SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO WELCOME TO TOKYO, JAPAN Tokyo, Japan's capital city, was known as Edo until 1868. Greater Tokyo is the world's most populous metropolitan area and is the center of Japanese culture, finance, and government. A bustling cosmopolitan city, Tokyo is also a major transportation hub and a world economic and industrial center. The city boasts a large number of world-class institutions of higher education, the highest concentration of universities in Japan. Tokyo mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers and trendy fashions to historic temples and beautiful public gardens. Contents Climate and Geography 02 Cost of Living and Transportation 03 Visa, Passport, Language, and Currency Information 04 Lifestyle, Sports, and Attractions 05 Culture, Shopping, and Dining 06 Schools and Education 07 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 01 SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO CLIMATE Mainland Tokyo lies in the humid subtropical climate zone with warm humid summers and generally cool winters with cold spells. The region, like much of Japan, experiences a one-month Tokyo Climate Graph seasonal lag, with the warmest month being o 120 F 48.9oc 12 in. 304.8 mm August, and the coolest month being January. o Annual rainfall averages nearly 60 inches (1,530 100 F 37.8oc 10 in. 254.0 mm mm), with wetter summers and drier winters. o Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur almost 80 F 27.7oc 8 in. 203.2 mm annually. Tokyo's offshore territories' climates vary o significantly from the city. Many have a tropical 60 F 15.6oc 6 in. 152.4 mm savanna climate and experience more typhoons o than Mainland Tokyo. 40 F 4.4oc 4 in. 101.6 mm Average High/Low Temperatures o 20 F -6.7oc 2 in. 50.8 mm Low / High o o o o January 34 F (1 C) / 49 F (10 C) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC July 71oF (22oC) / 85oF (29oC) High Temp Low Temp Precipitation Average Precipitation Rain 60 in. (1,529 mm) Snow 4 in. (110 mm) GEOGRAPHY Tokyo is the largest city in Japan in terms of population and area. Tokyo is located roughly in the middle of the Japanese archipelago facing the Pacific Ocean. Tokyo is on the Kanto plain. On its eastern border is Tokyo Bay. The far western portion of Tokyo is mountainous and unsuitable for urbanization. The highest mountain in Tokyo, Mount Kumotori, is 6,617 ft. (2,017 m) high. Tokyo also has numerous outlying islands, many of which are volcanic, that extend as far as 1,150 mi. (1,850 km) from the center of the city. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 02 SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO COST OF LIVING Just like any large city, Tokyo has an array of different neighborhoods that range from very poor to very expensive. The "downtown" area of Tokyo is very expensive, and has very few detached homes. As with most cities in the United States, generally, the further one moves from the city center, the more affordable property becomes. Most single-family, detached dwellings can be found in the far western wards. Living costs in Tokyo do depend on your location, employment, and other circumstances. Below are the median home purchase price and median monthly rent for the city of Tokyo. Real Estate Costs* Median Detached Home Price Median Condo Price (650 ft2) Median Monthly Rent (3 BDRM) ¥33,700,000 ¥99,465,526 ¥292,200 Approx. $299,391 USD* Approx. $909,224 USD* Approx. $2,671 USD* *Based on exchange rate at the time of publishing. Sources: www.numbeo.com, www.globalpropertyguide.com, both accessed 06/07/2017 TRANSPORTATION Tokyo, as the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary feeder role. Airports Haneda (aka Tokyo International) Airport (HND) Narita International Airport (NRT) Rails and Roads Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive urban railway network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. JR East operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the Yamanote Line loop that circles the center of downtown Tokyo. Expressways link the capital to other points in the Greater Tokyo area, the Kantō region, and the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 03 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 03 SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO VISA AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS BUSINESS VISITOR Permitted Activities – Business visitors must generally limit their activities to the following: • Market research • Business liaison or consultation • Signing a contract • Providing after-sale service for imported machinery • Inspecting or visiting plants, trade fairs, etc. • Explanatory meetings Type of Business Visas – Certain nationals may enter Japan without need of a business visa (visa-exempt nationals). All other nationals will require a temporary visit visa (business). Basic Requirements 1. Intention of a genuine visit for business and not for paid employment 2. Valid passport 3. Evidence that there are no restrictions on his or her traveling to Japan 4. No intention to permanently reside in Japan 5. A ticket for onward travel from Japan 6. Proof of funds EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION Basic Requirements – The principle visa category for temporary employment in Japan is the Work Visa. This is a category for employers to sponsor approved skilled workers to work in Japan TOKYO NO JIJITSU (TOKYO FACTS) on a temporary basis. Language Process Overview – The process for obtaining a Work Visa is as follows: There is only one official language in Japan – Japanese 1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) – filed with the Immigration (nihongo). Japan is the only country in the world to have Bureau in Japan Japanese as its official working language for its Japanese 2. Entry Visa application – filed at the Japanese Consulate companies. Many Japanese are able to understand English, General abroad as English is taught in schools as part of Japan's compulsory 3. Landing Permission & Issuance of Zairyu Card – immediately upon arrival in Japan the employee and accompanying education. Despite this, many foreigners will discover that the dependents will be required to present their passports Japanese are seldom motivated to speak English outside the and COEs. They will be granted Landing Permissions, which business context. will serve as their work and residence visas. In addition, depending on their point of entry, some employees and Currency dependents will receive their Zairyu Card immediately upon The currency in use in Tokyo is the Yen. The usual methods of arrival and some will receive their Zairyu Cards within 5-7 days from the Immigration Bureau payment in Tokyo are cash and EC-cards (bank cards). Payment 4. Registration of Residence – must be completed within 14 with EC cards or credit cards may require an additional form of days of arrival in Japan identification. The exchange rate (at time of publishing) is $1 *This summary is intended for informational purposes only and is USD = $109.99 Yen. not an authorized guide on how to obtain work authorization GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 04 SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT Tokyo is a sprawling, densely populated city packed full of nightlife spots, restaurants, museums, entertainment venues, shopping malls and many other attractions. The city offers a vibrant, unique and sociable lifestyle, with plenty of annual events and festivals. When going out at night, bring your best singing voice because karaoke is almost like a religion. In the daytime, Tokyo's many parks, blooming with cherry blossoms and other beautiful flowers, offer a peaceful retreat from the fast pace of the city. SPORTS Pro Teams F.C. Tokyo (Soccer) Hitachi SunRockers (Basketball) Japan Sumo Association (Wrestling) Tokyo Excellence (Basketball) Tokyo Verdy 1969 (Soccer) Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Baseball) Toyota Alvark Tokyo (Basketball) Yomiuri Giants (Baseball) Major Venues Ajinomoto Stadium Meiji-Jingu Stadium National (Olympic ) Stadium Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena Tokyo Dome OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE Parks and Gardens Fun Things to Do Wildlife Attractions Beautiful Temples Hamarikyu Gardens Fuji-Q Highlands Epson Shinagawa Aqua Stadium Meiji Jingu Shrine Rinshi No Mori Park Namco Namjatown Inokashira Park Zoo Nezu Shrine Shiba Park One Piece Tower Sunshine Aquarium Sensoji Temple Shinjuko Gyoen Gardens Tokyo Disneyland Tama Zoo Tennoji Temple Ueno Onshi Park Tokyo Dome City Tokyo Sea Life Park Yushima Seido Temple Yoyogi Park Tokyo Joypolis Ueno Zoo GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO l 05 SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO SHOPPING & DINING Tastes of Tokyo Not Just the World's Largest Fish Market What do you get when you combine access to an ocean There is a reason that Tokyo is known as one of the world's of fresh seafood with Japanese flair for perfect, yet exotic, shopping meccas. From vendor carts to street side boutiques presentation? Some of the best dining in the world! Cuisine to massive shopping centers, Tokyo is a shopper's paradise. in Tokyo is internationally acclaimed. When Michelin The city offers numerous vibrant and trendsetting districts released their first guide for fine dining in Tokyo, the city was in which you can find everything including high-end to the awarded 191 stars in total, or about twice as many as Tokyo's offbeat, as well as subculture favorites to traditional crafts nearest competitor, Paris. Of the eight top-rated restaurants, and vintage wares. The Ginza district is Tokyo's most upscale three offer traditional Japanese fine dining, two are sushi shopping area, while Harajuku offers the hottest fads in houses and three serve French cuisine.