Uzbekistan

Updated 12/10/2025

Uzbekistan Overview

Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia and was a constituent of the former Soviet Union.

It is known for its mosques, mausoleums, and historical sites related to the Silk Road, an ancient trade route linking China and the Mediterranean region.

Samarkand, a major city along the Silk Road, has a variety of historical Islamic architecture, including Legistan Square.

The three seminaries facing the square, covered with magnificent mosaic decorations, date back to the 15th and 17th centuries.

official name of a countryRepublic of Uzbekistan

national flowerNo.

areaTotal: 447,400km²

capital city:  Tashkent

country code：+998

population32,800,000 (2019)

political systemrepublicanism

currency:Soum As of May 2019, the banknotes in circulation are 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, and 200 soum.

Coins are 500, 200, 100, and 50 som. There are also variations in coins.

The 500 and 200 soum bills are scheduled to be withdrawn from circulation in 2020.

official languageUzbek: Uzbek

ethnic compositionUzbeks, the main ethnic group, account for 83.8% of the total population.

It is also home to 4.81 TP3T Tajiks and many other ethnic minorities, including Kazakhs (2.51 TP3T), Russians (2.31 TP3T), Karakalpaks (2.21 TP3T), and Tatars (1.51 TP3T) (estimated 2017).

religionIslam is the major religion in Uzbekistan, with about 90% of the population being Muslim.

In addition, 51 TP3Ts are of the Russian Orthodox Church, and 51 TP3Ts are the others.

phoneTo make a phone call, follow the instructions below. Tashkent area code "71

1. From Japan to Uzbekistan 001/0033 etc. + 010 (international call identification number) + 998 (Uzbekistan country code) + 71 (area code) + phone number of the other party
2. From Uzbekistan to Japan 8 10 (international dialing code) + 81 (country code of Japan) + phone number of the other party (take off the initial 0 of area code or mobile number)
3. How to make phone calls locally in Uzbekistan As of May 2019, there are few public telephones available on the streets. Local calls in town are made by renting a telephone from a store or other location. For long-distance or international calls, there is a central telegraph office and some simple telephone offices in the center of town, so give them the number and ask to be connected. You can also buy a SIM card from a local cell phone company.

Voltage and plugThe voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

The plug is a European C type with two round pins.

If you use Japanese electrical appliances, you will need an adapter and a transformer.

Also, make sure that the equipment you wish to use is guaranteed for use overseas.

toiletIn Uzbekistan, the sit-down style is the most common.

Many restaurants in the city have a sitting style. Only a few of them are squatting style.

Even the crouching type is a paper-wipe type, not a water-wipe type.

However, you should bring your own paper. Many places do not have it.

Even in hotels, except for the best hotels, the toilet paper is hard, like gray cardboard.

Hard toilet paper is also sold in city bazaars.

The capital's upscale supermarkets sell white soft toilet paper.

Cleanliness is mixed, with restaurants where foreigners go being so-so, but some cafes and other places in town are dirty.

It is called "Khozhatkhana" in Uzbek and "Tuariyet" in Russian.

There are few public restrooms in the city, so use them when you enter department stores, museums, etc.

Public restrooms at train stations, bus terminals, and department stores usually charge a fee (about 500 to 2,000 soum).

Men's wear is indicated by a male symbol or M or E, and women's wear by a female symbol or Ж or X.

mailThe postal situation is not so good.

It is better to use international shipping companies such as OCS or DHL for important luggage, documents, etc.

General airmail is 3,500 soum for postcards and 3,500 soum for sealed letters (~20g) to Japan.

It can take up to two weeks from Tashkent to Japan.

水: Drinking of raw tap water is not allowed.

In desert areas, it may contain salt.

If drinking, boil it thoroughly before drinking.

Mineral water (vadar in Russian) is sold inexpensively at kiosks and stores in town, and chilled water is also sold in tourist areas.

Generally, some are carbonated (gazirovannaya in Russian) and some are not (nigazirovannaya in Russian).

public order:
Security] Security is generally not bad.

The probability of being involved in a violent crime in the center of town during the daytime is as low as in Japan.

Troubles at departure are also heard about. The most common are inadequate stay registration and customs declarations.

Do not stay at a guest house where you cannot register your stay.

Also, be sure to fill in the correct amount on the customs declaration form.

Although Uzbekistan is not a direct target of international terrorism, the possibility of terrorist acts being committed within the country due to international conditions cannot be ruled out.

When visiting for tourism, one should always be sensitive to the international situation.

Crime】Minor crimes such as pickpocketing and leaving things behind do exist, so be careful with your belongings in crowded places such as bazaars, train stations, and public transportation.

Also, when eating at places such as Chai Hana, you may sometimes be charged extra (so-called "bora bora"), so check the price when ordering.

Before DepartureMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Overseas Safety Web SiteCheck the safety information at

Uzbekistan Culture and Tourism Organization website: Official guide of the Uzbekistan Culture and Tourism Organization.

national anthemNational Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Map of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Overview

Domestic Transportation in Uzbekistan

airplane

Domestic flights in Uzbekistan are operated by Uzbekistan Airways.

Today, the company offers services from Tashkent to 50 domestic and international destinations.

Uzbekistan Airways - Uzbekistan's national airline.

It connects Tashkent International Airport with major cities in Asia and Europe, and also operates two scheduled flights a week to Narita International Airport in Japan.

However, the airline has many cancellations, and sometimes it is not known until the day of the flight whether the flight will work according to schedule, and frequent flyer miles can only be accrued on its own flights, making it an airline for the enthusiast.

 

railroad

As of 2005, Uzbekistan had 3,950 km of railroads, of which approximately 620 km were electric.

However, the majority of Uzbekistan's domestic rail network is in need of maintenance.

The longest line in the country is the Trans-Caspian Railway, which runs from the capital Tashkent to the Amu Darya River basin.

The railroad connects Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

2018, a new development plan for the international railroad network in China, Kyrgyzstan and the country has long been conceived as a new development plan for the international railroad network in the three countries.China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan RailwayIn late December of the same year, in Tashkent, where the tripartite talks were held, the decision was made to construct an international train line in the three countries.。

Connecting Tashkent and Samarkand in October 2011Tashkent-Samarkand High Speed Rail (the Afrashab) is open to traffic.。

Also, the Tashkent Metro was the only subway in Central Asia until the Almaty Metro opened in Kazakhstan。

long-haul bus

There is a long-distance bus terminal in Tashkent.

Source:I went to Samarkand, the ancient capital of Uzbekistan, a World Heritage site.

local travel agent

VELTRA

Specialized reservation site for optional tours departing from Uzbekistan.
The site offers a wealth of testimonials on historical and sightseeing tours and other activities.

Wind Travel Agency
Tashkent is the base of operations, with direct local connections.
Kaze Travel Agency is working with a local travel agency in Tashkent to create a trip to Uzbekistan.

Uzbek Friends
The site introduces mini-tours organized by Trust Travel, a local travel agency in Uzbekistan.

travelling to the West (traveling)
They also offer a wide variety of tours in India and Central Asia.

Advantour Uzbekistan
Travel agency located in Tashkent (nearest metro station is Oybek).
The company handles domestic tours as well as tours of Turkmenistan.

Eurasia Travel Agency
Travel agency covering the whole of Eurasia.

Other
Recommended travel agencies and travel agents specializing in Uzbekistan or specializing in travel to Uzbekistan.

Traffic Conditions in Uzbekistan

There are traffic rules, but neither people nor cars are well mannered.

Since the direction of travel is the opposite of that in Japan, you need to be careful when crossing the street even if there is a traffic light.

Also, the sidewalks are not very good, with many steps and holes, so please be careful where you step.

Climate of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has a typical inland climate.

While winter temperatures can be negative, summer temperatures often reach 45 degrees or more.

However, humidity is extremely low compared to Japan, so it is not as hot and humid as in summer in Japan, and it feels cooler in the shade.

Temperatures drop in the mornings and evenings, and there is a sharp difference in temperature between day and night.

Access to Uzbekistan

Main Travel Destinations

TashkentThe largest city in Central Asia and the capital of Uzbekistan.

Samarkand... A world heritage site famous for its bright blue tiles called "Samarkand Blue".

Bukhara (people)The capital of Bukhara Province. An oasis city that flourished since ancient times on the lower Zarafshan River. 1993The old town was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

hiba false arborvitae (species of cypress, Thujopsis dolabrata)The capital of the Khiva Khanate, which existed from the early 16th century to the early 20th century. A World Heritage Site known as the "Holy City.