Current exchange rate: Y188 = £1.ACCOMMODATION:
There are several different types of accommodation on offer to travellers in Japan.
Western-Style Lodging::
International Class Hotels
Japan's finest hotels have all the facilities and amenties you would expect of any world-class hotel. These cater for visiting corporate executives and other overseas guest who can afford the luxury. Services provided by English-speaking staff include secretaries, salons and access to computers and fax machines. The restaurants in these areas are often among the finest in a city and most of these hotels provide direct connections to the nearest international airports. A double or twin room will cost an average of Y30,000 per night.
Business Hotels:
A less expensive option, favoured by many Japanese businessmen. The hotels – as a rule – are smaller than the International Class ones and the staff do not as a rule speak English. The rooms tend to be singles with a bath and prices range from Y5,000 to Y10,000 on average
Pensions:
These are found at popular resort areas throughout Japan. The typical Pension has 10 or so Western-style rooms and is managed by a family. The average rates are from Y8,000 to Y9,000 and includes two meals.
Japanese-Style Lodging:
Ryokan:
The traditional Japanese inn. Each guest room is large, simple in design and floored with tatami straw matting. Bedding is stored in a deep closet until the room made lays it out on the floor after dinner. Communal baths are common but are separated into male and female. Over 2,000 quality inns and members of the Japan Ryokan Association and room rates range from Y15,000 to Y40,000.
Minshuku:
A very small family inn which is operated by one family in their own home. Rates are moderate from Y6,500 to Y9,000 with two meals served.
People's Lodges (Kokumin Shukusha)
Y6,500 a night means they are value options with guest rooms, baths and toilets all Japanese style.
Other Lodgings:
Temples and Shrines:
A certain number of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples tale in overnight guests for modest fees. More than 50 are members of the Japan Youth Hostel Association.
Onsen Lodging:
Some hot-spring resorts such as Sopporo have condominium apartments that can be rented or other types of temporary accommodation.
Overnight Trains, Buses and Ferries:
You can spend comfortable nights aboard long-distance trains, buses and ferries while travelling from one destination to another.
Budget Hotels:
Welcome Inns:
These provide a wide variety of accommodation from hotels to People Lodges. All are very affordable and specialise in caring for overseas visitors. The rate per night is less than Y8,000.
Japanese Inn Group:
An association of 80 inns is another to make a special effort to care for overseas visitors. The average price per person is Y4,000.
Youth Hostels:
Japan has over 360 youth hostels and a number of them are open to the public. Others require membership of the International Youth Hostel Federation. You can gain a guest card for Y2,800 at the Tokyo National Headquarters. Youth Hostels cost around Y2,500 per night.
Tax and service charge:
If the total charge for accommodation, food and beverage and other services per person is Y15,000 or less, a 5 per cent tax is imposed. If over Y15,000 an 8 per cent tax is added.
At the best hotels a 10 to 15 per cent service charge is added to the bill in lieu of tipping. At the Japanese inns with individual maid service, there is usually a 10 to 20 per cent service charge.
No service charges are imposed at business hotels, pension, minshuku and youth hostels.
DINING:
Japan has a large number of high-class restaurants which cover everything from the heights of Chinese culinary delights to French haute cuisine.
More affordable restaurants are found in downtown office basements, the dining floors of department stores, shopping centres and underground malls at the busiest railway stations.
For people in a hurry, noodle stands, coffee shops, fast-food outlets and vending machines provide a variety of food and drink at a low cost.
DRINKING:
Beer is the most popular drink in Japan and is served from the tap or in bottles. Bottles come in small (330ml), Medium (500ml) and large (633ml). Draft beer is available in jugs and mugs at beer halls. The price of beer can vary somewhat by type of venue. It is within a range of Y500 to Y900 from small to large.
Sake is Japan's own native rice wine and is the national drink. Sold in large bottles from liquor shops, it is not served by the bottle but in small ceramic flasks, from which it is poured into a small drinking cup. You can ask for it to be served warm or cold and you can also state a preference for dry or sweet taste.
Whisky prices vary by the type of drinking spot but imported brands cost between Y800-1,200 for a single shot. Domestic brands are Y600 to Y800. Most Japanese people drink it mizuwari – with ice and water.
Wine – both domestic and imported – are served in resterants which serve Occidental Cuisines. It is a drink which has grown in popularity in recent years.
Shichu is a distilled spirit made from sweet potatoes, wheat, sugar cane or other bases similar to vodka. It can be drunk straight, on the rocks or in cocktails. It is quite fashionable among young people in Japan and is a reasonable price at most bars.
Finding a congenial drinking spot within your budget can pose a problem. Some general guidelines are helpful with the price of a small beer being used as an example. A modest price is Y400 or less, fair=Y400-Y600, expensive=Y600-Y1,200 and very expensive Y1,200 or more.
| TYPE OF PLACE |
PRICE RANGE |
| Beer halls or beer gardens |
Modest to fair |
| Robatayaki |
Modest to fair |
| Akachochin (Izakaya) |
Modest to fair |
| Yakitoriya |
Modest to fair |
| Bars without hostesses |
Modest to expensive |
| Bars with hostesses |
Expensive to very expensive |
| Pubs |
Modest to fair |
| Clubs |
Modest to very expensive |
| Cabarets |
Expensive to very expensive |
| Hotel cocktail lounges/bars |
Fair to expensive |
A robatayaki pub features seafood and other food grilled on open hearths in front of the customer.
Akachochin bars take their name from the red lantern strung up by the entrance. They serve a variety of drinks and a la carte dishes.
Yakitoriya and Japanese pubs serve bite-sized chunks of chicken and other selections barbecued on skewers.
Chain pubs, which include Suishin, Yoronotaki, Tsubohachi and Tengu also serve a variety of dishes with drinks and are a safe choice in terms of price.
Drinking Etiquette:
In cosy Japanese bars, customers often pour drinks for each other from bottles of beer as gestures of companionship. If you are a fellow beer drinker, reciprocate with your own bottle. A whisky drinker may invite you to drink from his bottle and fix a drink for you. In this case you do not need to reciprocate unless you have your own bottle.
In a group do not begin to drink until everyone is served. Glasses are raised and as a traditional salute everyone shouts “Kampai!” (Cheers).
Excessive drinking is frowned upon.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Shopping Hours: Shops and other sales outlets are generally open on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays as well as weekdays from 10.00am to 8pm. Department stores are closed on one weekday but this varies from store to store. They also close at least one hour earlier than other establishments.
Tax-Free Shopping: You need your passport for tax-free shopping. Duty Free is possible at the international airports but authorised tax-free shopping with English-speaking staff can be found in urban shopping districts.
When You Need Help:
The emergency phone numbers are:
Police 110
Fire, Ambulance 119
Police, general information in English 3501-0110
International Phone Calls: You can make direct overseas calls from “International & Domestic Card/Coin Telephones” at airports, hotels and larger stations in the major cities. There are three companies whi offer international calls and their contact numbers are: 0041 (Japan Telecom), 0061 (IDC) and 001 (KDD). The rates and locations served by these companies can very.
Time Zones: All of Japan is in the same time zone, nine hours ahead of GMT. No Daylight Saving Time is practiced in Japan.
USEFUL JAPANESE PHRASES
Yes – Hai
No – Lie
Thankyou – Arigatoo
You're welcome – Doo itashi mashite
Excuse we – Sumimasen
I'm sorry – Gomen Nasi
Please (When offering something) – Doozo
Please (When requesting something) – Onegal shimasu
This/It/That – Kore/Sore/are
Good morning – Ohayo gozaimasu
Good afternoon – Kon-nichiwa
Good evening – Konbanwa
Good night – Oyasumi nasai
Goodbye – Sayanoara
See you later – Dewa matta nochi hodo
How do you do (pleased to meet you) – Hajime mashite.
QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS:
Where is/are – Wa doko desu ka?
Where can I get/find – wa doko ni ari masu ka?
How far is it? Dono kurai no kyori desu ka?
How long is it? Dono kurai no jikan desu ka?
How much does this/it cost? Kore/sore wa ikura desu ka?
Do you speak English? Eigo o hanashi masu ka?
Does anyone here speak English? Eigo o hanasu hito wa imasu ka?
The bright lights of Tokyo (Allsport).