 oz is equivalent to approx. 28 cc. (excluding eau de cologne and eau de toilette) |
| Other items | 200,000yen | The total overseas market value of all articles other than the above items must be under 200,000 yen. Any item whose overseas market value is under 10,000 yen is free of duty and/or tax and is not included in the calculation of the total overseas market value of all articles. There is no duty-free allowance for articles having a market value of more than 200,000 yen each or each set. |
ELECTRICITY
The voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. There are two kinds of frequencies in use; 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka).
A convertible type of electrical appliance such as a hair dryer, travel iron and shaver will therefore be handy; otherwise a step-down transformer is required to convert the voltage.
There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan but 2-flat-pin plugs are used instead. It is therefore advised to purchase a plug adapter prior to departure.
FLIGHTS
Flight schedules and code share operation may change without notice.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney/Tokyo | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS | JAL / QANTAS |
| Sydney/Osaka | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR |
| Melbourne/Tokyo | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS | ||||
| Brisbane/Tokyo | JAL | JAL | JAL | JAL | JAL | JAL | JAL |
| Brisbane/Osaka (via Sydney) | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR |
| Cairns/Tokyo | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS |
| Cairns/Osaka | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | |||
| Cairns/Nagoya | JETSTAR* | JETSTAR | JETSTAR* | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | JETSTAR | |
| Perth/Tokyo | QANTAS | QANTAS | QANTAS |
Melbourne/Tokyo: Qantas Airways operate code share service for Japan Airlines
Brisbane/Tokyo: Japan Airlines operate code share service for Qantas Airways
Brisbane/Osaka (via Sydney): Jetstar Airways operate code share service for Qantas Airways & Japan Airlines
Cairns/Tokyo: Qantas Airways operate code share service for Japan Airlines
Cairns/Osaka: Jetstar Airways operate code share service for Qantas Airways
Cairns/Nagoya: Jetstar Airways operate code share service for Qantas Airways. *Mon & Thu services operate via Osaka
MONEY
Currency and Money Exchange
There is no limit on the amount of any currency that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport (any currencies, checks, securities or other monies) exceeding 1,000,000 yen worth in Japanese currency into or out of the country then you must complete a customs declaration.
The unit of Japanese currency is yen. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.
Travelers Checks and Credit Cards
Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, ryokan (Japanese inns) and stores in major cities.
International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also acceptable at these major establishments. However, credit card transactions are not always convenient outside big cities so obtaining cash beforehand is recommended when you travel to the countryside.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
International roaming is available on your mobile provided you have a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) handset. Rental mobile phones are also available in Japan.
| Date | Name of the Day |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan | New Year's Holiday |
| The 2nd Monday of January | Coming-of-Age Day |
| 11 February | National Foundation Day |
| 21 March | Vernal Equinox Day |
| 29 April | Showa Day |
| 3 May | Constitution Memorial Day |
| 4 May | National Holiday |
| 5 May | Children's Day |
| The 3rd Monday of July | Maritime Day |
| The 3rd Monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day |
| 23 September | Autumnal Equinox Day |
| The 2nd Monday of October | Health and Sports Day |
| 3 November | Culture Day |
| 23 November | Labor Thanksgiving Day |
| 23 December | The Emperor's Birthday |
TELEPHONE
Mobile Phones
You can now use your mobile phone number in Japan when using SoftBank Mobile and NTT DoCoMo's 3G (3rd generation) service networks. Simply bring your SIM card and insert into a rental mobile phone. Rental mobile phones are available at Narita Airport and Kansai Airport.
If you have a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) handset international roaming is available on your mobile, please check with your local mobile phone service provider prior to departure.
TIME DIFFERENCES
Japan is in the same time zone 9 hours ahead of GMT and one hour behind Australian Eastern Standard Time, except during Daylight Saving Time when there is a two hour difference.
VISA INFORMATION
Any foreign visitor who wishes to enter Japan must have a passport, which will remain valid during the period of stay.
Nationals of many countries are eligible to enter Japan without a visa unless the purpose of the visit is to reside in Japan, to obtain employment or to otherwise engage in remunerative activities.
The following is a list of nationals of countries that have "Reciprocal Visa Exemption Arrangements" with Japan:
For a period of 6 months or less
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK citizens only)
For a period of 3 months or less
Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Rep., El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal (except when the passport was originally issued in present or former Portuguese colonies), San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay
For a period of 90 days or less
Andorra, Australia, Barbados, Bulgaria, Czech Rep., Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia and the U.S.A.
For a period of up to 14 days
Brunei
Nationals of countries that do not have "Reciprocal Visa Exemption Arrangements" or nationals wishing to obtain employment or to otherwise engage in remunerative activities within Japan must obtain a visa.
To apply for a visa, the applicant must apply in person to a Japanese Embassy or a Consulate, usually in his or her home country.
It is always advisable to double-check visa requirements with the appropriate Japanese Embassy or Consulate as visa regulations may change.
