- Plugs
- Type A, 100 V — bring an adapter
- Police / ambulance
- 110 / 119
- Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
- Time difference
- UK + 8 h (+ 9 h in winter)
Staying online: eSIM or pocket wifi
You'll lean on your phone for maps, train times and translation, so sort data before you fly.
- eSIM — the easiest option if your phone supports it. Buy a Japan data plan online, install it at home, switch it on when you land. Expect to pay roughly £3–12 for 5 GB, depending on the provider. Check your UK network's roaming charges too; some now include Japan in add-on packs.
- Pocket wifi — a small rented router, collected at the airport or delivered to your hotel. It typically costs ¥440–1,500 a day plus insurance, and is better value when several people share it.
- Free wifi is common in stations, convenience stores and hotels, but too patchy to rely on.
Plugs and power
Japan uses Type A sockets (two flat pins, the same shape as the US) at 100 volts. You need a UK-to-Type-A adapter. Phone, laptop and camera chargers marked "100–240 V" work fine; UK-only hairdryers and straighteners (230 V) won't work properly and can be damaged. Many older buildings have only two-pin sockets, so avoid adapters that need an earth pin.
Emergencies
| Who | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance and fire | 119 |
| Japan Visitor Hotline — 24 hours, English-speaking (illness, accidents, disasters) | 050-3816-2787 (from abroad +81 50-3816-2787) |
| JNTO tourist information line, 9:00–17:00 | 050-3416-0010 |
| British Embassy Tokyo | via the GOV.UK embassy page |
Calls to 110 and 119 are free from any phone, including payphones. Say "kyūkyū" (emergency) for an ambulance; operators at both numbers can usually connect an interpreter.
Earthquakes, tsunami and typhoons
Japan has small earthquakes all the time and is better prepared for big ones than anywhere on earth. Buildings are engineered for it, and warnings arrive on your phone before the shaking does.
- Install the Safety Tips app from the Japan Tourism Agency. It pushes earthquake early warnings, tsunami, volcano and heatstroke alerts in English.
- If the ground shakes: get under a sturdy table or protect your head away from windows; don't run outside while it's shaking. Hotels post evacuation maps on the back of the room door — glance at it when you check in.
- On the coast: after a strong quake, don't wait for a warning. Move to high ground or the upper floors of a solid building, following the blue tsunami-evacuation signs.
- Typhoons (mainly August–October) can stop trains and flights for a day. Keep plans flexible and follow the Safety Tips app and your hotel's advice.
- Heat: July and August regularly pass 35°C with high humidity. Drink water, take breaks in air-conditioned shops and watch for heatstroke alerts.
Health and insurance
Medical care in Japan is excellent, but visitors pay the full cost and some hospitals ask for payment up front. Buy travel insurance with medical cover before you go — UK GHIC cards are not valid in Japan. Pharmacies (yakkyoku) are everywhere, but check which medicines you can bring in before you pack your own.
Local rules visitors get fined for
- Smoking in the street: banned on every street in Osaka City (vapes included) since January 2025, and in large parts of Tokyo and central Kyoto. Fines are typically ¥1,000–2,000. Use the designated smoking areas.
- Drones: any drone of 100 g or more must be registered with Japan's transport ministry, and flying over built-up areas — which covers most of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto — needs advance permission. Fines go up to ¥500,000. Most travellers are better off leaving the drone at home.
- Private streets in Kyoto's Gion district are closed to tourists, with signs warning of a ¥10,000 penalty. Hanamikoji Street itself stays open.
Other practical bits
- Time: Japan doesn't change its clocks. It is 8 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 9 hours ahead in winter.
- Luggage: coin lockers at stations take most cabin-size bags; for big suitcases, use luggage forwarding.
- Rubbish: public bins are rare. Carry a small bag for your rubbish and dispose of it at your hotel or a convenience store.
- Toilets: public toilets are free, plentiful and clean; stations and convenience stores are the usual bet.
- Lost property: handed-in items really do come back. Ask at the nearest kōban (police box) or the station office.