Tokyo

  INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POPULATION

Japan: 124 million

Tokyo: 12 million

  TIME

GMT plus nine hours during daylight savings time, plus eight hours in the summer

  TELEPHONE

IDD country code 81

Tokyo 81-3

Osaka 81-6

Hiroshima 81-82

Fukuoka 81-92

Nagoya 81-52

To call internationally from Japan, dial one of three prefixes: 0061, 0041, or 001, followed by the country code and number required.

When calling internally within Japan, all numbers commence with 0. So to dial Tokyo from Osaka the area code would be 03 followed by the number required.

All telephone numbers listed below are preceded by the code 03 unless otherwise stated.

  Telephone assistance

(English) 5295 1010

General assistance

(English) 3586 0110

Fax

To use fax facilities, call KDD 3275 4343/3347 5000

Top hotels also provide fax service for customers.

  WEATHER

Winter is relatively mild in the Tokyo area (rare snow, 1-10°C). July-August is sweltering (28-30°C) and extremely humid, with monsoons an added bonus from mid-June to mid-July. August through October is typhoon ('Terrible Wind') season, with severe storms every other week or so; a sturdy umbrella is definately advisable. Autumn is mostly pleasant (14-25°C) and sunny, although small earth tremors can strike any time of year.

  COMMERCIAL HOURS

Banks 9.00-15.00, Monday to Friday. Note that cashpoints tend to close at night and on Sundays, except in commercial districts.

Offices 9.00-17.00, Monday to Friday. Film and television related companies often start at 10.00 and stay later in the evening.

Shops 10.00 to 19.00, six days a week, with holidays scattered throughout the week. Most large department stores are closed on either Mondays or Wednesdays

  NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 1995

1 January often extending to 2-3 January, 15 January, 11 February, 21 March, 29 April, 3-5 May, second week of August (not official but generally observed), 15 & 23 September, 10 October, 3 & 23 November, 20 & 28 December. Note: holidays that fall on a Sunday shift to the following Monday.

  BEST GUIDES & MAPS

Japan: Japan (Lonely Planet) for facts, Introduction to Japan (Alan Booth, Odyssey) for viewpoints.

Tokyo: Tokyo City Guide (Lonely Planet), updated this year; Tokyo Journal (monthly magazine with all the highlights and lowdowns)

TOURIST INFORMATION

Next to Hibiya subway station Tel 3502 1461

Tourist information (English) Tel 3502 1461

  ELECTRIC CURRENT

100 volts AC

  THE BUSINESS

Number of cinemas in Japan: 1,734

VCR penetration: 76% of households

  TV NETWORKS

Asahi National Broadcasting

1-1-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel 3587 5111 Fax 3505 3539

Fuji Television

3-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku Tel 3353 1111 Fax 3358 8038

Japan Broadcasting Corporation

2-2-1 Jinan-cho, Shibuya-ku Tel 3465 1111 Fax 3485 6218

Nippon Television Network

14 Niban-cho, Chiyoda-ku Tel 5275 4752 Fax 5275 4008

Television Tokyo Channel 12

4-3-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tel 3432 1212 Fax 5473 3401

  MAJOR INDUSTRY

EVENTS 1996

Japan Academy Awards (Kyoto)

Information: 5565 3941

March

Japan Independent Film Festival (Tokyo)

July

Tokyo International Film Festival

Information: 3563 6305

October

  PIA Film Festival (Tokyo)

Information: 3265 1425

December

  EMBASSIES

UK 3265 5511

USA 3224 5000

  EMERGENCIES

Police 110

Fire/Ambulance 119

Hospital information 3212 2323

Tokyo English Lifeline 5721 4347

  COURIERS

DHL Japan 3 5479 2580

Federal Express 0120 003200

  LOST/STOLEN CREDIT CARDS

American Express

0120 376 199 24hrs

Diners Club 3797 7311, 3499 1181 after hours

  PHARMACIES

English-speaking, carry foreign products:

American Pharmacy

Hibiya Park Bldg, Yurakucho, Tokyo Tel 3271 4034 Open Monday-Saturday 9.00-19.00

Note: Japan produces its own range of pharmaceuticals; bring prescribed drugs with you

  THE X FILES TIPPING

Absolutely no tipping is necessary in any situation whatsoever