1. When packing for your trip, remember that business meetings in Japan require conservative suits, including ties for men. Bring an umbrella if you will be traveling during the rainy, muggy summer, and a supply of cloth handkerchiefs to wipe your hands, because paper towels may not be available in restrooms. But don't overpack or bring extremely large luggage, because trunk space in Japanese cabs is limited, and heavy luggage is difficult to maneuver on crowded Japanese trains.
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2. The currency used in Japan is the yen. Change your money at the airport and at Authorized Foreign Exchange Banks, or at large hotels. Carry at least 30,000 yen ($300.00) and traveler’s checks with you, because if you are on your own during the day you will need a great deal of cash. Major credit cards are accepted in most banks, hotels, and large stores in major cities, but you may have trouble using them elsewhere.
3. Most major hotels have business equipment and services available for guests. These “business centers” include items such as fax machines, copiers, computers, and conference rooms, plus services such as translators and business card printing.
4. If you get lost in Japan, ask for directions at a police box (kôban), which can be found in almost any neighborhood, especially near train stations. If you need help quickly and are not near a kôban, the emergency phone number for the police in Japan is 110. They are equipped to respond to people who do not speak Japanese.
5. There are a variety of public phones in Japan. Some take coins and others take phone cards. You can purchase phone cards at any convenience store. They are also sold in vending machines. Sometimes these vending machines are located right in or near the public telephone booths. It is probably best to place international calls from your hotel, so hotel staff can assist you.
6. Chances are, you will be eating with chopsticks (hashi), and there are some important dos and don'ts in terms of using them. Do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice bowl or pass food from your chopsticks to someone else’s; these are funeral customs and taboo at other times. You can use your chopsticks to help yourself to food from a common platter, but do not use the eating ends of your chopsticks until your companions indicate that you may do so; until then, use the non-eating ends.
7. Taxis are expensive in Japan. Taking a cab from the airport to your hotel in Tokyo, a distance of about 60 kilometers, can cost the equivalent of $200 US. However, there are excellent alternatives, such as airport buses and high speed trains.
8. Japanese people you encounter in business and at hotels often speak excellent English, but many people outside of these settings are not skilled in English. It is extremely helpful to learn a handful of Japanese words, phrases, and symbols, especially the common courtesies. The Japanese will appreciate any effort you make, however simple, to speak with them in their own language.