Nagoya Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 20:00, daily, most close two or three weekdays per month
Museums: 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

Nagoya is a modern, stable and highly developed city and visitors can feel safe at any time of day, regardless of where they are. However, it is advisable to take sensible precautions and be on your guard concerning your personal safety and possessions, as you would normally.

Do not get involved with drugs. Possession of even small amounts can result in arrest and prosecution. Possession of large amounts will certainly lead to a long prison sentence and a very steep fine. Japanese police have been known to ask customers of bars to give samples for drug trace testing. Tests proving positive will lead to arrest and prosecution, even if the drug was taken before your arrival in Japan. 

Immigration laws in Japan are strict. You should not overstay your entry permission or take illegal employment. The typhoon season normally runs from June to October. There is also a danger of earthquakes in this area. 

Electricity: 110V AC, all plugs are two-flat-pin.

If you come across any health problems during your stay in Nagoya, there are excellent medical facilities and staff will attend to you without delay. Although emergency treatment will be administered and charged for later, it is vital to have an all-inclusive insurance policy as health care in Japan can be prohibitively expensive. Make sure to keep all of your medical receipts in case you want to make an insurance claim at a later date. Major hospitals and clinics usually have someone who can communicate in English.

No vaccinations are required, but always ensure that standard vaccinations such as tetanus are up-to-date. Food is almost always safe to eat and you can drink tap water throughout Japan. There is however a small risk of parasitic infection and toxins from raw seafood. 

Nagoya City University Hospital: +81 52 851 5511
Emergency services: 119

Japanese is the official language and most Japanese do not speak much English, or they may be difficult to understand. Japan is not yet a society geared up for welcoming hordes of tourists and it’s advisable to learn at least some rudimentary phrases before embarking on your journey.

The Japanese currency is called Yen (¥). Banknotes come in denominations of ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥5000 and ¥10,000 (¥2000 notes are not often seen). Coins are available in denominations of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500.
The ¥1 coin is an aluminium lightweight coin; while the ¥5and ¥50 coins all have a hole in the middle.

You can exchange cash or travellers cheques for Yen at an ‘Authorised Foreign Exchange Bank’ or at major post offices as well as some larger hotels and shops. 

The preferred international currency is US dollars, while Taiwanese or Korean currency is generally not accepted. Most ATMs do not accept foreign-issued credit cards, though ATMs at post offices often do. 

In Japan, cash very much remains king, even though credit cards use is quite widespread in main cities when shopping in department stores and hotels. The very low crime rate in Japan means that Japanese often carry wads of cash for the sacred custom of cash payment. Foreign travellers can safely take after the cash habit, but should still take the usual safety measures.

Upon entering Japan, you can take in up to 200 cigarettes; three 760mls bottles of alcoholic beverage; 57 grams of perfume, and gifts and souvenirs with a value of not more than ¥200,000. In order to qualify for these allowances, visitors must be over 20 years of age. 

There are no restrictions on the import of foreign or Japanese currency. The export of foreign currency is also unrestricted, but Japanese currency is subject to a ¥5,000,000 export limit.

Japanese conduct and customs are greatly different from those of Western nations.  A clear ‘no’ is not part of Japanese etiquette. A vague ‘yes’ does not always signify ‘yes’ but visitors may be reassured to know that misunderstandings caused by non-committal answers also occur between the Japanese themselves.

Bowing is the normal greeting, but shaking hands is becoming more frequent for business meetings with Westerners. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant you are expected to take off your shoes. 

It is not as customary to entertain guests at home as it is in the West, since this involves giving the full red-carpet treatment to your visitor. Japanese men also worry that their wives may be embarrassed and feel that their hospitality is poor by Western standards.

Dining Etiquette
While most restaurants in Japan have Western style tables and chairs, traditional low-lying tables and cushions are also widespread. Some restaurants provide both styles next to each other. A visit to a traditional Japanese restaurant usually requires taking off your shoes before stepping onto the seating area or even at the restaurant’s door.

In certain establishments, such as Izakaya or Chinese restaurants, all guests at one table usually order and share a range of dishes. Alternatively, at restaurants that serve set menus, dishes served in bowls or Western style dishes, each guest usually orders independently and eats one individual dish. 

In informal situations, men generally sit cross-legged, while women sit on their knees folding both legs to one side. The former sitting style is regarded as suitable only for men, while the latter is considered exclusively female. Do your best to finish your meal.

Holders of US passports and the majority of residents of the EU as well as visitors from Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa if staying in Japan for not more than 90 days. UK citizens are allowed to stay up to 180 days without a visa. A valid passport is necessary, with a minimum validity of 6 months.

The Nagoya Tourist Information Centre provides sightseeing information in English. However, they cannot make reservations for hotel accommodations. The office is located in JR Nagoya Station (Open 9:00 to 19:00). They can be contacted by calling: +81 52 541 4301.