Travelling Japan
Before You Travel
When you hear the word 'Japan', what do you think of? Does your mind fill with images of ancient temples or futuristic cities? Do you see visions of mist-shrouded hills or lightning-fast bullet trains? Do you think of suit-clad businessmen or kimono-clad geisha? Whatever image you have of Japan, it's probably accurate, because it's all there. But you may also have some misconceptions about Japan. For example, many people believe that Japan is one of the world's most expensive countries. In fact, it's cheaper to travel in Japan than in much of North America, Western Europe and parts of Oceania. Others think that Japan is impenetrable or even downright difficult. The fact is, Japan is one of the easiest countries in which to travel. It is, simply put, a place that will remind you why you started travelling in the first place.
If traditional culture is your thing, you can spend weeks in cities such as Kyoto and Nara, gorging yourself on temples, shrines, kabuki, ō (stylised dance-drama), tea ceremonies and museums packed with treasures from Japan's rich artistic heritage. If modern culture and technology is your thing, Japan's cities are an absolute wonderland - an easy peek into the future of the human race, complete with trend-setting cafés and fabulous restaurants. Outside the cities, you'll find natural wonders the length and breadth of the archipelago. From the coral reefs of Okinawa to the ski-resort of Niseko, Japan has more than enough natural wonders to compete with its cultural treasures. Then there's the food: whether it's impossibly fresh sushi in Tokyo, perfectly battered tempura in Kyoto, or a hearty bowl of rāmen in Osaka, if you like eating you're going to love Japan.
But for many visitors, the real highlight of their visit to Japan is the gracious hospitality of the Japanese themselves. Whatever your image of Japan, it no doubt exists somewhere on the archipelago - and it's just waiting for you to discover it!
Japan is an exciting and unique country. For many years, it was closed to foreign travel. But now, Japan is welcoming tourists. They have begun a campaign targeted at attracting ten million tourists per year to the island nation. This is the time to see all of the amazing sights that Japan has to offer.
The 10 Best sightseeing in Japan:
The tenth best sightseeing spot in the country of Japan is Ueno Park in Tokyo. Ueno Park is a huge park that is located close to Ueno Station. It was opened as a public park in 1873. At the park's south entrance, visitors can see the Saigo Takamori statue. Takamori was an important figure in the Meiji Restoration that happened in 1868. Ueno Park also has a variety of museums, including the National Museum of Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Fine Art Gallery, the National Science Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum. It also has a zoological garden, which was founded in 1882. There is also a pond with the goddess Benten's statue. There's the Toshuga Shrine. And, there are over one thousand cherry blossom trees that are unbelievably beautiful.
The ninth best sightseeing spot in Japan is Harajuku in Tokyo. Harajuku a district that offers great shopping. The big draw is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street), which is home to a number of boutiques, fashion shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, and clothing stores. Sightseers should visit this area on a Sunday. On Sundays, all the kids dress in crazy costumes to look like punk musicians, anime characters, and other things. Two more attractions in Harajuku are Yoyogi Park, where the Meiji Shrine can be found, and Ota Memorial Museum of Art.
The eighth best sightseeing spot in Japan is Asakusa, Tokyo. Asakusa is a district that has retained the feel of old Tokyo. The popular sight to see in Asakusa is Sensoji, which is a big Buddhist Temple that was built around the year 800. People also like to take rickshaw rides and eat traditional Japanese street foods. The area has been the most popular entertainment district in the country for hundreds of years.
The seventh best sightseeing spot in Japan is Shibuya, Tokyo. This is one of Tokyo's most colorful districts. The intersection at the Hachiko Exit features the gigantic video screens and neon signs that make Tokyo look so unique. This is a busy intersection that hosts an enormous amount of foot traffic and is a great place to get a feel for the culture of modern Tokyo.
The sixth best sightseeing spot in Japan is Ginza, Tokyo. Ginza is a very prestigious district of Japan's capital that is home to great restaurants, night clubs, art galleries, department stores, and other attractions. The best time to visit Ginza is in the afternoon during the weekend. That's when Chuo Dori is blocked off from through traffic and turns into a street fair.
The fifth best sightseeing spot in Japan is Shinjuku, Tokyo. Shinjuku is the district that hosts Japan's busiest train station. Shinjuku Station has two million passengers pass through its doors during the course of every single day. Shinjuku also has some of the tallest buildings in the city. There's an observation desk at the Metropolitan Government Office where people can enjoy the view. Kabukicho is also located in Shinjuku. This the wildest red light district in Japan.
The fourth best sightseeing spot in Japan is the rest of Tokyo. Tokyo is the home of twelve million permanent residents. That constitutes one of every ten citizens of the country. One of the most popular things to do in Tokyo is to ride the monorail to Odaiba, which is an island in the harbor. Odaiba has incredible beaches, a ferris wheel, a Toyota showroom, great shopping, and a science museum. Another place tourists must visit on their trips is the Imperial Gardens.
The third best sightseeing spot in Japan is Kyoto. Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan. Now, it is the country's seventh largest city. The big thing in Kyoto is the shojin ryori, a Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Another thing people like about visiting Kyoto is seeing the Katsura Imperial Villa, which has been around since approximately the year 1600.
The second best sightseeing spot in Japan is Osaka. This is the third largest metropolitan area in all of Japan. It was the first capital of the country. The most popular attraction in the city is the Osaka Castle. The second most popular attraction is Himeji Castle located about 75km outside Osaka.
The best sightseeing spot in Japan is Yokohama. Yokohama has a population of more than three million people. This means it it the country's second largest metropolis. It was one of the nation's first large ports. The most popular place in Yokohama is Chinatown, which hosts a variety of interesting museums. One of which showcases the island nation's most popular native superhero, Anpanman.
Geography
Japan is located in the North Pacific off the coast of Russia and the Korean peninsula. The area of Japan is 377,873km², which makes it slightly smaller in land mass than California. Japan consists of four main larger islands and more than 4000 smaller islands. The main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest with an area of 231,000km². A modern railroad system connects the major islands with Japan's high-speed Shinkansen connecting major urban areas.
Japan is over 70% mountainous terrain with approximately 18% of the land mass suitable for settlement. Japanese cities are typically sprawling and densely populated. Tokyo, a megalopolis and capital of Japan, is located on Honshu island. Central Tokyo has a population of 12 million people, with the population of the Greater Tokyo Area estimated at over 35 million people.
The islands of Japan are located in an area known as The Ring of Fire in the Pacific. This is an area with many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Japan is very seismically active with over 1,500 earthquakes per year. In 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake killed more than 143,000 people in the Tokyo area. Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are other natural destructive forces in Japan. In 1896 in Sanriku, Japan, 27,000 people were killed by a Tsunami caused by an earthquake.
Language
Japanese is the official language of Japan. Many Japanese also have some ability in writing and speaking English as it is a mandatory part of the curriculum in the Japanese educational system. Japanese uses four different writing systems; Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana (phonetic alphabet for native words), Katakana (phonetic alphabet for foreign words), and Romaji (western alphabet used to write Japanese). Japanese vocabulary has been strongly influenced by loanwords from other languages, with most loanwords coming from Chinese and English.
Climate
The climate of Japan varies considerably depending on the region and season. Summer is usually very hot and humid, known to the Japanese as "mushiatsui". From mid June there is a rainy season which lasts around one month. Winters are usually mild, with the northern areas of Japan receiving more snow. Spring and autumn are usually sunny with mild temperatures.
Religion
The two major religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. Religion does not play a major role in the life of the average Japanese, but people usually have religious ceremonies at births, weddings, and funerals. On New Year's Day visiting a temple or shrine is also a common custom. About 1% of the population follow Christianity, which was heavily persecuted in Japan prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1873.
Japan Tours
