JNTO and TIC
The JNTO (Japanese National Tourist Office) has four main Tourist Information Centers (TIC) in Japan that have English-speaking staff available. The offices can be found in central Tokyo (near Yurakucho Station), Narita Airport, Kansai International Airport and in Kyoto. These offices can be extremely helpful in acquiring detailed information on places to go, places to stay, maps and much more. Any questions that you can't find answers to can usually be taken care of here, however, they can't make reservations for you. Many of the publications are available in European and Asian languages as well.

Japan Travel Phone
Another useful service that the JNTO runs is Japan Travel Phone. You can call them toll-free everyday from 9 to 5 at 0088-22-4800. All staff speaks English and they can usually help you with any travel related assistance that you need from anywhere in Japan. They seem to be especially good at helping with difficult questions you can’t get answered anywhere else.

Local Tourist Offices
If you can't find what you're looking for at the JNTO office, there's a chance you can get more detailed regional or area information at one of the "I-centers" located throughout Japan. These offices don't always have English-speaking staff, and information isn't always as reliable as the JNTO, but you can often find specific local information, and the staff may even assist you with reservations. There are over ninety "I-centers" in about sixty cities throughout Japan, so odds are you'll be able to find one wherever you are traveling. The best place to look is near the railway stations. You can also visit the local tourist information office, but chances are they won't have much information in English, and usually have only Japanese speaking staff.

Maps
Bilingual maps are sometimes difficult to find overseas. However you can get them at the JNTO or the other tourist offices and the JNTO has a free Tourist Map of Japan that covers the whole country and can be very helpful when planning your itinerary. Another place to find good maps is at one of the large bookstores in the metropolitan areas such as Maruzan or Kinokuniya. Kodansha publishes a bilingual atlas of Japan and Shobunsha's road atlas is indispensable for anyone driving in Japan. Maps that are more detailed tend to only be in Japanese – so it’s best to either have a Japanese-speaking friend or guide or be prepared to learn some kanji!

For maps of Japanese ski towns check our SnowJapan Town Guides.
For maps of Japanese ski resorts and their locations, click here.

Internet Café’s
Internet cafés are springing up throughout the country, albeit not fast enough for travelers who just can’t resist checking their email or visiting their favorite websites. Tokyo has the largest concentration of Internet cafés and travelers should be able to find one near most major train stations. It will be more difficult to find Internet connections the farther you stray from the metropolitan areas. Hotels, guesthouses and other accommodations are now often hooked up either with cables or wireless, so it’s worth enquiring before you make a reservation.