Country code: 81. Three companies provide international communications services: KDDI, IDC and ISD, each possessing their own international access number (001, 0061 and 0041, respectively, so to call the UK, for example, you would use 0061 44). Credit cards can also be used directly in some phone boxes. Phone boxes are found virtually everywhere in Japan. They are green and grey, and accept coins and magnetic pre-paid cards. IC phone boxes accept IC cards only.

The Japanese mobile network uses PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) technology, which is not compatible with GSM or other mobile services. Visitors can hire handsets from companies such as NTT or Sony Finance. For UK travellers, mobiles can also be hired before departure from companies such as Adam Phones (website: www.adamphones.com). Coverage is good.

Internet is available; there are many Internet cafes in Tokyo and in the main cities in Japan. Most Tokyo hotels have Wi-Fi access. The new grey telephones have modular sockets for computer network access.

Letters can be taken to the central post office in front of Tokyo Station or the International Post Office, near exit A-2 Otemachi subway station, which provide English-speaking personnel. Airmail to Europe takes four to six days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (1900 at bigger branches). Some main post offices are 0900-1500 on Saturdays, 0900-1230 on Sundays.

Japan's broadcasting scene is advanced and vibrant, and very competitive, with established public and commercial outlets competing for audiences. Many millions now watch satellite and cable pay-TV services, including those provided by NHK. High-definition TV (HDTV) now has a dedicared NHK channel and is growing in popularity. Digital terrestrial TV broadcasting is in the process of being introduced, also. Newspaper readership is extremely high, and national dailies have circulations in the millions. The press in Japan is free to criticise the government, although freelance journalists find access to information difficult.

• The English-language daily newspapers in Tokyo include Daily Sports, Yomiuri Shimbun, The Japan Times and The Mainichi Daily News.

• National commercial networks include TV Asahi, Fuji TV, Nippon TV (NTV) and the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS).
• NHK is a public broadcaster, and operates general and educational TV channels, as well as satellite channels and a high-definition TV network.

• NHK is a public broadcaster that operates a news- and speech-based radio station, as well as a cultural and educational network, a classical music-based network and an external service, Radio Japan.
• Inter FM, J-Wave and Tokyo FM are all commercial stations.
• TBS Radio is operated by the Tokyo Broadcasting System.