Page 161 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  159

Years are numbered both by the Conversions types. Containers for recycling
Western system and the reign of Metric to US/UK Standard Styrofoam food trays, PET
the current emperor. The present 1 millimeter = 0.04 inch bottles, and paper drink cartons
era, Heisei (meaning “achieving 1 centimeter = 0.4 inch in addition to other categories
peace”), began when Emperor 1 meter = 3 feet 3 inches stand outside most supermarkets.
Akihito came to the throne in 1 kilometer = 0.6 mile This kind of eco­thinking does
1 gram = 0.04 ounce
1989, which became Heisei 1; 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds not, however, extend to the use
2013 is Heisei 25. The Japanese 1 liter = 2.1 US/1.8 UK pints of disposable wooden chopsticks
system of years is generally used (waribashi), which are the most
within the country, especially Responsible Tourism common implements in eateries
on official documents; the serving Japanese food. Tourists
Western system is often used As might be expected from can do their bit to avoid this
in international contexts. the country that produces the waste of wood by taking their
world’s best­selling hybrid car, own reusable chopsticks to
environmental consciousness restaurants. Organic food has
Electricity
is quite strong in Japan. For not really taken off in Japan as it
The electric current in Tokyo is decades, the Japanese have been has in the West. However, there
100 volts, AC, 50 cycles – a system separating their garbage into are certainly some decent
similar to that in the US. There burnable and non­burnable organic restaurants in Tokyo.
are two different cycles: 50 cycles
in eastern Japan (including
Tokyo) and 60 cycles in western
Japan. Plugs with two flat pins
are standard, so US appliances
can be used, but sometimes
at reduced efficiency.
European appliances can be
used only with transformers suit­
able for US voltage. If in doubt,
consult the appliance instruc­
tions. Some inter national hotels
have two outlets – 110 and 220
volts – although these accept
only two­pin plugs. Adapters are
available from electrical stores. Separate recycling bins can be found outside most supermarkets
DIRECTORY
Visas and Customs Ticket Saison Gay and Lesbian
Passports Information Tel (03) 3341­1824. Travelers
Tokyo Regional Ministry of Economy, Tourist Information
Immigration Bureau Trade, and Industry Center (TIC) Magnet Tours
∑ moj.go.jp ∑ meti.go.jp Marunouchi Trust Tower 2F Sereno Nishishinbashi
UK Embassy North 1F, 1­8­1 Bldg, 2­11­14
Marunouchi, Chiyoda­ku,
∑ ukinjapan.fco.gov. Tourist Nishishinbashi,
uk/eng Information Tokyo. ∑ tictokyo.jp/ Minato­ku, Tokyo.
en/
US Embassy Japan National ∑ magnettours.jp
∑ japan.usembassy.gov Welcome Card
Tourism ∑ jnto.go.jp/eng/ Utopia Asia
Travel Safety Organization (JNTO) arrange/essential/ ∑ utopia-asia.com/
Advice 10F Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan welcome.html tipsjapn.htm
Bldg, 2­10­1 Yurakucho,
Australia Chiyoda­ku, Tokyo. Travelers with
Department of Foreign ∑ jnto.go.jp Disabilities Useful Websites
Affairs and Trade. Australia
∑ dfat.gov.au ∑ jnto.org.au Accessible Tokyo Eventful
∑ smartraveller.gov.au ∑ accessible.jp.org/ ∑ eventful.com/tokyo/
Canada tokyo/en
UK ∑ ilovejapan.ca events
Foreign and Common­ Travelers with
wealth Office. ∑ gov.uk/ UK Japan Guide
foreign-travel-advice ∑ seejapan.co.uk Children ∑ japan-guide.com/
US US Kids Web Japan
US Department of State. ∑ us.jnto.go.jp/top/ ∑ web-japan.org/ Metropolis
∑ travel.state.gov index.php kidsweb ∑ metropolisjapan.com

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