Menu
Reservations
MILES
MILES
Login
My Menu
Support

Manila

on February 29ty, 2024 (JST) current information.
Furthermore, the details under "Visa", "Passport" and "Vaccination" are for Japanese nationals.
This information is likely to change suddenly, so please contact the relevant official authority (e.g., embassy) for the latest information.

Immigration and Visa

Visa

A visa is not required for stays for tourism or business purposes up to 30 days counting from the day of arrival. If staying for 31 days or more, tourist visas valid for 59 days are available from a Philippine Consulate or the Philippine Embassy in Japan. You can also complete procedures to extend your stay in the Philippines, up to 29 days the first time (for a total of 59 days), but even in this case, when you enter the country, you need to show an airline ticket for departure within 30 days. Since April 15, 2023, it has been necessary for all persons entering the Philippines, including infants, to register on the eTravel system from 72 hours before your flight time and before immigration inspection
eTravel registration webpage

Passport

You can enter the country if you have a Japanese passport valid during your entire stay and can show an airline ticket for departure to a third country. However, there has been confusion because this allowance is limited to the passport holders of certain countries including Japan, and entry has been denied because the remaining period of validity of those travellers' passports has been less than 6 months, so the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that travellers ensure their passports have a remaining period of validity of at least 6 months in addition to their planned period of stay.

Quarantine

When traveling from Japan to the Philippines, you must inquire and check with the following departments in advance about bringing in animals, plants, fisheries products or processed items made from those item.

1. Plants and processed plant products
Plant Protection Station
Bureau of Plant Industry
2. Animals and fisheries products and processed products made from themAnimal Quarantine Service
Bureau of Animal Industry

Customs

Bringing in e-cigarettes

As of January 2022, bringing in heated tobacco products (tobacco leaf type) is allowed, but vapes (e-cigarettes, liquid type) are prohibited.

Vaccination

Not required when departing from Japan.

For bringing and possession of tax-free cigarettes

Visitors may bring up to 2 bottles of liquor (but not exceeding 1liters for each), up to either 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250g of loose tobacco, and may bring in and take out up to P50,000 in Philippine pesos. Foreign currency amounts of US$10,000 or more must be declared.

Time difference and Daylight Saving Time

Time difference

The Philippines is 1 hour behind Japan. When it is 12:00 in Japan, it is 11:00 in the Philippines. Daylight saving time is not observed in the Philippines.

Climate

The Philippines has a tropical climate that is warm throughout the year with an average yearly temperature of 26°C to 27°C. The seasons are divided into the rainy season from June to November, and the dry season from December to May, but there is a significant difference depending on region. Clothing worn in summer in Japan is suitable for wearing in the Philippines throughout the year. However, some places have the air conditioning turned up in airplanes, overnight buses, hotels, department stores, etc., so it is best to have a jacket to cover up with. The sunlight is strong, so bringing sunglasses and a hat is convenient.

The average temperature in Manila and Tokyo

Precipitation in Manila and Tokyo

Monthly average temperature and precipitation

The average temperature in Tokyo and Manila

month	The average temperature in Tokyo	The average temperature in Manila
Jan.	6℃	26℃
Feb.	6℃	27℃
Mar.	9℃	28℃
Apr.	15℃	30℃
May	18℃	29℃
Jun.	22℃	28℃
Jul.	25℃	28℃
Aug.	27℃	27℃
Sep.	23℃	28℃
Oct.	17℃	27℃
Nov.	14℃	26℃
Dec.	8℃	25℃

The average precipitation in Tokyo and Manila

month	The average precipitation in Tokyo	The average precipitation in Manila
Jan.	60mm	20mm
Feb.	80mm	10mm
Mar.	110mm	10mm
Apr.	130mm	20mm
May	120mm	110mm
Jun.	140mm	260mm
Jul.	130mm	310mm
Aug.	120mm	390mm
Sep.	190mm	300mm
Oct.	170mm	200mm
Nov.	90mm	100mm
Dec.	40mm	50mm

Currency and Exchange Rate, Tax, Currency exchange, Tip

Currency and Exchange Rate

New coins are in circulation as of the end of 2017. The validity end date of the old coins has not been decided, and so they are currently still in use.

The unit of currency is the Philippine peso (P), which is subdivided into centavos (¢). P1 is 100¢. As of March 18, 2024, P1 is approx. JPY2.68.
There are eight denominations of banknotes: P1000, P500, P200, P100, P50, P20, P10, and P5 (P200 is not often seen). There are eight types of coins: P20, P10, P5, P1, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢, and 1¢ (the 1¢ is not often seen).

Currency Exchange

US dollars and Japanese yen can be changed into Philippine peso at hotels, city banks, moneychangers, and banks in airports. Moneychangers offer the best exchange rates, and hotels the worst. Sometimes, banks will not accept Japanese yen in exchange. Keep the receipt for currency exchange until the last day of your trip as sometimes it must be shown when re-changing money. In addition, often change is not available in Japanese yen at banks and moneychangers, so bringing plenty of 1000-yen bills from Japan cuts down on excessive currency exchange. Furthermore, when traveling to rural areas, it is safer to exchange Japanese yen for pesos in Manila, Cebu City, etc.

Tip

Porters at the airport and hotels should be tipped P20 to P50 per piece of luggage, and when restaurant bills do not include a service charge or taxi, usually a tip of approx. 10% of the meal charge is left. Outside the major cities and resort areas, there is no custom of tipping in provincial cities and country towns, etc.

Voltage and plug

Voltage

Type A, Type B3, Type C

220V, 60Hz. The shape of the plug is mostly the same as that in Japan (type A), but type B3, C, or O is used in some parts of the country. A transformer is needed for using electrical devices that are not compatible with 100 to 240V.

Video and DVD

The Philippines uses the same NTSC video system as Japan, so normal video players used in Japan can play DVD and other media from the Philippines. The DVD region code for the Philippines is 3, while it is 2 for Japan. However, if a DVD displays region code 2, it can be played on a computer equipped with a DVD player.

Mail

Airmail to Japan costs P50 for a sealed letter up to 20g and P15 for a postcard. Mail is delivered to Japan in 5 to 10 days.

Phone Call

How to phone

Telephoning Japan from Philippines

When calling Tokyo (03) 1234-5678

STEP1

dial 00 (International telephone identification number)

STEP2

81 (Country Code, Japan)

STEP3

3 (Remove the first 0 for area codes and mobile telephone numbers)

STEP4

1234-5678(Other parties telephone number)

Telephoning Philippines from Japan

When calling Philippine Manila (02) 2345-6789

STEP1

International Telephone Company No.

The following apply if calling from a fixed-line phone. They do not apply if calling from a mobile phone or a FLET's VoIP phone.
0033 (NTT Communications)
0061 (SoftBank)

STEP2

010 (International Identification No.)

STEP3

63 (Country Code, Philippines)

STEP4

2 (Remove the first 0 for area codes)

STEP5

2345-56789 (Other parties telephone number)

Holiday / National holiday

There are many holidays related to Christianity. Note that holidays fall on different dates, depending on the year. On national holidays, shops, banks, post offices, etc. are closed. There are also special holidays.

2024

January 1: New Year’s Day
February 9 to 10: Chinese New Year*1
March 28 to 30: Easter holiday*1
April 9: Day of Brave
May 1: May Day
June 12: Independence Day
August 21: Ninoy Aquino Day
August 26: National Heroes Day*1
November 1: All Saints Day
November 30: Bonifacio Day
December 8: Immaculate Conception
December 25: Christmas
December 30: Rizal Day
December 31: New Year's Eve

*1.holidays fall on different dates, depending on the year.

Language

The official language is Tagalog. However, depending on the region, languages other than Tagalog is used, such as Visayan in the Visayan Islands. In parts of the Cavite province outside of Manila and parts of the Mindanao Island, the Chavacano language is also spoken, which includes a lot of Spanish. English is the common language and is the most understood language in Asia. There are around 80 other languages in the Philippines, including Llocano and Waray.

Business hours, etc

Business hours

Banks

Generally open from Mon. to Fri. 9:00 to 15:00, closed on Sat., Sun., holidays.

Shops

Supermarkets, shopping centers, etc. are open every day around 10:00 to 21:00; some small stores are open until around 21:00. Many shopping centers are open longer than usual on weekends.

Restaurants

Open early morning to around 24:00, depending on the establishment. In large cities such as Manila, Cebu City, and Davao, many are open 24 hours.
Most stores are closed and transportation services do not operate during the Easter Holiday (In 2023 April 6 to 9 (4 days). Varies by year).

Age Limit

Age restrictions on rental cars differs depending on the rental company, but in the Philippines, driving is so rough as to be incomparable to driving in Japan, so it is better not to drive even if you have a driver’s license.