Tokyo Hotels

Voltage in Japan is 100V and the frequency ranges 50-60 Hz depending on the area (Tokyo is 50Hz). The socket is type A, which has two flat plug holes. If you plan to bring any electric appliances that are not convertible, transformers and/or plug adaptors are necessary.

There are certain taxes that tourists are required to pay during their stay in Tokyo. A consumption tax(shohizei) is one of such taxes, which is five (5) percent of the price of commodities and services you are buying. The consumption tax is already included in the indicated price. Another is a hotel tax(shukuhakuzei) which occurs when you pay 10,000 yen or more for the room charge per night per person to your hotel. At hotels and ryokans in Tokyo, the rate of the hotel tax is 100 yen for a room less than 15,000 yen and 200 yen for a room 15,000 yen or more.

As an exception, nonresidents of Japan, including tourists from foreign countries, are exempted from the consumption tax under certain conditions for certain items purchased at duty-free shops as souvenir to be brought outside Japan. Excluding consumables such as foods and drinks, cigarettes, medicines, cosmetic items, camera films, batteries, etc., general commodities will be tax-exempted at such shops only when the total of your shopping exceeds 10,000 yen per transaction. Duty free shops are found only in limited areas. In Tokyo, the most crowded area with the duty free shops is Akihabara, which is known among tourists from the overseas as a place to shop made-in-Japan electric appliances that are convertible worldwide at tax-free prices. Some of those electric stores sell traditional souvenirs and those can be also tax-exempted if your total payment at one store sums up 10,000 yen or more.

In case of emergency, contact the following numbers. A free call can be made from all public telephones.

To report a fire, rescue, ambulance, etc.: call 119
The call will be connected with the Disaster Relief Information Center. Dial 119 to report fire, or request help and/or an ambulance.

To contact the police to report crimes, incidents, accidents, etc.: call 110
The call will be connected with the Police Communication Command Center. Dial 110 to urgently report crimes, incidents, accidents, etc.

To report incidents, accidents, etc. at sea: call 118
The call will be connected with Japan Coast Guard. Dial 118 to urgently report maritime incidents, accidents, etc.

Disaster message exchange dial: call 171
In the event of a disaster like an earthquake, many people attempt to make phonecalls at the same time, making it difficult to get through. Call 171 to safely confirm places of evacuation among family members, via disaster message exchange dial, even at such a time.
Call 171 will be connected to the Disaster Message Exchange Dial Service, a nation-wide network. Following the voice guidance, messages may be recorded and played back. Recording and reproducing messages may be done from a home telephone. The call will only be charged during recording and playing periods.

However, it does not mean that the credit cards are universally acceptable. To purchase a short distance train ticket on either JR or a private railway, a credit card may not be used. Neither can they be used for bus lines. Furthermore, not all the convenience stores, privately owned shops, and super-markets accept the credit cards. In some cases, even if the cards are acceptable, there may be certain limitations. It is a general rule to pay in cash, if the sum used is less than 1,000 yen. There are some taxi companies that do not accept credit cards as well as those which only accept when the fare exceeds 5,000 yen. Unlike the United States where it is possible to live without cash as everything can be paid for by credit card, in Japan one needs to carry some cash at all times.

If you want to withdraw cash from an ATM (automated teller machine) using a credit card, it must be the one that has been issued in Japan. Many ATMs in Japan do not accept the cards issued abroad. It is necessary, therefore, to get information in advance from the credit companies about the kind of ATM that will accept certain cards issued abroad.

The 24,000 ATMs in the post offices throughout the country will accept withdrawals on credit cards issued abroad. On or around such machines, a notice "International ATM Service" and stickers showing VISA, VISA Electron, PLUS, MASTERCARD, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express, Diners Club International, JCB, etc., logos are displayed.

Travelers' checks may be used in most banks, hotels, ryokans (Japanese-style hotels) and super-stores.