Departure tax is included in air ticket.

+81 3 5757 8111.

There are international ferry services to Japan from Russia, China, Taiwan and Korea. Ticket prices are generally not cheaper than air tickets. The advantage of arriving in Japan by sea would be the chance to view some spectacular scenery.

Major port cities are Osaka (www.osakaport.co.jp), Kobe (www.kobe-meriken.or.jp), Yokohama (www.yokohamaport.org/portal), Shimonoseki (www.shimonoseki-port.com), Fukuoka (port-of-hakata.city.fukuoka.lg.jp) and Naha.

The Japan Rail Pass (www.japanrailpass.net) is the most economical way for international visitors to travel all over Japan by rail. It can be used on all Japan Railways services including the shinkansen (bullet train), except for the super-express Nozomi shinkansen. The next fastest shinkansen, the Hikari, is just as convenient for high-speed rail travel in Japan. There are passes for seven, 14 and 21 consecutive days. Passes must be purchased in advance outside Japan and validated on the day you begin to use the pass.