Credit cards can be used directly in some phone boxes, although public phones are becoming increasingly difficult to find and are most likely to be located near train stations. They are green and grey, and accept coins and magnetic prepaid cards, available from convenience stories and vending machines.

Most modern phone handsets will work in Japan, but roaming charges can be steep - check with your service provider as some will offer reasonable data packages to cover your stay. If you have a smartphone, you can keep in touch using Wi-Fi only. Visitors can hire handsets at the airport from companies such as DoCoMo (www.nttdocomo.com), and Softbank (www.softbank-rental.jp). In the UK, phones can be rented in advance of travel from Adam Phones (www.adamphones.com). Coverage is generally good.

Wi-Fi is widely available throughout Japan, and is free in many hotels and via hotspots in major cities and airports. Alternatively, there are many internet cafés located in Tokyo and other main cities. 

Japan's national public broadcaster NHK (www.nhk.or.jp) operates several TV and radio channels, including Radio Japan and the global English language news channel NHK World. There are four commercial broadcasting networks. The press in Japan is free to criticise the government, although freelance journalists find access to information difficult. There are two English-language daily newspapers published in Japan, the Daily Yomiuri (www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy), and the Japan Times (www.japantimes.co.jp). Asahi Shimbun also publishes an English version (http://www.asahi.com/ajw).

Letters in Tokyo can be taken to the International Post Office (www.japanpost.jp), near exit A-2 Otemachi subway station, which provide English-speaking personnel. Airmail to Europe takes four to six days.

Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (1900 at bigger branches). Some main post offices are open 0900-1500 on Saturdays; 0900-1230 on Sundays. Some branches have an after-hours service window.