Useful Tip
Local Currency
The currency is Japanese Yen.
You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and currency exchange counters at the international airports. For exchange, banks are available from 10am to 3 pm, post offices are also available from 9 am to 6pm.
International credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard are acceptable at major shopping places and restaurants; however, using credit cards is not always convenient outside major cities. Thus, it is recommended to always carry cash with you just in case.
You can use foreign issued credit and cash cards for withdrawal in yen at POST OFFICE ATMs and SEVEN BANK ATMs.
Weather
The annual average temperature in Maebashi is 13-14℃. In summer, it is usually very hot and humid throughout the day, and temperature can get 40.0℃ at the highest. However, in winter, it can get very cold due to strong cold wind blowing from the north.
VAT
The consumption tax rate is 5 % for all purchases. There is no tipping requirement nor is tipping expected in Japan. You don't need to worry about that at all.
Electricity
The electricity in Japan is 100 volts. The plug is A type. Please make sure that your electric appliances are compatible with Japan 100V.
Time differences
All of Japan is in the same time zone and Japan Standard Time is 9 hours ahead of G.M.T.
No daylight saving time.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Japan.
However people tend to drink bottled water.
Bottled water is pretty much available at grocery stores and convenience stores.
National Holidays
| 1st January | New Year's Day |
| The Second Monday in January | Coming of Age Day |
| 11th February | National Foundation Day |
| 21st March | Vernal Equinox Day |
| 4th April | Showa Day |
| 3rd May | Constitution Memorial Day |
| 4th May | Greenery Day |
| 5th May | Children's Day |
| The Third Monday in July | Marine Day |
| The Third Monday in September | Respect for the Aged Day |
| 9th September | National Holiday |
| 23rd September | Autumn Equinox Day |
| The Second Monday in October | Health and Sports Day |
| 3rd November | National Culture Day |
| 23rd November | Labor Thanksgiving Day |
| 23rd December | The Emperor's Birthday |
＊On national holidays, hospitals, post offices, banks and other offices are usually closed.
Telephone Guide
| Police office | 110 |
| Ambulance | 119 |
| Fire station | 119 |
| Telephone Directory Assistance | 104 |
| Weather | 177 |
＊Please push each number directly.
Business Hours
| Offices | 8:00-17:00（in general） |
| Stores | 10:00-19:00（in general） |
| Restaurants | 11:00-21:00（in general） |
＊Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday generally.
Restaurants are opened until 9:00pm generally, but bars are opened till late at night.
Size Table (approximate)
| Clothes（women） | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| America | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| United Kingdom | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| France | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 |
| Italy | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
| Clothes（men） | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | S | M | L | LL | ||||
| America | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 |
| United Kingdom | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 |
| France | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 |
| Italy | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 |
| Shoes（women） | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 22 | 22.5 | 23 | 23.5 | 24 | 24.5 | 25 |
| America | 4 1/2 | 5 | 5 1/2 | 6 | 6 1/2 | 7 | 7 1/2 |
| United Kingdom | 3 | 3 1/2 | 4 | 4 1/2 | 5 | 5 1/2 | 6 |
| France | 35 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 38 |
| Italy | 34 1/2 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Shoes（men） | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 |
| America | 7 | 7 1/2 | 8 | 8 1/2 | 9 | 9 1/2 | 10 | 10 1/2 | 11 | 11 1/2 |
| United Kingdom | 6 1/2 | 7 | 7 1/2 | 8 | 8 1/2 | 9 | 9 1/2 | 10 | 10 1/2 | 11 |
| France | 39 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| Italy | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
* The highlighted sizes are difficult to find.
| Measurement conversion（approximate） | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| meter（Japan） | inch | foot | yard | mile |
| 1 | 39.3701 | 3.28084 | 1.09361 | 0.000621 |
| 0.0254 | 1 | 0.08333 | 0.027777 | 0.000015 |
| 0.3048 | 12 | 1 | 0.333333 | 0.000189 |
| 0.9144 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0.000568 |
| 1609.344 | 63360 | 5280 | 1760 | 1 |
| kilogram（Japan） | ounce | pound | ton（U.K） | ton（U.S.A） |
| 1 | 35.274 | 2.20462 | 0.000984 | 0.001102 |
| 0.028349 | 1 | 0.0625 | 0.000027 | 0.000031 |
| 0.453592 | 16 | 1 | 0.000446 | 0.0005 |
| 1016.05 | 35840 | 2240 | 1 | 1.12 |
| 907.185 | 32000 | 2000 | 0.892854 | 1 |
| Classification | Weight | Zone1 | Zone2 | Zone3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed form | ～25g | ￥90 | ￥110 | ￥130 |
| ～50g | ￥160 | ￥190 | ￥230 | |
| Greeting card | ～25g | ￥90 | ￥110 | ￥130 |
| Postcard | - | ￥70 | ￥70 | ￥70 |
＊Zone１・・Asia、America、etc
＊Zone２・・Oceania、Middle East、North America、Middle America、Europe
＊Zone３・・South America、Africa
＊You can buy postcards and stamsp at post offices and convenience stores.