Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Schoolchildren practising earthquake drill
Center
A local pharmacy
Right
Police station
Security and Health
!
Earthquakes
trains has been serious
enough for some sub-
ways to introduce
women-only carriages
during the rush hours.
Some hotels exist
exclusively for women.
Drunken salarymen can
be annoying, but rarely
threatening. Ignoring
them is the best course.
^
Disabled Travelers
explaining the problem.
The Tokyo Clinic Dental
Office has English-
speaking staff.
Earthquake drills take
place every September 1,
the anniversary of the
quake that devastated
Tokyo. The usual advice
in the event of a quake is
to crouch under a heavy
table. Make sure all
doors are open and gas
appliances switched off.
@
Crime
(
Food and Water
Generally, food and
water quality control in
Japan is high. However,
after the 2011 earthquake
and radiation issues,
there were concerns
about the safety of tap
water. Follow local advice
and drink bottled water if
you are worried.
Although theft and
random attacks by
unhinged individuals have
been on the rise, Tokyo
remains one of the safest
cities in the world. Care
should be taken while
walking in some crowded
areas, such as Kabuki-cho
and Roppongi. Hotel staff
are scrupulously honest.
Tokyo is a difficult
city for the physically
challenged to negotiate,
though newer buildings
and developments
include ramps. Lines
of raised dots on the
ground guide the visually
impaired and traffic lights
have audible signals for
crossing. Trains have
special seats, and many
ticket machines have
Braille plates.
&
Hospitals
)
Foreign-Language
Helplines
Help and counseling is
offered by trained volun-
teers in a number of
languages by the Tokyo
English Life Line (TELL).
Japan Help Line is a 24-
hour nonprofit service.
£
Health Insurance
Health insurance is
recommended, other-
wise as a visitor you will
be expected to pay the
full amount for treat-
ment. Charges for con-
sultations and drugs are
high. Be sure to carry
proof of health insurance.
$
Pharmacies
Directory
Pharmacies
•
American Pharmacy:
5220-7716
Hospitals
•
Japan Red Cross
Medical Center: 3400-
1311
•
Tokyo British
Clinic: 5458-6099
•
St
Luke's International
Hospital: 3541-5151
Dentists
•
Tokyo Clinic Dental
Office: 3431-4225
Foreign-Language
Helplines
•
Tokyo English Life
Line: 5774-0992
•
Japan Help Line:
0570 000 911
Many hospitals and
clinics do not have
English-speaking staff.
There are some excep-
tions, such as the Japan
Red Cross Medical
Center, the Tokyo British
Clinic, and the long-
established St Luke's
International Hospital.
*
Dentists
Tokyo has a surfeit of
well-stocked pharmacies,
although the staff may
not speak English. The
American Pharmacy in
the Marunouchi Building
(see p68)
, however, has
English-speaking staff.
%
Women Travelers
Dental problems are
more self-explanatory
than medical ones, so
the shortage of English-
speaking dentists is not
a major problem. Hotel
staff can make a recom-
mendation, contact a
local clinic, and provide
a note in Japanese
With a relatively low
crime rate, assaults on
women travelers are rare.
Sexual harassment on
120
For a list of wheelchair-accessible sites in Tokyo, visit the website
of Accessible Japan:
www.tesco-premium.co.jp/aj/index.htm
