Sydney Airport and City Info

Japanese citizens require either a visa or ETAS registration to enter Australia.

Your passport must be valid for at least the number of days of your stay.

The $55 departure tax for flying out of Australia and various airport taxes for each airport are generally paid at the time of purchasing your flight ticket.

When visiting from Japan, it is prohibited to bring the following items into Australia.
Australia is far from the other continents and has many unique species of plants and animals. For this reason, Quarantine is extremely strict and there are very detailed regulations for bringing in foods, plants, and animals. The following is a list of typical items that are not permitted to bring into the country for details,

see Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website(https://japan.embassy.gov.au/tkyojapanese/quarantine_jp.html).
Some items may be brought in if declared.

• a. Eggs (raw, boiled)
  Some processed products are allowed.
• b. All fruit and vegetables
• c. Live animals
  However, cats and dogs are permitted if they complete a certain length of animal Quarantine after arrival. Check about guide dogs.
• d. Meat
  Processed meat that can be stored for 6 months or longer are permitted.
• e. Salmonidae fish (canned is permitted)
• f. Seeds or crafts or souvenirs made with seeds
• g. Raw nuts (some types are permitted)
• h. Plants with reproductive ability
• i. Soil or sand

• * If it is difficult to judge if an item can be brought in, always declare it. Violations will result in not only confiscation and fines, but also, in the worst case, denied entry and refusal to perform new ETAS registration or issue new visas for three years after the incident.

Visitors will not be taxed for bringing in commodities for non-commercial use carried on hand or in hand luggage, sports goods for personal use, up to 25 grams of tobacco and one opened box (over 18 years old adults only), up to 2.25 liters of alcohol (adults only), or $900 worth of general goods (e.g. gifts, leather products, electronic devices, cameras, or jewelry).

E-cigarettes are not the norm in Australia and are prohibited to possess and use in certain states. Up to 25 g of e-cigarettes can be brought in duty free, but it is better not to bring it in.

Australia generally has three time zones. The time difference is +1 hour between the states on the east coast (add 1 hour to Japan time). Central Australia has a -30 min. time difference with the east (add 30 min. to Japan time). The west (Western Australia) has a -2 hour time difference with the east (subtract 1 hour from Japan time). In addition, Daylight Saving time is in effect generally from the last Sunday of October to the first Sunday of April in New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra), Tasmania (from the first Sunday of October), and South Australia. Add an extra hour to the time for these states and territories during this period. Note that the adoption and period of Daylight Savings time is determined by each state/territory each year, and you should check in advance the terms for that year.

In Australia, the DVD region code is 4, Blu-ray region code is B, and TV and video system is PAL. The DVD and Blu-ray region codes and TV and video system all differ from those of Japan. Most media purchased in Australia cannot be played on regular Japanese devices.

The post office, Australia Post, is identified with a “P” mark in red. The counter is open from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and is closed on weekends and holidays (although some post offices in major areas are also open on Sat. morning). In addition to the counter, stamps can also be purchased at special vending machines at post offices or at the hotel reception desk. Air mail arrives in Japan within 5 to 7 days. Small packages can be up to 20 kg.

$2.30 for sealed letters (including postcards) up to 50 grams, $6.00,up to 125 to 250 grams, $8.00 for sealed letters from 50 to 250 grams, and $12.00 for sealed letters from 250 to 500 grams.

Ex. When calling (03)1234-5678:

1. 0011 (International telephone identification number)
2. 81 (Country Code, Japan)
3. 3 (Remove the first 0 for area codes and mobile telephone numbers)
4. 1234-5678 (Other parties telephone No.)

When calling Cairns (07)1234-5678:

1. Call the number of an international phone company
   • 001 (KDDI)*1
   • 0033 (NTT Communications)*1
   • 0061 (Softbank Telecom)*1
   • 005345 (au mobile)*2
   • 009130 (NTT Docomo mobile)*3
   • 0046 (Softbank mobile)*4
2. 010 (International phone code)
3. 61 (Australia phone code)
4. 7 (remove the first “0” from the area code)
5. 1234-5678 (Other parties telephone No.)

Holidays with dates that vary by year are marked with an *1. If holidays with predetermined dates fall on a weekend, Monday is generally a public holiday for a three-day weekend. Check the website of the Australian embassy for details.

• January 1: New Year's
• January 26: Australia Day (national day of Australia)
• April 10: Good Friday*1
• April 11: Easter Saturday*1
• April 13: Easter Monday*1
• April 25: Anzac Day
• June 8: Queen's Birthday.The second Monday in June every year (First Monday of October in Queensland and last Sunday of September in Western Australia)*1
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 26: Boxing Day

The official language is English.

Below are guidelines for general business hours.

Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00.

Mon. to Thu. 9:30 to 16:00, Fri. 9:30 to 17:00.

• Some banks open at 9:00.

Generally 9:00 to 17:30 on weekdays. In Cairns, the Gold Coast, and other prime tourism locations, many shops are open 365 days a year, and some souvenir shops stay open until past 21:00. In major cities, there is a late night shopping day once a week during which most shops stay open until 21:00.

Lunch is from 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 18:00 to 22:00.

• varies with the shop.

In Australia, those 18 years old or younger cannot purchase alcohol or tobacco. Younger adults who wish to purchase these products sometimes require you to show ID, so do not forget your ID if you plan on purchasing them. There are age limitations when renting vehicles as well (some companies only rent to those between 25 and 60) and a credit card is required instead of ID. If you do not have a credit card, you will need to leave a large deposit.

On escalators, stand on the left and leave the right open. When standing in line, stand single file and move ahead in turn. To hail a taxi, put your arm out to the side.