Key facts
Japan is a country located in Eastern Asia. The country has no land neighbors. The official language of Japan is Japanese. Traveling across Japan if English is your first (and only) language may be difficult due to language barriers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Japan was ranked 78th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Japan is Japanese yen (JPY). The yen (¥) is subdivided into 100 sen.
Japanese
Banknotes
¥1000¥2000¥5000¥10000
Japanese
Coins
¥1¥5¥10¥50¥100¥500
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Japan is 313.44 Mbps and mobile is 86.81 Mbs.The global average is 194.02 Mbps and 126.09 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density Japan has more ATMs than most other countries.116.94 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Japan, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Japan. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Japan will celebrate 16 national public holidays. The next one Sports Day will take place on October 14.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s Day元日 | |
| January 8, 2024Moving holiday | Coming of Age Day成人の日 | |
| February 12, 2024Moving holiday | Foundation Day建国記念の日 | |
| February 23, 2024Moving holiday | The Emperor’s Birthday天皇誕生日 | |
| March 20, 2024Moving holiday | Vernal Equinox Day春分の日 | |
| April 29, 2024Moving holiday | Shōwa Day昭和の日 | |
| May 3, 2024Moving holiday | Constitution Memorial Day憲法記念日 | |
| May 4, 2024Moving holiday | Greenery Dayみどりの日 | |
| May 6, 2024Moving holiday | Children’s Dayこどもの日 | |
| July 15, 2024Moving holiday | Marine Day海の日 | |
| August 12, 2024Moving holiday | Mountain Day山の日 | |
| September 16, 2024Moving holiday | Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日 | |
| September 22, 2024Moving holiday | Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日 | |
| October 14, 2024Moving holiday | Sports Dayスポーツの日 | |
| November 4, 2024Moving holiday | Culture Day文化の日 | |
| November 23, 2024Moving holiday | Labour Thanksgiving Day勤労感謝の日 |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Japan?
There are Mariott hotels in 8 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Japan.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Japan.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Japan.
There are no Radisson hotels in Japan.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Japan.
What fast food chains are present in Japan?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Japan.
The KFC chain operates in Japan.
The Burger King chain operates in Japan.
The Subway chain operates in Japan.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Japan.
The Starbucks chain operates in Japan.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Tokyo?
Weather data for Tokyo (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in 11 cities.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Japan
Sources
- Japan Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Japan (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Inconsistent or only partially enforced smoke-free laws
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
The products are only for your own use or consumption, or as a present for members of your household. They may not be imported for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
Alcohol allowance
- 3 bottles (760ml as a bottle)
Tobacco allowance
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco products
Sources
- Duty-free Allowance (Customs and Tariff Bureau)
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)