{USEFUL INFORMATION
FOR TRAVELING

Japan National Tourist Organization has established its own home page called "JAPAN TRAVEL UPDATES" (http://www.jnto.go.jp) on the Internet. Accessing it will give you a lot of practical tips on sightseeing in Japan including information on the low-priced tours available.
In particular, the content of their home page includes budget travel and travel hints, reasonable accommodations, maps of Japan, what's new, regional tourist information, and news about meetings and exhibitions.
So if you're looking for useful tour information for your trip in Japan, why not access JNTO's home page?

The Welcome Inn Reservation Center offers overseas customers a reservation service for securing reasonably priced accommodation.
For detailed information, access JNTO's "JAPAN TRAVEL UP-DATES" home page on the Internet.
You can make reservations by letter, fax, or e-mail.
Since most members of the Japanese Inn Group are Welcome Inn Reservation Center member facilities, you can reserve accommodation with any of the member inns using this method.
Mailing address: c/o International Tourism Center of Japan
Kanda Urban building 9F, 2-4-2, Kandatsukasa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0048, Japan
Tel No.: 81-3-3252-1717
Fax No.: 81-3-3252-1521
Business hours: 9:15–12:00, 13:00–16:45 (Mon. - Fri)
"JAPAN TRAVEL UPDATES" URL=http://www.jnto.go.jp

The Japanese Inn Group has introduced a new service in which, if you stay at one of the group's inns, the inn group will make an accommodation reservation for you in one of the group's inns located at your next destination. However, the cost of telephone calls required for making this reservation will be charged separately.
We sincerely hope you will enjoy traveling in Japan and utilizing the group's inns located throughout the country.

Open hours
Banks open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
*Banks in New Tokyo International Airport open for all arriving flights.

Cash Selling Rate
Cash selling rate is almost the same at all banks.

Credit Cards and Traveler's Checks
Major tourist facilities, such as hotels and restaurants in big cities accept both credit cards and traveler's checks. But in local cities neither of them are usually available, you should carry cash when making a local trip.

"i" Tourist Information Offices
"i" Tourist Information Offices, which now numbers 95, are the best helping hand for foreign travelers. Their multilingual staffs are ready to provide you with information on local sightseeing. Most of them are situated in stations and marked by the "i" sign. There are two in Tokyo, one at Shinjuku Station and one at Tokyo Station.

Useful Telephone Numbers
Japan Helpline - emergencies, counselling 24 hours, free 0120-46-1997
Tokyo English Lifeline - emergencies, counselling 03-3264-4347

English speaking doctors
St. Luke's Hospital: 03-3541-5151
Int'l Catholic Hospital: 03-3951-1111
Tokyo Sanitarium Hospital: 03-3392-6151

JR's English Language Telephone Service
JR train information service
Number: 03-3423-0111
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

NTT English Information Service
Telephone number information service
Number: 0120-364-463, toll free
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Tipping
Individual tipping is not common in Japan. But at high class hotels, ryokans and restaurants 10 or 15% service charge will be added to the bill.

Sento (Public baths)
It can be a once in a lifetime experience to go to a Japanese traditional public bath called ÅgSentoÅh in Japanese. When sitting in a big bath full of relatively hot water, you will have a feeling of touching real Japanese popular culture. Their hours are usually from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Door to door delivery service
A parcel under 20 kilogram can be delivered to any part of Japan within one or two days. The charge is about ¥1,300 per parcel. As for details, ask at the front desk of the inn you are staying.

Passenger Service Facility Charge
If you leave Japan from New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), or Kansai International Airport you have to keep the following amount of yen for Passenger Service Facility Charge.
(Kansai international Airport) for adults: ¥2,650
for children: ¥1,330 (2 ~11 years old)