Japan is one of the most famous countries around the world. Its unique and incredible culture has spread around the world, a vast portion of modern technology influencing almost entirety of the developed world comes from Japan. There are many famous historical, modern and natural landmarks. Mt. Fuji is probably one of the most famous along with the Himeji castle and the Shibuya crossing which figures on many photos also being one of the famous places to propose to the significant other.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Japan are required to have a valid identification document which is a passport. As of July 2017 68 countries are permitted to visit Japan without the requirement of a visa for an unspecified amount of time. (List in sources). Some may enter for 15, 30 or up to 90 days without requiring a visa. All nationals unspecified in the list are required to obtain a visa prior to the travel. To drive in Japan, regardless of nationality everyone must have an international driving permit, passport, and their domestic driving permit. Beware however that Japan only recognizes IDPs based on the 1949 Geneva convention and no others. International Driving Permits emanating from certain countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland and Taiwan, and few other countries are not recognized.

Traveling hazards

Japan has an excellent infrastructure which is very well maintained. Driving in Japan, however, can be very complicated and expensive. Driving one kilometer on a highway may cost as much as 1 (USD). Traffic in Japan drives on the left and is extremely congested in large cities. Driving 30 kilometers in Tokyo may take more than two hours. There are virtually no parking spots on the streets however many vehicles impeded traffic parking illegally on the curbs. All street signs are in Japanese, therefore, anyone who does not understand Japanese will have a hard time getting around. Some rural roads in the mountains are closed during winter whilst others generally require tire chains to drive on.

Environmental hazards

Although Japan is quite large there are few animals which pose danger to people. The Japanese black bears inhabit most of the Japanese mountainous regions and are quite aggressive in contact with humans. Black bears are the only besides Polar bears which attack people. Brown bears only inhabit the island of Hokkaido and are generally not a threat to people unless approached up close which might result in a defensive attack. There are two species of snakes Mamushi and Habu which are collectively responsible for up to 15 deaths yearly. Antivenom is however widely available in the areas inhabited by the snakes. Japanese humidity and heat during summer make a perfect environment for various insects to grow. Some of them are harmless and add to the beauty like the local butterflies or the red dragonfly although some might come straight from your nightmares. The Japanese giant hornet is the largest insect of its species. They reach lengths of 4 cm, a wingspan of 6 and have a venom which throws its victims into anaphylactic shock which causes roughly 10 deaths yearly in Japan. The redback spiders are in the same family as the black widow and their venom is just as potent however fatal bites are rare and meeting them is also a rarity. Swimming in Japan is generally safe, designated beaches with lifeguards are the best choice. There have been reports of shark attacks however these are rare and don’t generally involve any of the guarded beaches and instead usually happens far off the coast. If you’re a real daredevil go to the local restaurant which serves fugu fish, if it’s prepared well you’ll live and if it’s not, then you’re in very serious trouble. Not to worry, to serve a fugu fish, chefs need to go through the most rigorous training and tests to have a license to serve such a dish.
Japan is very vulnerable to many natural hazards. Most prominent of these are earthquakes and tsunamis which cause serious devastation in the country also being the cause of Fukushima disaster where an earthquake was followed by a tsunami which ruined a nuclear power plant causing radioactive fallout in the area. There are several active volcanoes which may erupt anytime. This is all caused by the location of Japan which is right on the border of the ring of fire. Cyclones and floods cause additional devastation as if earthquakes and tsunamis weren’t enough. Japan, however, has an extensive safety program which teaches Japanese citizens on how to act in case of any of the natural disasters endangering Japan.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Japan nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. There are however several vaccines which are recommended to ensure safe travel. These are the routine vaccines also known as the MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Japan has a universal healthcare system which is funded by taxpayers. Public services are provided to all citizens covered by compulsory health insurance. Japanese healthcare system provides excellent services both in public facilities and private facilities however private services come at a greater expense, therefore, tourists should purchase insurance which will cover the costs of medical services. Most hospitals and clinics both public and private will have English speaking staff.
In case of an emergency dial 119.

Crime

Japan is a safe country with statistics dropping to its lowest ever in the first half of 2018. Most of the crimes reported in Japan involve petty crime and scams which happen most often in nightclubs and bars ran by a local crime syndicate. Tourists, in general, can feel safe in Japanese cities, towns, and villages however common sense should be applied. Being cautious with personal belongings and avoiding secluded places especially alone and after dusk. There is no risk of terrorism in Japan. Japanese police make arrests for even the smallest amount of narcotics. First-time offenders depending on charges may be fined however further offenses result in lengthy prison sentences.

Summary

Japan is one of the most amazing and unique places in Asia to visit. The country hosts a very unique atmosphere being isolated for centuries from outside influences it developed a very strong national identity. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html
(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/japan