General Information about Japan
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Emergency:
There are two different phone numbers to dial in an emergency - 110 to
call the police or 119 to report a fire or to call an ambulance. These
emergency numbers can be dialled from a public telephone without paying
for the call by pressing the red button that is located on the front of
the phone.
Medical Services
If you need a doctor or first-aid, contact your hotel front desk or ask
someone around you. For hospital information, call (03) 5285-8181 in Tokyo.
Japanese medical services and facilities enjoy a high international reputation.
Hospitals with English Speaking Doctors
In general, hospital reception desks are open 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,
Monday through Friday.
International Catholic Hospital (Seibo Byoin)
2-5-1 Naka-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8521
Tel: (03) 3951-1111
Japanese Red Cross Medical Center (Nihon Sekijujisha Iryo Center)
4-1-22 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8935
Tel: (03) 3400-1311
St. Luke's International Hospital (Seiroka Byoin)
9-1 Akashicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8560
Tel: (03) 3541-5151
Tokyo Adventist Hospital (Tokyo Eisei Byoin)
3-17-3 Amanuma, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0032
Tel: (03) 3392-6151
Police
You will notice that there are police boxes very often located by main
street crossings in Japan, to keep an eye on people on the street and
assist them to find their way to their destination. Japan's crime rate
is very low compared to that of many other countries.
Lost and Found
If you left your bag or package in a railway station or other public
area, go to the stationmaster's office or the nearest police box and ask
for English-language assistance. If you left something in a taxi then
go to your hotel's reception desk. Taxi drivers often bring the belongings
back to your hotel.
Postal Service:
Postcards and stamps are available from post offices, convenience stores
and kiosks at train stations all over the country. Post boxes are located
by street crossings, buildings and public facilities. The opening slot
of the post box may differ depending on the size of mail that the post
box is designed to accept.
Telephone:
International Calls
Direct Calls
A direct overseas call can be made from a public telephone displaying
an International and Domestic Telephone sign. These phones are not widespread,
but can be found at airports, hotels, and other key facilities. Direct
dial calls can be made via a telephone company using the company's access
number.
Credit Card Calls
A credit card call can be made from a telephone with an International
and Domestic Telephone sign. Insert a 100 yen coin (returned when you
finish the call) and input an access number. The telecom business is fiercely
competitive and so rates and systems change often.
Domestic Calls
Public telephones accept 10 yen and 100 yen coins and/or telephone cards.
A local call (within Tokyo's central 23 Wards and some other metropolitan
cities) costs 10 yen per minute. If you put in two 10-yen coins and speak
for less than one minute, one of the coins will be returned to you. No
change is given for partial use of a 100 yen coin. Prepaid telephone cards
cost 1,000 yen from vending machines, kiosks at train stations, and convenience
stores. Charges for inter-city calls vary according to the distance. Domestic
calls are cheaper at night and on Saturday, Sunday & national holidays.
Electricity:
The electrical current in Japan is 100V AC. Two different cycles are
used. Tokyo and eastern Japan are on 50 Hz whilst western Japan, including
Osaka Nagoya and Kyoto, is on 60 Hz.
Flat two pin plugs (identical to those in North America) are used in
Japan.
Most major hotels provide outlets for both 110V and 220V appliances such
as shavers, hairdryers and travel irons.
Banks:
When banks are closed, cash and travellers cheques can often be changed
at major hotels or department stores. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
are widely available but they are not always open and do not always accept
foreign credit or cashpoint cards.
National Holidays:
Most major department stores, tourist attractions and restaurants remain
open on national holidays except over the New Year Period (officially
29 December - 3 January, however dates may vary). Most shops and restaurants,
except for those within hotels, are closed over this period, as are government
offices, banks, private companies & museums.
Many smaller shops and businesses are also closed over other traditional
Japanese holiday seasons.
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