A Practical Guide to Working as a Scientist in Japan

Robert W. Ridge

Appendix of Useful Information

Emergency numbers

Police - 110
Fire, Ambulance - 119

British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

The Executive Director
The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
#16 Kowa Building
1-9-20 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tokyo 107
Tel: 03-3505-1734
Fax: 03-3505-2680

Other Organisations

Japanese National Tourist Organisation (JNTO)
Kotsu Kaikan, 10th Floor
2-10-1 Yuraku-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
Tel: 03-3216-1901/1903
Fax: 03-3214-7680

Tourist Information Centres (TIC)
TIC Narita. . .0476-32-8711
TIC Tokyo. . .03-3502-1461
TIC Kyoto. . .075-371-5649
Travel-Phone Tokyo. . .03-3502-1461
Travel-Phone Kyoto. . .075-371-5649
Travel-Phone East Japan. . .0120-222-800
Travel-Phone West Japan. . .0120-444-800

Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Tel: 03-3264-4347

English Advisory Service
Open 1pm to 4pm Monday and Thursday
Tel: 03-3211-4433

Information Service in English
Tokyo. . .03-3201-1010
Narita. . .0476-38-1010
Yokohama. . .045-322-1010

Welcome Furoshiki
A free welcoming and orientation service
Tel: 03-3352-0765

Public Holidays

January 1st			New Year's Day
January 15th			Adult's Day
February 11th			National Foundation Day
March 20th or 21st		Spring Equinox
April 29th			Previous Emperor's Birthday
May 3rd				Constitution Day
May 5th				Children's Day
September 15th			Respect for the Aged Day
September 23rd or 24th		Autumn Equinox
October 10th 			Health and Sports Day
November 3rd			Culture Day
November 23rd			Labour Thanksgiving Day
December 23rd			Emperor's Birthday

Note:

1. The three holidays around April 29th to May 5th are the `Golden Week' holiday period. If May 4th falls on a week day then it is also considered a holiday, as it is between Constitution Day and Children's Day.
2. Xmas and Boxing days are not public holidays in Japan.
3. Many shops are closed around the New Year period for several days.
4. There is also the Obon (ancestor worship) time in mid-August when travel can be difficult because of the crowds. This is not a public holiday but many people travel to their place of birth at this time of year.

Central Information Offices of the Prefectures and Cities, in Tokyo

Kokusai Kanko Kaikan
1-8-3, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100

Prefecture	Telephone (03)
Aomori		3216-6010
Chiba		3216-6017
Fukui		3211-8054
Fukuoka		3231-1750
Gunma		3231-4836
Hiroshima	3215-5010
Hokkaido	3214-2481
Hyogo		3231-1864
Ibaraki		3231-2642
Ishikawa	3231-4030
Kagawa		3231-4840
Kanagawa	3231-3901
Miyazaki	3216-9587
Nagano		3214-5651
Nagasaki	3231-2046
Nara		3216-5955
Niigata		3215-4618
Oita		3231-5096
Okayama		3231-2687
Okinawa		3231-0848
Osaka		3212-3943
Saga		3216-6596
Saitama		3215-2031
Shiga		3231-6131
Shizuoka	3215-0612
Tochigi		3215-4050
Toyama		3216-2068
Wakayama	3231-2041
Yamaguchi	3231-4980
Yamanashi	3231-0760

City (shi)
Kobe		3231-1861
Kyoto		3216-3691
Osaka		3231-1843

Tetsudo Kaikan
1-9-1, Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100

Prefecture	Telephone (03)
Aichi		3213-2907
Akita		3211-1775
Ehime		3231-1804
Gifu		3231-1775
Iwate		3231-2613
Kochi		3212-1981
Mie		3211-2737
Miyagi		3231-0944
Shimane		212-1091
Tokushima	3216-2081
Tottori		3211-8286
Yamagata	3215-2222

Thus, if you wish to write to any of these offices for information, address as the following examples:

Aomori-ken Tokyo Kanko Bussan Assensho
Kokusai Kanko Kaikan
1-8-3, Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100

Kyoto-shi Tokyo Kanko Bussan Assensho
Kokusai Kanko Kaikan
1-8-3, Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100

Four other prefectures have individual offices, these are:

Fukushima-ken Kanko Bussan Assensho
Nittobo Building
6-1, Yaesu, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 100
Tel: (03) 3273-8311

Kagoshima-ken Kanko Bussan Assensho
Olympic Building
2-7-17, Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 100
Tel: (03) 3561-6701

Kumamoto-ken Kanko Bussan Assensho
5-3-15, Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 100
Tel: (03) 3571-2059

Kyoto-ken Kanko Bussan Assensho
Todofuken Kaikan
2-4, Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100
Tel: (03) 3261-3469