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on December 6th, 2024 (JST) current information
A visa is not required for countries participating in the Schengen Agreement if the purpose of your visit is sightseeing and your overall stay is 90 days or less within a 180 day-period. (for Japanese nationals)
The remaining period of validity on your passport must be at least 3 months from the day you leave a country in the Schengen Area. (Having travel insurance is preferable.)
When visiting from Japan, the following items are prohibited from bringing in to Belgium.
There are no special rules for travelers bringing it in for personal use.
There is an 8-hour time difference between Japan and Belgium. Subtract 8 from the hour in Japan. In other words, 7:00 in Japan is 23:00 on the previous day in Belgium. The time difference is 7 hours during Daylight Saving time.
Daylight Saving time is from 2:00 AM (3:00 AM) on the last Sunday of March until 3:00 AM (2:00 AM) on the last Sunday of October.
The climate is relatively comfortable, but the weather is very changeable until late May, and it is probably best to keep a light cardigan with you. From June until August is dry and comfortable. From September and October it becomes increasingly cloudy and there is often drizzling rain. It is not too cold in winter, but the cold is more severe on the inland. It rains lightly throughout the year.
Monthly average temperature and precipitation
The average maximum temperature in Tokyo and Brussels, The average minimum temperature in Tokyo and Brussels
month | The average maximum temperature in Tokyo | The average minimum temperature in Tokyo | The average maximum temperature in Brussels | The average minimum temperature in Brussels |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. | 10℃ | 2℃ | 5℃ | 1℃ |
Feb. | 10℃ | 2℃ | 6℃ | 2℃ |
Mar. | 13℃ | 5℃ | 9℃ | 5℃ |
Apr. | 18℃ | 10℃ | 14℃ | 6℃ |
May | 23℃ | 15℃ | 18℃ | 8℃ |
Jun. | 25℃ | 18℃ | 20℃ | 13℃ |
Jul. | 28℃ | 23℃ | 23℃ | 14℃ |
Aug. | 31℃ | 24℃ | 23℃ | 14℃ |
Sep. | 27℃ | 21℃ | 18℃ | 10℃ |
Oct. | 23℃ | 15℃ | 14℃ | 5℃ |
Nov. | 17℃ | 10℃ | 10℃ | 4℃ |
Dec. | 13℃ | 5℃ | 6℃ | 3℃ |
The average precipitation in Tokyo and Brussels
month | The average precipitation in Tokyo | The average precipitation in Brussels |
---|---|---|
Jan. | 50mm | 60mm |
Feb. | 60mm | 50mm |
Mar. | 110mm | 50mm |
Apr. | 130mm | 40mm |
May | 130mm | 40mm |
Jun. | 160mm | 60mm |
Jul. | 160mm | 60mm |
Aug. | 150mm | 60mm |
Sep. | 210mm | 50mm |
Oct. | 160mm | 50mm |
Nov. | 90mm | 60mm |
Dec. | 40mm | 70mm |
Euro coins with different designs on one side for each country: Photo copyright of the European Central Bank
The currency is the Euro (denoted as €, Euro, or Eur, for short) and the subunit is cents. In French, it is pronounced "oo-ro" and "san-team", and in Dutch "yoo-ro" and "sent." 1 Euro is 100 cents, approx. JPY163 (as of December 6, 2024). The back of the originally designed coins show King Philip.
Banknotes are available in €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, and €5 (currently issued banknotes).
Coins are available in €2, €1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents, and 1 cent.
Almost all products require a standard 21% added tax called TVA (in French; called BTW in Dutch). It is 6% for items such as books and foods. However, travelers can receive a refund, less commissions, for items intended for personal use and not for commercial purposes, provided they complete the required procedures and leave the EU by the end of the second month following the month of purchase. (The refund is only available for unused purchases exceeding €125 per receipt that are taken out of the EU.)
Tips are not generally required because they are included in the cover charge. You may provide a tip when receiving a special service. The following are guidelines. Varies with the class of hotel or restaurant. Many people give a tip to tour guides at the end of a local guided tour in an amount to show gratitude.
The voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Plugs are generally two-pronged C-type.
A plug adapter is enough for charging cameras or cell phones, but some electronics will also need a transformer. Check the voltage.
The TV and video system (PAL) differs from that of Japan (NTSC), so media from Belgium cannot be played on ordinary media players in Japan. If a DVD displays the same region code as Japan (2), then it can be played on a computer equipped with a DVD player, but not on ordinary DVD players.
The video format (TV standard) and region code differ between Belgium and Japan, so most standard players designed for use in Japan cannot play discs from Belgium. However, discs can still be played on devices such as PC-installed players or region-free players.
The Belgian post office is called bpost. Hours vary by post office, but are usually 9:30 to 17:00 on weekdays. Some are closed at lunchtime, and some open on Saturdays, although only for a short time.
For airmail to Japan, postcards and standard letters up to 50 g both cost €2.88. You can post small parcels and you can buy boxes, etc. for small parcels at post offices.
dial 00 (International telephone identification number)
81 (Country Code, Japan )
Remove the first 0 for area codes and mobile telephone numbers
Other parties telephone number
Phone carrier identification number
010 (International phone code)*1
32 (Belgium phone code)
×× (remove the first "0" from the area code)
1234567 (phone number you are calling)
There are many holidays related to Christianity. Note that dates differ each year for some holidays.
Mostly French and Dutch (Flemish). With Brussels at the center, Dutch is spoken in the north and French in the south (Brussels is a bilingual area). There are also some German-speaking communities.
Below are guidelines for general business hours. There is a roughly 30 min. to more than 1 hour difference between stores.
9:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday (Some close for a one-hour lunch break.)
10:00 to 18:00 Mon. to Fri. Some supermarkets open on Sun.
Lunch is from about 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from about 18:30 to 22:00.
10:00 to 1:00 in the morning. May vary widely by establishment.
You must be at least 16 for tobacco or alcohol. You must be at least 18 for spirits. Some car rental companies also have age limitations. There are both lower and upper limits, so be sure to check with the company first. You must show your credit card.
When entering a shop or restaurant, greet the staff or waiter, thank them for their assistance, and say goodbye when leaving. This will greatly change their attitude when assisting you.
Smoking is prohibited in all public facilities. It is also prohibited in restaurants, bars, and cafes, so smokers must be careful when smoking.