CONTACTS TRANSPORTATION & LOCATION MISCELLANEOUS

VISITOR INFO > MISCELLANEOUS Miscellaneous Tokyo Game Show Just before DiGRA2007, Tokyo Game Show, the biggest game show in Japan will be held. Access to Tokyo Downtown Tokyo is about 50 kilometers from Narita Airport. Its longitude is 140.50 degrees east and latitude is 35.44 degrees north. Climate The climate of September in Tokyo is a little bit hot, with average high temperature at26.8°Cand average low temperature at 20.7°C. Autumn (September) Clothing: cardigans and other similar kinds are handy, since indoors are mostly air-conditioned. Passport and Visa All travelers entering Japan must have a valid passport. A participant requiring a visa should apply to a Japanese consular office or diplomatic mission in his or her respective country prior to departure. Participants are advised to contact their local travel agencies or airline companies for assistance. Currency The currency used in Japan is yen (¥). Foreign currency or travelers checks can be changed to yen at major banks, hotels, or airports. Only Japanese yen is accepted at stores and restaurants. It is necessary to show your passport when changing travelers' checks. Bills come in units of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen, and coins in units of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 yen. The approximate exchange rate for U.S.$1 is 120.8 Yen (as of Marchi 2007). Traveler's Checks and Credit Cards Traveler's checks are not as popular in Japan as in some other countries. They are usually accepted only by leading banks and major hotels. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club cards are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops, and restaurants. Tax and Tipping There is no custom of individual tipping in Japan; a service charge is included in the bill where applicable. A 5% consumption tax applies to almost all sales transactions.