This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Where to Get Help (temporary relocation of Consulate-General, Fukuoka, 2 June – 4 July 2008). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

Japanese government authorities cannot rule out the threat of terrorism in Japan. As a counter-terrorism precaution, the Japanese government has, since July 2005, implemented heightened security measures at key facilities including on public transport and at ports of entry.

Crime

Drink spiking, often resulting in theft and assault, occurs in bars and other entertainment venues. Sporadic incidents of bag-snatching and pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas, on trains and at airports have occurred.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Japan is in an active seismic zone and is subject to volcanic activity, earthquakes and tsunamis. You should take precautions and be prepared for a major emergency, including by maintaining a functional emergency kit with food, water, clothing and essential medical supplies.

Information in English about earthquakes can be obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency. You should familiarise yourself with emergency evacuation plans in your region and identify your local shelter, which is often a local school or other public facility. Information on emergency plans in your area can be obtained from local government offices. If an earthquake should occur, you should follow the advice of local authorities and monitor the media for updates.

The typhoon season is from June to October when landslides may occur. Information in English about typhoons and other severe weather conditions can be obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Local authorities broadcast current typhoon information through the local media.

The direction and strength of typhoons can change with little warning. You can check the latest typhoon information from the World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre and Asia Pacific Disaster Alerts.

In the event of an approaching typhoon, you should identify your local shelter. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. You should contact your airline for the latest flight information. The typhoon could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe typhoon may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans. You should carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. Passport, picture ID's, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather – Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons.

All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.

During the winter months a number of people have been killed in snow-related accidents in recent years including motor vehicle accidents, avalanches and snow falling from roofs. Avalanches are common outside the marked runs in ski areas and the number of deaths among off-piste enthusiasts is increasing along with the rising popularity of back country and off-piste skiing and boarding. Australians who are considering visiting areas where it snows, should make themselves aware of the potential dangers by consulting local authorities where appropriate.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife Watching

Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. While major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, many shops and service providers do not accept payment by card. ATMs which accept foreign cards are not widely available and many ATMs operate during business hours only. Check with your bank for information and the location of ATM services for your card in Japan. Banks that exchange travellers' cheques may also be limited in some areas of Japan.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or child care facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or child care facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select child care providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

See under "Local Laws" below for further information on family law issues.

Local Laws

When you are in Japan, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

If you are arrested, even for minor offences such as petty theft or possession of very small quantities of illegal drugs, you may be held in detention for weeks or months during the investigation and legal proceedings. Under local law, a suspect can be held for up to 23 days without being formally charged with a crime and bail is seldom granted to foreigners.

Penalties for drug offences include lengthy imprisonment. Use or possession of small amounts of drugs may result in a prison sentence of between one and ten years and Japanese law allows for a fine of up to Yen 5,000,000 (A$57,000). Under Japanese law you can be convicted of drug use based on positive blood or urine tests alone. Some people convicted of drug related offences have been deported. People deported under these circumstances are not permitted to return to Japan for five to ten years.

Penalties for serious crimes, such as murder, include the death penalty.

Japanese family law is different to Australian law. Child custody and divorce decisions are based on Japanese family law. Japan is not a signatory to the Hague Convention and Australian or other foreign court custody decisions are not enforceable in Japan. If you are involved in custody and other family disputes you should ensure you consult a lawyer for advice before you leave Australia on how Japanese family law may impact your family circumstances.

Some unscrupulous employment agents entice foreigners to work in Japan without the correct visa, or with financial arrangements which could leave the foreigner vulnerable to exploitation. Australians have been arrested for working in the 'entertainment industry' while in Japan on a tourist visa. If you are considering travel to Japan for work, you should verify the true nature of the work being offered and make sure you have the correct visa before arriving in Japan. You may also wish to seek professional legal advice before signing any contract.

Points to check carefully include:

- Employment contracts: Contracts may contain unacceptable conditions. For example, conditions for early termination may state that the employee surrenders the right to a return air ticket, and pay may be withheld. Contracts should contain standard Japanese labour law provisions;

- Passports: Reputable businesses will not request you to surrender your passport for "safe-keeping", or suggest you not bring any contracts, forms or documentation regarding proposed work in Japan; and

- Accommodation: It is common for landlords to request 4-6 months' downpayment of rent as key money, bond and agent's finding fee. Pre-paid bonds and rent may be non-refundable.

Local police are authorised to request identification at any time. You should carry a photocopy of your passport or your official alien resident identity card, if you reside in Japan.

A valid Japanese driver's licence or an International Driver's Permit accompanied by an Australian licence is required to drive in Japan. An International Driver's Permit, accompanied by an Australian licence, is valid for use in Japan for a period of one year from the initial date of arrival. Australians with resident status living in Japan are expected to convert to or obtain a Japanese driver's licence. There are severe measures to deter drink-driving, including heavy penalties for allowing someone else to drink and drive (for example if you are a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a drunk driver). Drink-driving offences can attract a heavy fine or imprisonment.

In some parts of Tokyo, including Chiyoda-ku, smoking on the streets is prohibited. Those caught are liable for an on-the-spot fine.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa conditions are subject to change. For up-to-date visa information, Australians should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Japan well in advance of travel.

You should be aware of changed entry procedures into Japan from 20 November 2007. All foreign nationals, including permanent residents of Japan, will be required to have their fingerprints electronically scanned and be photographed upon arrival in Japan. Refusal to provide fingerprints or be photographed is grounds for refusal of entry into Japan. People under 16 years of age and holders of diplomatic or official visas are exempt. More information is available from the Japanese Immigration Bureau at www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html

Foreigners with resident status must register at their local ward office within 90 days of arrival. An Alien Registration identity card will be issued by the ward office and must be carried at all times.

Visas are not required for Australians entering Japan for less than 90 days for tourism. Short-term tourists are required to carry their passport at all times. Japan's Visa Waiver Program is strict and entry may be refused if the applicant can not provide evidence of sufficient funds or immigration authorities believe the traveller intends to seek employment. If entry is denied, the decisions cannot be appealed and travellers may be denied entry into Japan for up to five years.

Health Issues

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while travelling overseas.

Medical facilities across Japan are of a high standard. In most major cities, medical facilities with English-speaking staff can be located. Medical care in Japan can be expensive. Payment in full or a guarantee that costs will be met is usually required at the time of treatment. A list of medical institutions throughout Japan is available on the Embassy’s website.

Japan has a number of hospitals equipped with decompression chambers, located in regions where diving is a popular tourist pursuit.

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications cannot be imported into Japan. Japanese Customs may detain travellers possessing prohibited items which include products containing pseudoephedrine, found in cold and flu tablets, and codeine. You can obtain further information from the Japanese Embassy in Australia.

Since February 2007, there have been a significant number of cases of measles reported in Tokyo and other prefectures as far north as Hokkaido. Measles is a potentially serious infectious disease and the Department of Health and Ageing advises that travellers should ensure they are protected against measles prior to travel and should consult their doctor.

The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is found throughout many regions of Asia. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is currently unavailable in Australia. The Department of Health and Ageing is working with vaccine suppliers to make a vaccine available as soon as possible. For further details see the Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your doctor.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

The World Health Organisation has confirmed deaths from avian influenza and outbreaks of avian influenza amongst birds in the region. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Japan for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to Japan for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.

If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Japan should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Japan should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.

The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at most of its overseas missions. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas. It is the responsibility of individual Australians to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required.

Where to Get Help

Emergency contact numbers in Japan are as follows: Police 110; Fire and Ambulance 119. The Tokyo English Lifeline (Tel: +813 5774 0992) provides advice and counselling in English.

In Japan, you can obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian Embassy, Tokyo
2-1-14 Mita, Minato-ku
TOKYO 108 8361
Telephone (81 3) 5232 4111
Facsimile (81 3) 5232 4057
Email address: auscitzreg.tokyo@dfat.gov.au
Web: http://www.consular.australia.or.jp

Australian Consulate-General, Osaka
16th floor, Twin 21MID Tower
2-1-61 Shiromi, Chuo-ku
OSAKA 540 6116
Telephone (81 6) 6941 9271 or (81 6) 6941 9448
Facsimile (81 6) 6920 4543
Web: http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/osaka/

Australian Consulate-General, Fukuoka
7th Floor, Tenjin Twin Building
1-6-8 Tenjin, Chuo-ku
FUKUOKA 810 0001
Telephone (81 92) 734 5055
Facsimile (81 92) 734 5058
Web: http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/fukuoka/

Please note that from 2 June – 4 July 2008, the Consulate-General in Fukuoka will be located at:

Australian Consulate-General, Fukuoka
Room 533
Grand Hyatt, Fukuoka
1-2-82, Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku,
Fukuoka 812-0018
Telephone (81 92) 734 5055
Facsimile (81 92) 734 5058
Web: http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/fukuoka/

Australian Consulate, Nagoya
Level 13, Ammnat Building,
1-3-3 Sakae, Naka-ku
NAGOYA 460 0008
Telephone (81 52) 211 0630
Facsimile (81 52) 211 0632
http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/nagoya

Australian Consulate, Sapporo
17th floor, Sapporo Centre Building
North 5, West 6 2-2 Chuo-ku
SAPPORO 060 0005
Telephone (81 11) 242 4381
Facsimile (81 11) 242 4383
http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/sapporo

If you are travelling to Japan, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate or on-line. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.