Banks: 09.00 to 15.00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday; some open daily
Government Offices: 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10.00 to 20.00, daily

Yokohama is safe on the crime front and particularly in the city centre, yet keeping an eye on your belongings in crowded areas such as on public transport and in shopping malls is recommended. Japan’s main threat is from earthquakes and typhoons, both of which are inevitable in this part of the world. If you experience an earthquake while in Yokohama, do not take shelter inside a building; head for open space.

110V, 50Hz – twin flat-pin plugs

Yokohama is one of Japan’s major centres and is on par with the rest of the country with its hospitals, clinics and standards of health and hygiene in general all very good. There are no exotic diseases to worry about in the city and there are also many pedestrianised areas and parks well away from the busy traffic.

Emergency services: 110 (police)
Yokohama Citizen's Hospital: +81 45 331 1961

People in Japan speak Japanese and, along with many other Asian countries, are poor speakers of English. Learning some useful Japanese phrases and basic civilities is recommended before visiting Yokohama.

The Japanese currency is the Yen (¥), with high value notes being the norm.

Duty-free allowances for visitors entering Japan over the age of 20 years include: 200 cigarettes (one carton); 750ml of spirits or wine; a reasonable amount of perfume; and gifts to the value of ¥200,000.

The Japanese are big on etiquette and especially while eating. The bow is the common form of greeting, with a lower bow denoting greater respect. Remove shoes on entering a restaurant or temple; use chopsticks for Japanese food and knife and fork for Western food; don’t point with your chopsticks at anybody; and refrain from walking and eating or drinking. Tipping is not encouraged anywhere in Japan.

Most visitors to Japan from the West do not need a tourist visa to enter the country for up to 90 days. This includes those from the US, most of the EU, and citizens of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The exception is the UK, where its citizens may stay for as long as 180 days without a visa. Everyone needs a valid passport to enter Japan, with a minimum of six months validity.

The main tourist office in Yokohama is the Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sangyo Boeki Center (Sambo Center), 2 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Phone: +81 45 641 4759; http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/tourism/

There are also several other tourist offices in town, including the popular Sakuragicho Station Tourist Information Centre, near the Landmark Tower.