Japan’s emperor provdes symbolically over a constitutional government. Language is Japanese. English is spoken by many people in the tourist industry but a phrasebook is an excellent investment (one of the best is Say it in japanese, edited by Dover Publications, New York). ıt is best to have a hotel clerk or someone write out names and addresses in japanese characters, since many people cannot read the Romanized transcriptions.
Buddhism and Shintoism are the major faiths. There are also churches of all Christian denominations.
Flying time to Tokyo from Los Angeles is 13 hours, San Francisco 10 hours, New York 15 hours, Hong Kong 4 hours and Guam 3 hours. US citizens entering Japan require a valid passport and visa. Other nationals should inquire whether a visa is necessary. For stays of more than two months apply for an Alien Registration Certificate. Return tickets are demamnded only for transit stays 72 hours or less. A smallpox vaccination certificate is required.
There are no restrictions as to how many yen a visitor may bring into country. Duty-free allowance: three bottles of spirits, 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco; two ounces of perfume; two watches. If you have friends in Japan, bear in mind that Scotch and Cognac are extremely expensive and take advantage of the allowance to bring some welcome gifts.
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