Passports and Visas: Every foreign visitor entering Japan must have a valid passport. An invitation letter is provided by the Registration Desk to obtain travel visas to Japan. [Registration Desk] West Event and Convention Branch, Nippon Travel Agency Co.,Ltd. e-mail:osaka_gakkai@nta.co.jp Tel:+81-6-6376-6450 Fax:+81-6-6376-6465 Climate: In August, the average daytime temperature in Osaka is between 29-32ºC (84-89ºF). Currency: The currency used in Japan is Japanese yen. Foreign currency or traveler’s checks can be freely changed to yen at major banks, hotels and airports. Only Japanese yen () are accepted at stores and restaurants. It is necessary to show your passport when charging traveler’s checks. Bills come in units of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 yen and coins in units of 1,5,10,50,100 and 500 yen. The approximate rate of exchange was JPY117 for U. S. $1, JPY165 for 1 Euro (as of October 15, 2007) T/C and Credit Cards: Traveler’s checks are not as popular in Japan as in some other countries. They are usually accepted only by leading banks and major hotels. American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Diner’s Club are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, some shops, and some restaurants. Tipping: There is no custom of individual tipping in Japan. Tips are usually included in the bill as a service charge, if needed. Electrical Appliances: The voltage in Japan is 100 Volt, which is different from North America (110V), Central Europe (220V) and most other regions of the world. The frequency is 60Hz in Western Japan including Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Hiroshima and 50Hz in Eastern Japan including Tokyo, Yokohama and Hokkaido. Japanese electrical plugs have two, non-polarized pins, as shown below. They fit into North American outlets.