Page 363 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  361

¥10,000). For guide lines on tax- In Tokyo, the TIC or Tourist
free shop ping in Japan, see p341. Information Center has
Certain articles are forbidden: knowledgeable staff and
counterfeit money; pornography; offers suggestions on tour
articles that infringe on patents itineraries. It also has a
or copy rights; and firearms and counter for the Welcome
ammunition. Guns, authentic Inn Reservation Center,
swords, and some high-quality where staff will arrange hotel
personal computers require an reservations on your behalf Matsue International Tourist
export license, obtained from throughout Japan. There is Information Office
the Ministry of Economy, Trade no charge for this service.
and Industry. Art objects Local information can be Admission Prices
may be subject to restrictions. obtained from the Tourist Admission to most Buddhist
Japan has a zero-tolerance Information Offices found in temples and Shinto shrines is
policy toward the possession of almost every town, usually free; however, famous temples
even small amounts of narcotics, in or near the main station. and shrines in tourist spots,
including marijuana. The Nearly 100 of these offices such as Kamakura and Kyoto,
punishment is a jail sentence are designated “i” Tourist charge an admission fee, usually
and a heavy fine. Vicks inhalers Information Offices, meaning between ¥200 and ¥500.
and some over-the-counter they have multilin gual staff and Entrance fees to most attractions
medicines, especially for allergies keep pamphlets in English. are gener ally under ¥1,000, but
and sinus prob lems, containing Information on local events is may be more on occasion.
pseudoephedrine, and even also available from Information Several cities offer a Welcome
mild painkillers, such as those Counters in Yokohama, Osaka, Card to foreign visitors, and a
containing codeine, are pro- and Nagoya. number of different ones are
hibited. Prescription drugs are In major cities, details of available. Intended to reduce
also limited. Contact a Japanese attractions and events can the cost of a visit, the card can
embassy for more information. be gleaned from local publica- be used to obtain discounts on
Animals and plants are subject tions such as Metropolis (also accom modations, shopping,
to quaran tine inspection. online; see p112), Fukuoka food and drink, plus various
There is no limit on the Now in Kyushu, Kansai other tourist facilities and
amount of currency that may be Scene, NAGMAG, and free services. Many of the cards
taken into or out of the country, magazines – all available at can be printed out from the
but sums over ¥1 million must hotels, bookstores, and TICs. Welcome Cards page of the
be declared at immigration. Hotels will usually help JNTO website for a fee.
reserve tickets for enter tain-
ment venues. Ticket-agency
Tourist Information Opening Hours
booths located in most of
Outside Japan, tourist the larger cities, inside depart- Temple buildings are open
information can be obtained ment stores, convenience from 8 or 9am to 4pm in winter,
from branches of the Japan stores, and near train stations and until 5pm in summer,
National Tourism Organization also book seats in advance although times vary. Shrines
(JNTO). The JNTO has a large and sell tickets up to the last are often open 24 hours.
range of useful leaflets and minute. Ticket PIA and CN Museums, art galleries, and
brochures on locations and Playguide are the main many other tourist attrac tions,
specialist interests. agencies (see p116). such as technology centers
and aquariums, are usually
open from 10am until 4 or
5pm. Many of these sights
are open every day except
Monday; when Monday is a
public holiday, they often
close on Tuesday instead.
Many attractions are closed
for a number of days over
the New Year period. Certain
Kyoto sights – Katsura and
Shugaku-in Imperial Villas,
for example – require
reservations well in advance
of visiting.
For shopping hours, see p340;
for banking hours see p372;
Konpon Dai-to Pagoda on Mount Koya, like many attractions, is open daily and for post offices see p376.

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