TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

JAPAN

Do I need a visa? Citizens of 62 countries, including Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, Canada and the US, do not require a visa to visit Japan. Stays are generally allowed for up to three months at a time. For more info, visit www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp.

How long will it take me to get there? Between 6 and 7 hours from Singapore. Japan is 9 hours

ahead of GMT, 1 hour ahead of Singapore.

What’s the money situation? The official currency in Japan is the Japanese yen (JPY). Many ATMs in Japan do not accept foreign cards and credit card use is limited so it’s advisable to have sufficient cash with you. Cash withdrawals are possible at ATMs at post offices and 7-Eleven stores. Banks and post offices will exchange major foreign currency and travellers cheques. popular time to visit. June tends to be wet, while high temperatures and powerful storms can strike throughout July and August (with the exception of Hokkaido, mountaintop resorts like Hakone and the Japanese Alps). The autumn months of September to November are cooler and aesthetically beautiful. December typically kicks off the ski seasons in the north. Snow-covered landscapes in Japan are lovely, yet obviously very cold. When’s the best time to visit? Late March to April is Sakura (cherry blossom season), a

FACT FILE

• Japan’s literacy

rate is almost 100 percent.

• On average, around 1,500

earthquakes strike the island nation every year. construction company Kongō Gumi was in operation for a world-record 1,400 years, until it became a subsidiary of another company in 2006. village in Japan, rubbish is sorted into 34 different categories with all food waste used for compost.

What’s the lingo? Japanese. Here are some phrases to get you started:

• Japanese

Hello Konnichiwa What is your name? Anata no namae wa nan desu-ka My name is __ Watashi no namae wa __ desu How much? Dono gurai Thank you Arigato Yes Hai No, thank you Ie, arigato

Is there anything I should know about meeting the locals? Japanese people greet each other with a bow. For foreigners, a bow followed by a gentle handshake is acceptable. What’s a must-try dish? Where do we start? Maybe with ramen , a noodle soup combining a meat or fish broth flavoured with miso or soy, and served with a variety of toppings depending on the region and the chef. What should I buy as a souvenir? Quirky snacks, yukata robes, wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella made from paper and bamboo), cat-related paraphernalia.

• In Kamikatsu, a zero-waste

• Tsukiji market in Tokyo is the

largest fish market in the world.

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