MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Useful Japanese Phrases
Please download PDF file here. It is recommended to download it on your smartphone.Currency
Restaurants and shops accept only Japanese yen (JPY). Some hotels accept foreign currencies. Most of hotels can accept credit cards issued in foreign countries. Traveler’s checks are accepted only by leading banks and major hotels. Taveler’s checks are not so popular in Japan. VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, restaurants and nightclubs.
Banking Hours
Normal banking hours is 9:00 - 15:00 of weekdays in Japan. On Nagoya University campus, Japan POST Bank will be convenient for you for foreign currency exchange service. If you need some bank information , please ask us at the registration desk. Also ATM service accepting banking or credit cards issued in foreign countries would be convenient for you. Please see ATM Service.
Nagoya has two Citibank branches for foreignfriendly cash withdrawals with a main branch in Sakae and a mini-branch in the North Tower above Nagoya Station:
Citibank Nagoya Branch, 1F, Sakae Park Side Place Building, 3-16-27 Nishiki, Naka-ku
(Near Subway Sakae Station, Exit2.on Ohtsu street.) Monday-Friday/ 9:00-20:00 (Phone +81-52-950-2391). Saturday, Sunday, Holidays/ 10:00-17:00.
Citibank Nagoya Station Mini-Branch, 33F Office Tower, JR Central Towers, 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku (Located the North tower.),Monday-Friday/9:00-19:00 (Phone +81-52- 565-4430).
Saturday/10:00-16:00. Closed Sunday and holidays.ATM only opens during branch hours.
There is also a Citibank ATM across from the Meitetsu station entrance gate at the airport. As elsewhere in Japan, post offices and convenience stores also allow international ATM withdrawals.
ATM
On Nagoya University campus, ATM machines located at Post Office accept baking cards issued in foreign countries. The Post Office opens 7:00 - 23:00 (weekdays), 9:00 - 21:00 (Saturday), 9:00 - 17:00 (Sunday and National Holidays). Please be aware that Sep. 23nd is a national holiday (Equinox day).
See also the web page of Japan Post bank
http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html
Electricity
The voltage in Japan is 100 Volt, which is different from North America (110V), Central Europe (220V) and most other regions of the world. Japanese electrical plugs have two, non-polarized pins, as shown above. They fit into North American outlets.
Japanese power outlets are identical to ungrounded (2-pin) North American outlets. While most Japanese outlets these days are polarized (one slot is slightly wider than the other), it is possible to encounter non-polarized outlets in some places. Some North American equipment will work fine in Japan without adapter and vice versa, however, some sensitive equipment may not work properly or even get damaged. If you intend to purchase electronic appliances in Japan for use outside of Japan, you are advised to look for equipment specifically made for oversea tourists.
The frequency of electric current is 50 Hertz in Eastern Japan (including Tokyo, Yokohama, Tohoku, Hokkaido) and 60 Hertz in Western Japan (including Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku, Kyushu), however this frequency difference affects only sensitive equipment.
Internet Connection
You will receive your ID and password for Wi-Fi connection in your registration kit. When you use this internet access service, please STRICTLY follow Nagoya University Information Security Guidelines. Please be aware that Nagoya University prohibits to use P2P software.
Nagoya University Information Security Guidelines
http://www.icts.nagoya-u.ac.jp/en/securityguideline-en.html
Most of hotels provide internet access without charges. Some hotels provide wired internet connection. If you want to connect your mobile devices that do not support wired-connection, please ask a front-desk staff of your hotel. You may rent a Wi-Fi router from your hotel.
Mobile Phone
GSM service is not provided in Japan. 3G and LTE services are available in Japan. Some Japanese mobile phone companies are selling prepaid data SIM cards for visitors from foreign countries. You need to usually make per-order on a web site before you leave your country and pick-up at an airport including Centrair (Nagoya), Narita or Haneda. You can find an appropriate service provider on the web.
Eating Out
Nagoya is big on miso, a sauce made from fermented soybeans and grain. You should not leave the city without trying which is misokatsu, fried pork cutlet with a rich, red miso sauce on it. The other Nagoya classic is shrimp tempura, particularly when wrapped up in rice and dried seaweed and turned into a handy portable package known as a tenmusu. The city is also known for uiro, basically red bean jelly, a substance a little firmer than gelatin, with a subtle flavor.
Nagoya's noodle specialty is kishimen, a flat, broad noodle served in a miso or soy sauce broth. It is available in most restauran-gai in shopping centres or close to major railway stations.
Kishimen Restaurants at Nagoya station's platforms are quite famous for tourists. Please also see About Nagoya page.
Health
Japan is a country obsessed with cleanliness and health hazards are few and far between. Tap water is potable everywhere and food hygiene standards are very high. There are no communicable diseases of significance. Japanese public toilets rarely have toilet paper, although there are often vending machines nearby that sell some at token prices. Do as the Japanese do and use the tissue packets handed out free by advertisers at major train stations.
Medication
Drug stores sell some weak medicines for cold, pain or digestive without prescriptions. Other medicines require prescriptions. If you need medical assistance, please let us know. We will assist you as much as possible. Also please be insured enough by yourself for emergency cases.
Shopping in Nagoya / Shopping Areas
Osu Market, is near subway Osu Kannon exit 2. Go straight ahead one block, turn left into the temple grounds and go straight on through the graveled temple area. A series of old style shopping arcades packed with mom-and-pop stores, JPY100 shops, traditional crafts, used computers and a fantastic range of clothing stores. There is a little bit of everything. Osu is the shopping area and Osu Kannon, the temple is just to the west side.
Sakae is a good choice for your mainstream department store shopping, restaurants, and night-life. Take a walk atop the rooftop promenade of the Oasis 21 shopping arcade and get a nice view of the TV Tower.
Please see Nagoya Downtown Guide
Books
Maruzen, (Subway: Sakae Station. It is located in the Maruei department store. Open is 10:00 - 19:00. They offer a reasonable selection of English books, magazines, and newspapers on the 3rd floor, including travel guidebooks, maps, a wide array of books on Japan, and Japanese language study materials.
Sanseido Books, 11F, JR Central Towers above JR Nagoya Station (Subway: Nagoya Station. From inside the station, walk towards the Sakura-dori exit and turn right before the exit. You will see a bank of express elevators. Board an express elevator to the 12th floor. Exit the elevator and head towards the open area with windows overlooking Nagoya. You will notice an escalator descending to Sanseido Books on the 11th floor.) They offer a corner with English books, magazines and newspapers. Feature books on Japan plus a decent selection of current nonfiction titles and business books. A small selection of guidebooks is also available.
Electronics
Best bets for cameras and electronics include Bic Camera, a massive 5 story camera and electronic megastore across the street from Nagoya station. Osu market also has a number of large and small electronics shops and others. Unfortunately, some of the electronics shops in Osu are not located on the main shopping streets, and you may have to ask around to find them. There are also two Eiden electronics superstores located in Fushimi and near JR Ozone station on the JR Chuo Line.
Tippng
In Japan, tips are not necessary anywhere, even in hotels, restaurants and taxicabs.
Clothes
In September, choose loose, light clothes or take lightweight jackets.
Telephones
International calls can be made directly (with 100JPY coins) from public telephones marked International & Domestic Card/Coin Phone. For international calls from Japan, dial 010, then dial the country code, followed by the area code, and then the number.
The gray or green public telephones take 10 or 100JPY coins as well as prepaid telephone cards. A local call costs 10JPY per minute. They will not give change for 100JPY coins. Telephone cards with a value of 500JPY or 1,000JPY are sold from kiosks in railway stations, in convenience stores. To call a number within the town or region in which you are located, dial the number omitting the regional code that is shown in brackets. To telephone from one town or region to another, dial number preceded by the regional code.
Staying at Ryokan and Minshuku, and bathing in an Onsen
Other than hotels, traditional accommodations in Japan are ryokan and minshuku.
Almost all ryokan are accompanied by a large communal bath, while some also come with an onsen (hot spring). Staying at a ryokan has many distinguishing features, so please try to experience it.
Please refer to the websites for more about staying at a ryokan and bathing in an onsen.