Land of the Rising Sun
Japan, a country of modern amenities, titillating eccentricities, rich with culture and a deep sense of history. Floating east of China in the great Pacific Ocean, Japan is one of the first countries to witness sunrise, hence its Romantic Title, “The Land of the Rising Sun.” Divided into eight distinct regions, each with its own tongue, customs, and traditions, Japan is a place that travelers flock to for cultural experiences. Japanese cuisine is another important staple with an abundance of gastronomical delights. Many foods are seasonal and distinguishable by region, guaranteeing a unique experience. From the snowcapped mountains of Hokkaido, to the bustling futuristic Kanto, to the subtropical climate of Kyushu-Okinawa, Japan offers an endless amount of opportunities to explore!
Be in the know before you go
Nationals of many countries, including nearly all Western countries, are eligible to enter Japan for short-term stays (usually 90 days) with a visa on entry for holiday and business trips. Nationals that do not have the “Reciprocal Visa Exemption Arrangements” with Japan must obtain a visa beforehand. To apply for a visa, the applicant must apply in person to a Japanese embassy or a consulate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
All foreigners arriving in Japan are fingerprinted and photographed, except children aged 15 and younger, diplomats, and permanent residents of Japan. All visitors must complete an entry/exit form including a customs declaration. It is important that this form is kept safe and presented to immigration officials on departure. All airport taxes are included in the price of flight tickets.
Travelers aged 20 or older can bring the following duty-free items into Japan:
• 400 non-Japanese cigarettes
• Three bottles (760cc each) of alcohol
• Two ounces of perfume
• Tourists can also bring in goods for personal use – purchased abroad – whose total market value is less than 200,000 yen
Health & Wellness
No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are traveling from an area where the disease is present. It is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy prior to travelling. The policy should cover adventure excursions and full medical coverage as the country’s excellent hospitals come at a premium price if the policy holder needs emergency treatment.
Police dial 110; Emergency Medical Services dial 119; Fire service dial 119. The Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center offers an emergency interpretation service with English-speaking doctors at: (03) 5285-8185.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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"Our trip from Tokyo, Fuji, Takayama and Kyoto was fabulous. Guides were terrific, itinerary was well balanced but packed with things of interest, and the hotels were uniformly very high quality. I feel that we were closely taken care of from start to finish, from transportation to knowledgeable guides, without having to worry about any details. This level of care, and the thought that went into our itinerary, insured a magnificent trip from start to finish. I highly recommend Yampu Tours."
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"Yampu Tours and Stephanie Rudolph put together an amazing trip for us to Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Japan. The hotels in Southeast Asia were wonderful, top-of-the-line! The transportation was very good. And, our guides were fantastic! We will definitely use Yampu Tours again!"
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Yampu delivered just as promised and more. Every aspect of my trip was better than I could have imagined.
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"Transfers & drivers were all excellent. Thank you for the impeccable services and scheduling – connections, train tickets, transfers, etc. were all perfectly orchestrated. Overall, I would definitely recommend you! "
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"Yampu Tours helped me design a dream tour of Japan for myself and my eighteen year old son, who is off to college next year. They found activities and venues that I had never thought of that turned out to be the highlights of the trip! They made getting around with minimal language skills a snap. Their guides became what I sincerely hope will be life long friends. The hotels were centrally located and friendly, spotlessly clean, and reasonably priced. We had only nine days, but with everything going so smoothly, we were able to enjoy every minute of the trip. It could not have been better. I can't wait for my husband to retire so we can call them again for trips for us together. I especially appreciated how Maggie, my contact person, answered every question within hours of when I emailed it to her. She was helpful in every aspect of the trip. She is a great communicator, and always willing to find special places and activities to fit our interests, such as my son's desire to see the Manga Museum, or my interest in temple gardens. She was flexible, creative, knowledgeable, and always fun to talk to. I look forward to working with her again soon"