There are various types of visas for visiting India, such as tourist, business, or studying, and a tourist visa is required if you want to enter the country for the purpose of travel. As of March 2017, there are three patterns for obtaining a tourist visa.

• Regular visa: This is a regular visa obtained in advance in another country outside of India. The type of visa obtained in Japan is a multiple-entry tourist visa with unlimited re-entry in the six months from the date issued.
  In Japan, you can apply for such a visa at the Indian Embassy. Click the Indian Embassy website for details about how to apply for a visa.
• e-tourist visa: This is a visa that is issued at the airport upon arrival. You must enter the required information on the Internet at least 4 days prior to your departure and bring a printout of your application. You can only enter the country twice, and it is valid for 60 days from the day of arrival. Use the application form on the website Government of India.
• Arrival visa: There is no need for application in advance, and it is issued at the airport in India. It is a double entry visa that allows entry into the country twice over a 60-day period.
  • * The arrival visa program for Japanese people changed on April 1st, 2017. For details, click Indian Embassy website.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of visa application, and must have at least two unused visa pages.

• * For the latest information, be sure to check the website of the Embassy of Japan in India.
• * Visa, passport, and other information is subject to change without notice. Be sure to check with the Embassy, Consulate, or travel agency.

When visiting from Japan, it is prohibited to bring the following items into India.

• a. Meat and all meat products
• b. Marine product and processed marine products
• c. Egg products
• d. Milk products
• e. Pet food
• f. Products made with bird feathers or pig fur
• g. Processed bone or horn products
• h. Plants, seeds, fruit, fresh flowers
• i. Live birds, animals (including pets)
• j. Plants or animals that are at risk of extinction (alive or dead)
• k. Products made from wild animals
  • * As a rule, small amounts of food or other items for personal use may be confiscated unless officially approved.

Prohibited from bringing in. In September 2019, the Indian government prohibited all production, sale, and import of e-cigarettes. Foreign nationals may also be penalized.

• Tobacco: 100 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 125g of cut tobacco
• Liquor: up to 2L regardless of the type of liquor
• Gifts equal to less than Rs8000

India has a single time zone. Time difference: Japan is 3.5 hours ahead of India. (It is 8:30AM in India when it is noon in Japan.) There is no daylight saving in India.

When purchasing DVD, and BD, take note of the broadcasting system (Japan is NTSC; India is PAL) and region code (DVD is 2, BD is A in Japan; DVD is 5, BD is C in India). To play PAL, a device is needed that can switch to NTSC. The code must be the same for video and player, or one of them must be compatible with all regions for it to be played.

Airmail to Japan costs Rs15 for a picture postcard, Rs25 for a sealed letter. Airmail takes 4 days to 10 days to be delivered.

Generally, it is open from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays. Sunday is often closed.

Ex. When calling (03) 1234-5678 or 090-1234-5678, :

1. 00 (International telephone identification number)
2. 81 (Country Code, Japan)
3. 3 or 90 (Remove the first 0 for area codes and mobile telephone numbers)
4. 1234-5678 (Other parties telephone number)

1. International Telephone Company No.
   • 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 Identification No.)
3. 91 (Country Code, India)
4. 11 (Remove the first 0 for area codes)
5. 87654321 (Other parties telephone number)

• * For the three cell phone carriers, hold down 0 until + appears, then add the country code and the phone number your wish to dial.

Of the national holidays, Only the following three days are official holidays according to the law. In addition to those days, there are other holidays that vary by religion and state.

• January 26: Republic Day
• August 15: Independence Day
• October 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
  • * Note that many tourist highlights are closed on January 26 and August 15.

The official language is Hindi, and English is the second official language. In addition, there are 21 different state government-approved languages and 844 dialects.The literacy rate is 74.04% (according to a 2011 national census).

General business hours noted below, but they are only guidelines. Actual business hours differ by establishment.

10:00 to 16:30 (until 14:00 on Sat.), closed on Sun., holidays.

10:00 to 19:00, closed on different days depending on the store.

11:00 to 23:00 (some places close from around 15:00 to 18:00).

The Muslim faith prohibits alcohol consumption. Hindus also are not very fond of alcohol. However, there are drinking establishments in every town, and patrons can drink in licensed restaurants and bars. However, there is an alcohol prohibition law in force in Gujarat, Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, and Nagaland, and the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited or restricted in those states. States that do not have an alcohol prohibition law have Dry Days (no alcohol days on which no type of alcohol can be sold. Alcohol is prohibited throughout the country on certain national holidays such as Gandhi’s birthday and Independence Day. Also, the sale of alcohol is restricted in sacred Hindu places.The provision of alcohol is prohibited within 500 meters from highways or railway stations throughout the country. There are also restrictions on alcohol sales at holy Hindu locations.

There is an anti-smoking law enforced in public facilities in India. Places subject to the law include airport lounges, hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, train stations, bus stops, shopping malls, movie theaters, hospitals, and schools. Violators will be fined Rs200. However, smoking is permitted in places that have smoking areas even if it is a public place.