Japan travel advice

Travel Summary

• We advise against all non essential travel to Tokyo and north eastern Japan given the damage caused by the 11 March earthquake and resulting aftershocks and tsunami.

• Due to the evolving situation at the Fukushima nuclear facility and potential disruptions to the supply of goods, transport, communications, power and other infrastructure, British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area.

• At present this advice does not apply to Hokkaido due to its significant distance north of Tokyo.  We will continue to review the situation.

• The most recent advice from the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser remains that for those outside the exclusion zone set up by the Japanese authorities there is currently no real human health issue that people should be concerned about. This advice is kept under constant review.

• The Scientific Advisory Group in Emergencies (SAGE), chaired by the Chief Scientific Adviser, has been examining possible worst case scenarios.  Even in these worst cases, it considers that the risks to human health beyond a radius of 80km from the Fukushima nuclear power plant could be managed by precautionary measures, in particular staying indoors to avoid exposure.

• We urge British nationals to observe the advice being given by Japanese authorities.  The Japanese Government has put in place an exclusion zone of 20km around the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which must be observed, and they are advising people between 20km and 30km of the plant to remain indoors.

• As an additional precautionary measure, British nationals are advised to remain outside an 80km radius of the Fukushima nuclear facility.  This is in line with the advice issued by the US Government to its citizens.

• Any British nationals currently within 80km of the facility are advised to leave the area or take shelter indoors if they are unable to travel and to contact the Foreign Office Japan emergency hotline on 44 20 7008 0000 to ensure we are aware of your location.

  
  Flights

 

• The first option for leaving Japan should remain commercial routes.  Commercial flights continue to operate to and from Japan.  British nationals with commercial flight bookings should continue to use these flights and you should continue to make reservation and other arrangements with your airline as usual. See our airline information page

 

• The UK government has organised the following flights departing from Narita Tokyo (NRT) airport for Hong Kong (HKG).  These are for British nationals and their immediate family who wish to leave but are unable to secure tickets for a commercial flight.  To register your interest in these flights please call 44 20 7008 6900.  We will take your details and contact you as soon as possible to confirm a place on these flights and details of departure. Please note that we do not plan to operate any more flights after Sunday 20 March.

• The first flight is Cathay Pacific CX2505 departing 20:55 (local time) Narita Tokyo (NRT) on Friday 18 March arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) 01:05 local time on Saturday 19 March.

• There are two additional flights on Saturday 19 March, departing from Narita Tokyo airport to Hong Kong.  These are: Hong Kong Airlines HX6619 departing 0700 (local time) and Orient Thai departing 1800 (local time).  Please note times to be confirmed. 

 

• For those British nationals and their immediate families directly affected by the tsunami there will be no charge.  Staff will be available in Hong Kong to help you with onward bookings and accommodation.

 

• For British nationals and their immediate families who were not directly affected by the tsunami, and who want to make use of this option, there will be a charge of £600 per adult; £300 for children up to sixteen years old and free for those under two years, in line with commercial flight options.  Travellers will be asked to sign at an Undertaking to Repay at Narita Airport.

  
  

• If you require a re-entry permit for Japan, you should be aware that there are currently long queues at the Narita airport re-entry permit office as cash payments are not accepted.  You will need to purchase a JPY3000 (approximately £23 revenue stamp (shunyu-inshi).  We advise that you purchase this in advance at any post office in Japan, including the post office at Tokyo Narita airport.

  
  

• Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China which operates its own immigration controls distinct from those of mainland China.  British nationals can stay in Hong Kong for up to six months without a visa provided the passport is valid for the duration of the stay in Hong Kong.  For further details about Hong Kong entry requirements including the requirements for non-British nationals please check the website of the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm

Coaches

• Two coaches for British Nationals and their dependents departed Sendai for Tokyo on 17 March. The British Embassy has organised another two coaches departing Sendai at 12:00 (local time) for Tokyo on Friday 18 March and two coaches for Saturday 19 March, again departing at 12:00 (local time).  Please note that we do not plan to operate any more coaches after Saturday 19 March.

 

• The coaches will be at our Consular Reponse Centre in Sendai at the ANA Holiday Inn, 1-4-1 Shintera Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, 984-0051 Japan at 12:00 (midday) on 18 March.  All those interested in making this journey should register passengers by contacting the British Embassy in Tokyo on ( 81) 35 211 1356 if calling from the UK or 035 211 1356 if calling within Japan.  We must limit baggage to one piece of luggage per person.

 

• The most recent advice from the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser remains that for those outside the exclusion zone set up by the Japanese authorities there is currently no real human health issue that people should be concerned about. This advice is kept under constant review.

• As an additional precautionary measure, British nationals are advised to remain outside an 80km radius of the Fukushima nuclear facility.  This is in line with the advice issued by the US Government to its citizens.

• We urge British nationals to observe the advice being given by Japanese authorities, including the 20km exclusion zone around the Fukushima facility and to remain indoors, keep windows and doors closed and not to use ventilation if you are between 20km and 30km from the facility.  If you are currently between 30km and 80km from the facility, we advise you to leave the area or take shelter indoors if you are unable to travel.  For people within 80km of the Fukushima nuclear facility, please contact the Foreign Office Japan emergency hotline on 44 20 7008 0000 for further advice.

  
  British nationals in the vicinity of Morioka and Sendai

• The Consular Response Centre in Morioka has now closed, but the Consular Response Centre in Sendai remains open, at the ANA Holiday Inn, located at 1-4-1 Shintera Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, 984-0051 Japan.  The Holiday Inn’s telephone number is ( 81) 22 256 5111, if calling from the UK, or 022 256 5111, if calling within Japan.

• British nationals in Japan should contact the Foreign Office helpline in London both if they require assistance and to report that they are safe: 44 20 7008 0000 (from Japan) or 020 7008 0000 (in the UK). You can also e-mail the Foreign Office on  japan.earthquake@fco.gov.uk or skype (text not call) on "fcojapan".  British nationals currently in Japan should also contact family and friends in the UK to confirm their well-being at the earliest opportunity. Where telephone services are not available, it may be possible to contact people using e-mail or social media such as Twitter or Facebook. 

  
  

• We urge all British nationals in areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami to remain alert to gas leaks, broken glass and other hazards; and open doors and/or windows to avoid being locked in if there are aftershocks. 

• Please also monitor local TV and radio for information. Radio stations in the Tokyo area that have emergency information in English include the US Armed Forces station at 810Am and InterFM (76.1FM).

  Travel Documents

• If your passport is invalid or currently unavailable, you may apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or Emergency Passport (EP) at the British Embassy in Tokyo.  The British Consulate-General in Osaka is unable to issue ETDs, but can process applications for one-way EPs.

• In order to handle the increase in demand for travel documents from those people who have been directly affected by recent events, the Embassy in Tokyo and Consulate-General in Osaka will be operating extended service hours as follows for travel documents:

British Embassy Tokyo:  08:00 - 19:00
British Consulate-General Osaka:  09:30 - 20:30

To apply for an ETD or an EP, you will need to supply the following:
  

- A completed application form (available to download from our website or in paper copy at the Embassy or Consulate-General.

- Proof of identity (Japanese alien registration card, Japanese driving licence, UK driving licence etc)

- Two passport photos.

- A flight itinerary if travel plans are already known.

- A fee of Y12360   

• There is no need to make an appointment for your application. You should try to visit the Embassy or Consulate-General during normal working hours, when consular staff will be able to issue the emergency document. 

• Consular staff are however also available on a 24-hour basis for consular assistance to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. 
  

Transport

• Travellers should be aware that Japan's transport systems are experiencing continued disruption.   We understand that:

- Long distance trains from Tokyo station heading north are either not operating or are subject to severe delays. 

-  The Tokyo metro is operating a reduced service on some lines.

- The Bullet trains and the Tokyo monorail remain in full service.  The Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet trains that run to Osaka, Kyoto and other destinations in the south of Japan) is in normal service, though tickets are in high demand. 

- Narita Express is suspended but Airport Narita (Rapid Service) is operating as scheduled.  The Keisei Skyliner is operating to a Saturday and Holiday schedule.

Infrastructure

• Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) plan to rotate power cuts in five groups which could affect roughly three million people in Tochigi, Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.  Tokyo is also affected, except for the twenty three wards that make up the central part of Tokyo. There are likely to be power cuts without prior notice.

• TEPCO is posting the latest information: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html  

• We understand that mobile and landline telephone reception in the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami is intermittent. 
  

Further Information

• Further information on the earthquake and subsequent tsunami can be obtained from the US Geological Survey : http://www.usgs.gov/  and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre: http://ptwc.weather.gov/.  The nature of the disaster means that the threat of a tsunami is regularly changing across the region.  The FCO are endeavouring to provide information which is as up to date as possible but people in the region are urged to check the regular threat update on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Website www.NOAA.gov and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre http://ptwc.weather.gov/  
  
  
• The eruption of Mt Kirishima in Miyazaki/Kagoshima Prefectures, Kyushu, continues to affect surrounding areas and is causing local travel disruption.  The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has upgraded its advisory level from 2 to 3, restricting access into affected areas.  The JMA expects the eruption to continue and possibly grow in scale.  For further information please consult local media.

Advice from the Japanese Government

• Japanese central and local government authorities are using all available resources in response to the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March.  The Embassy is in close contact with the local authorities as we continue to identify British nationals affected by the disaster.  British nationals not directly affected may also like to monitor developments through the following sources:

Japanese Government statements on developments: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/topics/2011/earthquake2011tohoku.html

Earthquake and tsunami information: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/menu.html

Assessments of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html  

Other Sources of Information

• Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL) is also providing practical information, including message boards: http://www.telljp.com/index.php?/en/news_article/for_people_overseas_concerned_about_relatives_in_the_tokyo_area/   

Safety and security

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

See our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Japan is generally trouble-free and has relatively low levels of common crime such as theft, mugging, burglary etc. It is generally safe to walk about at night and to travel on public transport. Nevertheless, you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home, and take sensible precautions. This is particularly the case if visiting bars and restaurants in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo, which is considered a higher risk area for crime. There have been instances of British citizens arrested following disputes with bar staff and doormen, which can lead to up to 23 days in police detention while the case is investigated (see the Local Laws and Customs section of this Travel Advice). There have also been reports of drink spiking with drugs such as Rohypnol. Victims have described loss of consciousness for several hours, during which time large charges are reported to have been fraudulently billed to their credit card. 

See victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
See Travel Summary for updates on disruption to local and air travel services due to the 11 and 14 March earthquakes and resulting tsunamis. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
See Travel Summary for updates on disruption to local and air travel services due to the 11 March earthquake and resulting tsunamis.  To drive in Japan, you must hold an International Driving Licence (IDL) and a current British licence as well as insurance. The IDL is only valid for use in Japan for one year regardless of its date of expiry. Check the Metropolitan Police Department website for further details to be sure that you meet and comply with the necessary requirements. Penalties for driving in Japan without a legal licence are severe.

If you intend to stay in Japan for longer than one year, you should apply for a Japanese driving licence. To do this you will need to prove that you were living in the UK for at least three months after receiving your British licence. You will need both parts of the UK licence when applying (photocard and counterpart paper). For more information and details of offices where you can apply for a Japanese licence, please refer to the Japanese Automobile Federation website. There are two types of driving insurance available in Japan:

(a) Compulsory insurance (jibaisekihoken) which may be insufficient in cases of personal liability.

(b) Voluntary insurance (nin’i no jidoshahoken). We recommend that you buy this in addition to the compulsory insurance. It is compulsory to carry your driving licence with you at all times.

Roads in Japan are well maintained. Traffic travels on the left-hand side of the road, as in the UK. Road rules are, for the most part, the same as in the UK but drivers should pay particular attention to: pedestrians crossing roads at green lights, especially at junctions; cyclists travelling on the pavements, or on the wrong side of the road and without lights at night; and taxi drivers stopping suddenly. Many road signs are written in English and Japanese in urban areas but this is less common in rural areas. In 2009 there were 5,772 road deaths in Japan (source: DfT). This equates to 4.5 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 3.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2009.

See our driving abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail Travel
See Travel Summary for updates on disruption to local and air travel services due to the 11 March earthquake and resulting tsunamis.  The Japanese national rail network is generally efficient, reliable, safe and affordable (though bullet trains are considerably more expensive than ordinary trains).

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
See Travel Summary for updates on disruption to local and air travel services due to the 11 March earthquake and resulting tsunamis.  The revised aviation security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 were also implemented in Japan in March 2007. For more details about this please see Dft Airline Security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Japan country profile

Japan is a stable democracy. Civil disturbances and violent demonstrations are rare.

Local laws and customs

There are few major differences between the laws and customs of Japan and the UK of relevance to most visitors to Japan. In regard to sexual conduct in private between consenting adults, Japan is a tolerant society. However, you should be sensitive to the different culture and people around you and not engage in behaviour, which may cause offence.

Most Japanese people are very friendly and welcoming but can be reserved. Loud, boisterous behaviour is not as acceptable as it is in the UK.

Japanese family law is very different from UK law and particular caution is needed when, for example, child custody becomes an issue. Also see our child abduction page.

British nationals visiting Japan for up to three months must carry their passports at all times. If you have permission to stay longer in Japan, you must register with the ward office or city office of the district in which you reside. You will then receive an alien’s registration card, which must be carried at all times. 

Detention for minor offences can be longer than in the UK, and prison regimes in Japan are very strict.

Japan has a zero tolerance policy towards drug crime and there are severe penalties for drug offences, however minor. Detection facilities at airports and post offices are effective. There have been a number of cases of small quantities of cannabis being sent through the mail to Britons living in Japan, which have resulted in the arrest and detention of the recipients. Japanese Police have been known to require customers of bars to give samples for drug trace testing. Tests proving positive lead to arrest and prosecution, even if the drug was taken before arrival in Japan. 

There are severe penalties to deter drink driving, including allowing someone else to drink and drive (for example if you are a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a drunk driver). Offences can attract a heavy fine or imprisonment. 

The use or possession of Vicks inhalers and some other common prescription and over-the-counter medicines (e.g. for allergies and sinus problems or even certain mild painkillers, such as those containing certain levels of codeine) are banned under Japan’s strictly enforced anti-stimulant drugs law. Customs officials may not be sympathetic if you claim ignorance about these medicines. If in any doubt about customs procedures for such items, you should check with the nearest Japanese Embassy before visiting Japan. 

Drinks and meals are paid for at the end of your visit to a Japanese bar. Tipping is not necessary. Be aware that, in some cases, prices can be high. Disputes over bills can lead to the customer’s arrest. 

In general, penalties for most offences are more severe than in the UK. If you are arrested in Japan, even for a minor offence, expect as much as 23 days police detention while your case is investigated. Bail is seldom granted to foreigners. Police interviews can last many hours and you will not have access to a lawyer while under questioning. You are advised not to sign any document you cannot understand, since it is very hard to amend once signed. Police interviews are not recorded. If you are indicted, you can expect up to six months on remand awaiting trial. Time spent in detention while on remand or making an appeal does not automatically count in full towards completion of the sentence.

Japan has signed the Council of Europe Convention of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, so British citizens can apply to serve the remainder of their sentence in the UK. The transfer process is long and it can take months or sometimes years before a successful applicant transfers back to the UK.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our your trip page.

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements - Visas
You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket. British nationals wishing to visit Japan for three months or less for business, tourism or family purposes etc (but not to work for a local employer) may do so without a visa.

However, if you wish to visit Japan for other purposes (e.g. long-term stay, study, settlement, employment), you should approach a Japanese Embassy or Consulate for advice before travelling, as visas are not issued after arrival in Japan. It is illegal to work in Japan without the correct visa, however informal or temporary the work. Do not overstay your permission to be in the country. Failure to leave, or to renew your residence permit, leaves you open to arrest, detention and heavy fines. There is now a zero tolerance policy, even in cases of genuine oversight. Full details of entry requirements can be found on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa website.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
The Japanese authorities stipulate no minimum period of validity on your passport. However, before departure you should check that your passport remains valid and acceptable to the immigration authorities of the country to which you are travelling.

Entry Requirements - Entry Procedures
Since November 2007, in accordance with a partial amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, all foreign visitors entering Japan must be fingerprinted and digitally photographed during entry procedures. Those refusing to be fingerprinted or photographed will be denied entry to Japan. Persons under the age of 16 years are exempt.

The Japanese Government has produced a video in English that explains in full the new immigration procedures.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with Children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries, including Japan, may ask to see documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing the children to enter or leave the country.

Health

Medical facilities are good, but the cost of treatment is high. Hospitals and clinics are well equipped and staff highly trained. There are very few British doctors practising in Japan, but some Japanese doctors will have had experience abroad and may speak English. You are expected to pay the whole cost of any treatment you receive.

See the Local Laws and Customs section of this Travel Advice for information on Japanese law covering prescription and over the counter medicines.

In the 2010 Report on the global AIDS epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 8,100 adults aged 15 or over in Japan were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Japan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. 

See our travel health page.

Natural disasters

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
Japan is in a major earthquake zone, and earthquakes of varying sizes occur very frequently.

You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake, and take note of earthquake-related instructions e.g. in hotel rooms. To enable the Embassy or Consulate-General to help British visitors and respond to enquiries from relatives after an earthquake, we recommend that you register with the British consular services in Tokyo and Osaka.

Japan also has several active volcanoes. You should heed advice given by the Japanese authorities about travelling in volcanic areas.

Natural Disasters - Typhoons
Travellers to Japan (particularly southern regions) should be aware that typhoon season runs from June to October. We recommend paying particular attention to local travel information and consult Japan Meteorological Agency, which has information in English. and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).  We further recommend checking with carriers if you are planning to travel inside Japan.

Please also see our tropical cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a typhoon.

General

General - Insurance
You should take out  comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, including insurance against medical costs, loss of belongings, theft, cancellation of your journey etc. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. Keep belongings, especially your passport, safe. Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport. See our travel insurance page. 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General – Emergency Services
In cases of emergency in Japan, for the police dial 110.  For the fire or ambulance services, dial 119.  Calls are free of charge from any phone, including pay phones.

General – Lost/Stolen Passports
If your passport is lost or stolen in Japan, you should report this to the local police and obtain a police report. You will need to present the police report to the Consular Section at the British Embassy in Tokyo or Consulate-General in Osaka. A full validity replacement passport can be obtained by applying to our Regional Passport Processing Centre in Hong Kong. In cases of genuine emergency, the British Embassy in Tokyo may be able to issue an emergency travel document.

General - The language
Most Japanese people have studied English at school, but not all can speak it well or understand what is said to them. However, many can understand clear and simple English in written form and may be able to write a reply more easily than they can speak, but you should be prepared for situations in which English is not understood at all, e.g. by taxi drivers, restaurant staff, police, doctors. A pen and notebook and a simple phrase book may prove useful.

General - Weather conditions
You should check what sort of weather you can expect in Japan before you travel. June – September can be very hot and humid and you should take sensible precautions (e.g. drink plenty of water, limit time spent in the sun).

General - Mobile phone network
Most UK mobile phones will not work in Japan, even in roaming mode. You should check with your service provider if you wish to use your mobile phone in Japan.

General - Consular Registration
If resident in Japan or just visiting, you should register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
Japan is mainly a cash society. The Japanese currency is the Yen. Credit and Debit cards issued outside Japan, as well as Cirrus, Maestro, Link and Delta cash cards, are NOT widely accepted. Few banks or cash machines will provide cash drawn on such cards.  Japanese post offices do have cash machines, which will accept Visa, Delta and Cirrus cards during hours of business. Citibank and Seven-Eleven ATMs will also take certain foreign credit and debit cards. Cash machines do not operate 24 hours a day. They generally close at 21:00 hours or earlier and may not operate at the weekends. You should check with your bank before travelling and take sufficient alternative sources of money for the duration of your stay.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
119 British nationals required consular assistance in Japan in the period 01 April 2009 – 31 March 2010 for the following types of incident, deaths (21 cases), hospitalisations (15 cases), and arrests, for a variety of offences (43 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (68 cases).

via fco.gov.uk

I sent this information to a friend in Japan earlier.