“Top Tips” to Irish rugby fans travelling to watch Ireland in Japan
With the Irish rugby team kicking off their tour of Japan on 17 June, the Embassy of Ireland in Japan has prepared some helpful information for fans travelling to the games.
Top tips:
- We strongly recommend that anyone travelling to Japan purchases comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The quality of medical care in Japan is very high, but steep medical bills can quickly build up even for minor problems and short hospital stays.
- If your passport is lost or stolen you should report it to the police and the Embassy in Tokyo and apply for a new passport. You are advised to do so immediately as remaining in Japan without a valid passport may give rise to difficulties with the local immigration authorities.
- Temporary passports can be issued through the Embassy in Tokyo. To apply for a temporary passport you must have supporting documentation. Please see our website for more details: www.dfa.ie/japan
- Stay in touch with home. Win, lose or draw, let your family and friends know that you’re ok. Call, text or post on social media, and ensure your loved ones have information about your itinerary and travel plans (Japan is GMT +8).
- Please be responsible. Avoid unnecessary risks – steer clear of trouble, drink responsibly and behave respectfully when engaging with local authorities, including local law enforcement agencies.
- Please bear in mind that match venues will be enforcing their standard conditions of entry. Prohibited items generally include: drugs, glass bottles or breakable containers, metal containers, cans and offensive weapons, including potential missiles.
- All match venues reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is intoxicated and/or disorderly and licensing laws are likely to be strictly enforced.
- Download our award-winning TravelWise travel app from iTunes and Google Play and sign up for crisis alerts. You can also use it to register your details to help us contact you and your loved ones in an emergency.
- And finally, stay connected. Follow us on @IrishEmbJapan and facebook.com/irelandinjapan and the official Irish rugby twtter @IrishRugby
To read the full travel advice for Japan, please visit https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/japan/ or download the TravelWise app.
Match information:
17 June 2017, Japan v Ireland, Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka, 14.00
To buy tickets for this match, you can visit convenience stores (called kombini), but the machines are only in Japanese. You can also buy online at http://en.rugby-japan.jp/
The easiest way to reach Ecopa Stadium is by taking the shinkansen (aka bullet train) from Tokyo to Kakegawa Station, and then take the special shuttle bus to the stadium (departing every 10 mins from 10.00am).
It is also possible to transfer to a local train at Kakegawa for Aino, but be advised that the local train may not have sufficient capacity if a large number of fans travel. It is also possible to take a taxi to the stadium, though traffic control measures will be in place.
There is also a bus service from Tokyo Station to Kakegawa, though it will take a few hours.
Make sure to plan your trip well in advance, and to book train tickets as soon as possible. Most major train stations (Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya etc.) have assistants who speak good English.
24 June 2017, Japan v Ireland, Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, 14.40
To buy tickets for this match, you can visit convenience stores (called kombini), but the machines are only in Japanese. You can also buy online at http://en.rugby-japan.jp/
The easiest way to reach Ajinomoto Stadium from central Tokyo is by taking the Keio Line to Tobitakyu, or the Chuo Line to Musashi Sakai, and changing there for the Seibu Tamagawa Line to Tama. Be advised that significant delays can occur en route, and that it is best to leave plenty of time for your travel.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government are running an Irish-themed fanzone near Ajinomoto Stadium, so there is no excuse not to arrive good and early. Expect significant delays, and good natured crowds, on exiting the stadium and heading for trains back to central Tokyo.
Tokyoites are well-used to foreigners having a good time in their city, but make sure to do Ireland proud and be respectful when dealing with the locals. Ireland will be back in 2019 for the Rugby World Cup, and we all want to make a good impression.
http://www.ajinomotostadium.com/english/
Rugby tickets competition
With thanks to Japan Rugby Football Union, the Embassy of Ireland in Japan is giving away 4 tickets to the Japan v Ireland rugby match on 24 June, in Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo.
Two competitions will run simultaneously on twitter and facebook, and people are welcome to enter both. In order to be entered, on facebook it is necessary to like the Embassy of Ireland in Japan facebook page and to share the competition post. On twitter, it is necessary to follow the @IrishEmbJapan twitter account and RT either or both of the competition tweets.
The competition closes at 6pm Monday (Tokyo time), and winners will be announced on the Embassy’s twitter and facebook accounts on Tuesday morning.