Japan - travel to Japan

Useful information about Japan.

Geography: The islands of Japan total over three thousand, most of which are mountainous. Many of these islands have active volcanoes. Japan is situated on the east coast of Asia. It runs along China and Korea to the south and Russia to the north. Its location on the Pacific </wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire>ring of fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity tremors.

Climate: The climate differs considerably in different parts of the island. It gets extreme snowstorms in the north of the country during the winter months. In the south of the country the weather is more tropical and humid. Tsunamis and typhoons are very popular during the year.

Attractions: There are many interesting places to visit when travelling to Japan. All the main cities have fine temples, museums, and shopping markets. The islands around Japan are very scenic. Pleasant walks in the countryside are very rewarding.

Travel/Holidays: September to November is the best time to travel: the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the countryside are incredible. The biggest holiday in Japan is the New Year celebration.

Accommodation: Japan offers a wide range of accommodation in both Japanese and Western styles, including hotels and temple lodgings. Price wise, the options range from less than 2,000 Yen ($20) per person for a bed to more than 25,000 Yen ($250) per person for a night at a first class hotel.

Arts/Culture/People: Through the years Japan has played an important part in the arts, most notably in printmaking and in garden design. Classical and rock are popular forms of music, but the traditional styles remain widely played.

Religion: The majority of Japanese people follow the Shinto and Buddhist religions.

Architecture: Most of the homes in Japan are built from timber. Standard homes and apartments tend to be small due to the high costs of land. Construction is to a very high standard due to its extreme weather and environment. Modern buildings are flexible and can withstand earthquakes.

Landscape: Japan is a beautiful island nation with over three quarters of the island covered in forest. Most of the islands are extremely mountainous and unspoiled.

Flag: The national flag of Japan is white with a red circle in the middle that takes up half the flag.

Government: The Japanese government is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. Power is held by the Prime </wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Japan>Minister and other elected members of the Government.

Drink: Green tea is the most common drink in Japan

Facts: The capital of Japan is Tokyo. Its population is over 127 million, the tenth most populated country in the world.

Exports: Japan exports a large amount of items, including cars, computers and all sorts of electronic gadgets.

Food: Western style foods are very popular with all the most popular chain restaurants established there. Traditional dishes tend to be served in small portions with many dishes being served raw. Rice is served with most meals and the most common drink is green tea.

Currency: The currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen.

Time Zone: Standard Time is +9 GMT

Country Telephone code: The international country calling code of Japan is + 81

Visa: Citizens of the United States do not need a visa to visit Japan for a stay of up to 90 days. Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to visit Japan for stays of up to 180 days: Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Sport: Traditional sports, such as archery, judo and karate are extremely common and in some regions samurai sword fighting is popular. Sumo wrestling is the most popular of the traditional sports, drawing huge crowds and large television audiences. Baseball, football and rugby are the most popular modern sports.

Economy: Japan has a very successful economy thanks to its advanced manufacturing methods. It thrives in the manufacturing of cars, shipbuilding and electronics. The economy also gets a great boast from the financial and service industry. The fishing industry plays an important part in the economy, but the Japanese imports a lot of foods from other countries. Japan has very few natural resources of its own.

Languages: The official language is Japanese.