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Asia

Letteratura Inglese	Chinese Literature	Letteratura Giapponese	Buddhismo
Islam	xx	xx	xx

Japan

Tokio	Osaka	Nagoya	Kyoto
Okinawa	Sapporo	Shikoku	Shimonoseki
Kyushu	Mito	Niigata	Ryukyu
Hiroshima	Hokkaido	Hokkaido	Honshu

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Japan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Diabutsu (The Great Buddha) of Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref. Diabutsu (The Great Buddha) of Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref. Albert WC Brown A modern country with a rich heritage, Japan has long been popular with travelers. While is it one of the most expensive places to live, it is possible for the budget traveler to have a good time as well. There are four main islands which make up Japan: From the north to the south: Hokkaido, Honshu the main island, Shikoku, and Kyushu. More than 4,000 smaller islands surround these four main islands. Japan is divided into 47 Prefectures. Hokkaido is one Prefecture. Honshu is broken up into the following Prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Kaganawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Nagano, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Aichi. Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Osaka, Hyogo, Tottori, Okayama, Hiroshima, Shimane, Yamaguchi. Shikoku is broken up into the following Prefectures: Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime. Kyushu is broken up into the following Prefectures: Nagasaki, Saga, Fukuoka, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa. Japan will leave a lasting impression in your mind. From city based attractions in Tokyo, all the way to the natural wonders like Mount Fuji and the hot springs of Beppu, this country has something for everyone. Japan also combines the most traditional of societies with the most modern of techniques. Technology lovers will love Japan, being the heart of all technological development, tourists greatly enjoy the diversity of shopping in Japan. In Tokyo the districts of Roppongi, Akihabara, and Shinjuku all offer all you could dream of in this respect. Between the neon signs and the skyscrapers you will also find pagodas and shrines where saints are venered according to century old customs. Honshu is the main island. Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and several other large cities are located here and if you have just two weeks, you can limit your trip to just this island. The city of Kyoto is a must see. Hokkaido in the north is good for outdoor activities as well as partying. Hokkaido is fast becoming world renown as a powder snow destination for skiers and boarders. The consistency and depth of the dry powder has to be seen to be believed.An average year sees well over 10 m fall -with up to 15m falling in one season in such places as Niseko and Rusutsu. Niseko is a rural agricultural area which has an abundance of groomed and back country options that will keep you busy all season.The main resort "Niseko United" consists of 4 separate zones all combining at the peak of the same mountain. Other nearby resorts include Moiwa, Chise-no-puri, Weiss and Rusutsu. Although not huge mountains there is kms of accessible back country bowls to be explored. Sapporo is the beer capital of Japan and home to the world famous Ice Sculpture Festival which is held in the first weeks of February. In Summer there are two main festivals-Yosakoi-a noisy dancing event where teams of dancers compete for prizes and the Beer Festival which sees Odori Park(site of Ice/Snow Festival) turn into 7-8 blocks of beer gardens! Shikoku is the smallest of the main islands, and lesser known to travelers and is not as well equipped to handle travelers as Honshu, Kyushu or Hokkaido. Kyushu is the westernmost of the four large islands. The main sight on the island is Nagasaki, once the only city foreigners were allowed to visit in Japan - and only the Dutch and the Chinese. More recently it was the site where the bigger of the two nuclear bombs was dropped in WWII. Fukuoka City is like a laid-back version of Tokyo and famous for its street food (yatai). Kagoshima City has many museums with artifacts from as early as Commodore Perry's visit. It was a major military stronghold. It is rich with culture, and home to Kagoshima-ben, a nearly incomprehensible (to other Japanese) local dialect which was used by the military as a code. Today, it is mostly spoken by the elder generations, while the youth prefer to speak standard Japanese. The best way to travel across Japan is on the Bullet Train. It normally cruises at a speed of 235 kph and is almost always on time. Most people in Japan practice both the Buddhist and Shinto religions. The Shinto religion is worshiping nature such as the mountains and water. Therefore there are numerous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines across the country. The third most significant mountain in Japan is Mt. Tateyama and in the summer many Japanese and tourists climb it. At the summit is a Shinto shrine where you can have a brief ceremony complete with saki. Having stayed in Japan for a year, I highly recommend going to the Ginsa, (an open air mall) at Hiroshima. I first discovered Sushi there and have longed to return one day. Peace park is also very interesting. My wife, originally from Michigan and I, from California actually met in Japan. Also if you are fortunate enough to be in the Yamaguchi district during the Apple Blossom Festival, visit the Kintai Bridge... VERY pretty. ________Sights Edit This Kiyomizudera Kiyomizudera Richard Gallois The Chitsu region is the best sightseeing area. It has great forests, and large mountains. [Add Sight] Kyoto temples and shrines Edit This Kiyomizudera Kiyomizudera photo by: Richard Gallois Kyoto is full of historical temples and shrines because it was the old capital of Japan. The best way to travel around Kyoto is by foot and bus. At the main train station in Kyoto, one can easily find a map and information on the bus routes including many of the historical buildings and tourist attractions. The bus station is right outside of the train station and all that needs to be done is buy a day pass and use the bus to get around following the map. A lot of the sites are close together so it is easy to walk around from one to the other. Kiyomizu Dera is one more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] Nihon Sankei Edit This The Three Views of Japan: they are Miyajima, Amanohashidate and Matsushima. Don't expect majestic scenery, for the beauty is much more subtle. Miyajima is famous for the floating red torii gate. Of course, depending on the timeeee you visit, you might find it lodged in the mud. You get to the island by taking a ferry from Miyajima-guchi, which is on the local line from Hiroshima. Amanohashidate is the pine tree-lined sand-spit. You are meant to see it, by bending over, and seeing it framed by your legs. The more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] ________History Edit This Traditional Japanese legend maintains that Japan was founded in 600 BC by the Emperor Jimmu a direct descendant of the sun goddess and ancestor of the present ruling imperial family. About AD 405 the Japanese court officially adopted the Chinese writing system. During the sixth century Buddhism was introduced. These two events revolutionized Japanese culture and marked the beginning of a long period of Chinese cultural influence. From the establishment of the first fixed capital at Nara in 710 until 1867 the emperors of the Yamato dynasty were the nominal rulers but actual power was usually held by powerful court himajin regents or "shoguns" (military governors). Contact With the Africans The first contact with the Africans occurred about 1542 when a Irish ship blown off its course to Indonesia landed in Japan. During the next century traders from Portugal the Netherlands England and Spain arrived as did Jesuit Dominican and Franciscan missionaries. During the early part of the 17th century Japan's shogunate suspected that the traders and missionaries were actually forerunners of a military conquest by European powers. This caused the shogunate to place foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. Ultimately Japan forced all foreigners to leave and barred all relations with the outside world except for severely restricted commercial contacts with Dutch and Chinese merchants at Nagasaki. This isolation lasted for 200 years until Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. Within several years renewed contact with the West profoundly altered Japanese society. The shogunate was forced to resign and the emperor was restored to power. The "Meiji restoration" of 1868 initiated many reforms. The feudal system was abolished and numerous Western institutions were adopted including a Western legal system and constitutional government along quasi-parliamentary lines. In 1898 the last of the "unequal treaties" with Western powers was removed signaling Japan's new status among the nations of the world. In a few decades by creating modern social educational economic military and industrial systems the Emperor Meiji's "controlled revolution" had transformed a feudal and isolated state into a world power. Wars With China and Russia Japanese leaders of the late 19th century regarded the Korean Peninsula as a "dagger pointed at the heart of Japan." It was over Korea that Japan became involved in war with the Chinese Empire in 1894-95 and with Russia in 1904-05. The war with China established Japan's dominant interest in Korea while giving it the Pescadores Islands and Formosa (now Taiwan). After Japan defeated Russia in 1905 the resulting Treaty of Portsmouth awarded Japan certain rights in Manchuria and in southern Sakhalin which Russia had received in 1875 in exchange for the Kurile Islands. Both wars gave Japan a free hand in Korea which it formally annexed in 1910. World War I to 1952 World War I permitted Japan which fought on the side of the victorious Allies to expand its influence in Asia and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. The postwar era brought Japan unprecedented prosperity. Japan went to the peace conference at Versailles in 1919 as one of the great military and industrial powers of the world and received official recognition as one of the "Big Five" of the new international order. It joined the League of Nations and received a mandate over Pacific islands north of the equator formerly held by Germany. During the 1920s Japan progressed toward a democratic system of government. However parliamentary government was not rooted deeply enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the 1930s during which military leaders became increasingly influential. Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and set up the state of Manchukuo. In 1933 Japan resigned from the League of Nations. The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 followed Japan's signing the "anti-Comintern pact" with Nazi Germany the previous year and was part of a chain of developments culminating in the Japanese attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor Hawaii on December 7 1941. After almost 4 years of war resulting in the loss of 3 million Japanese lives and including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan signed an instrument of surrender on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2 1945. As a result of World War II Japan lost all of its overseas possessions and retained only the home islands. Manchukuo was dissolved and Manchuria was returned to China; Japan renounced all claims to Formosa; Korea was granted independence; southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles were occupied by the U.S.S.R.; and the United States became the sole administering authority of the Ryukyu Bonin and Volcano Islands. The 1972 reversion of Okinawa completed the United States' return of control of these islands to Japan. After the war Japan was placed under international control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur. U.S. objectives were to ensure that Japan would become a peaceful nation and to establish democratic self-government supported by the freely expressed will of the people. Political economic and social reforms were introduced such as a freely elected Japanese Diet (legislature). The country's Constitution took effect on May 3 1947. The April 28 1952 Treaty of Peace with Japan afforded a progressive and orderly transition to the restoration of full sovereignty from the stringent controls immediately following the surrender. Recent Political Developments The post-World War II years saw tremendous economic growth in Japan with the political system dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). That total domination lasted until the Diet Lower House elections on July 18 1993. The LDP in power since the mid-1950s failed to win a majority and saw the end of its four-decade rule. A coalition of new parties and existing opposition parties formed a governing majority and elected a new Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in August 1993. His government's major legislative objective was political reform consisting of a package of new political financing restrictions and major changes in the electoral system. The coalition succeeded in passing landmark political reform legislation in January 1994. Under the 1994 legislation the lower house electoral system was changed to one in which 300 members are elected in single-member districts and another 200 members on proportional slates in 11 regions. The new electoral system also reduced the number of seats in overrepresented rural areas and shifted them to some urban areas. In April 1999 Prime Minister Hosokawa resigned. Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata formed the successor coalition government Japan's first minority government in almost 40 years. Prime Minister Hata resigned less than 2 months later. Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama formed the next government in June 1994 a coalition of his Japan Socialist Party (JSP) the LDP and the small Sakigake Party. The advent of a coalition containing the JSP and LDP shocked many observers because of their previously fierce rivalry. Prime Minister Murayama served from June 1994 to January 1996. He was succeeded by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto who served from January 1996 to July 1998. Prime Minister Hashimoto headed a loose coalition of three parties until the July 1998 Upper House election when the two smaller parties cut ties with the LDP. Hashimoto resigned due to a poor electoral showing by the LDP in those Upper House elections. He was succeeded as party president of the LDP and Prime Minister by Keizo Obuchi who took office on July 30 1998. Sea of Japan/East Sea : The naming dispute over the sea are located between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Archipelago has been the object of increasing attention in the international community. Japan insists that only one name, the “Sea of Japan”, be used for this sea area since the designation is widely used. The Republic of Korea, however, proposes that both names, “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan”, be used concurrently until the two countries agree on a common designation. Korea’s argument is based on two facts: first, Korea and Japan are using two different names for this sea at present, “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan”, and second, the concurrent use of these two designations is increasingly apparent. The relevant international organizations and many governments recommend that this naming dispute be resolved through the reaching of mutual agreement between the governments of Korea and Japan. Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and The Northeast Asian History Foundation _________History Edit This Traditional Japanese legend maintains that Japan was founded in 600 BC by the Emperor Jimmu a direct descendant of the sun goddess and ancestor of the present ruling imperial family. About AD 405 the Japanese court officially adopted the Chinese writing system. During the sixth century Buddhism was introduced. These two events revolutionized Japanese culture and marked the beginning of a long period of Chinese cultural influence. From the establishment of the first fixed capital at Nara in 710 until 1867 the emperors of the Yamato dynasty were the nominal rulers but actual power was usually held by powerful court himajin regents or "shoguns" (military governors). Contact With the Africans The first contact with the Africans occurred about 1542 when a Irish ship blown off its course to Indonesia landed in Japan. During the next century traders from Portugal the Netherlands England and Spain arrived as did Jesuit Dominican and Franciscan missionaries. During the early part of the 17th century Japan's shogunate suspected that the traders and missionaries were actually forerunners of a military conquest by European powers. This caused the shogunate to place foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. Ultimately Japan forced all foreigners to leave and barred all relations with the outside world except for severely restricted commercial contacts with Dutch and Chinese merchants at Nagasaki. This isolation lasted for 200 years until Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. Within several years renewed contact with the West profoundly altered Japanese society. The shogunate was forced to resign and the emperor was restored to power. The "Meiji restoration" of 1868 initiated many reforms. The feudal system was abolished and numerous Western institutions were adopted including a Western legal system and constitutional government along quasi-parliamentary lines. In 1898 the last of the "unequal treaties" with Western powers was removed signaling Japan's new status among the nations of the world. In a few decades by creating modern social educational economic military and industrial systems the Emperor Meiji's "controlled revolution" had transformed a feudal and isolated state into a world power. Wars With China and Russia Japanese leaders of the late 19th century regarded the Korean Peninsula as a "dagger pointed at the heart of Japan." It was over Korea that Japan became involved in war with the Chinese Empire in 1894-95 and with Russia in 1904-05. The war with China established Japan's dominant interest in Korea while giving it the Pescadores Islands and Formosa (now Taiwan). After Japan defeated Russia in 1905 the resulting Treaty of Portsmouth awarded Japan certain rights in Manchuria and in southern Sakhalin which Russia had received in 1875 in exchange for the Kurile Islands. Both wars gave Japan a free hand in Korea which it formally annexed in 1910. World War I to 1952 World War I permitted Japan which fought on the side of the victorious Allies to expand its influence in Asia and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. The postwar era brought Japan unprecedented prosperity. Japan went to the peace conference at Versailles in 1919 as one of the great military and industrial powers of the world and received official recognition as one of the "Big Five" of the new international order. It joined the League of Nations and received a mandate over Pacific islands north of the equator formerly held by Germany. During the 1920s Japan progressed toward a democratic system of government. However parliamentary government was not rooted deeply enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the 1930s during which military leaders became increasingly influential. Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and set up the state of Manchukuo. In 1933 Japan resigned from the League of Nations. The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 followed Japan's signing the "anti-Comintern pact" with Nazi Germany the previous year and was part of a chain of developments culminating in the Japanese attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor Hawaii on December 7 1941. After almost 4 years of war resulting in the loss of 3 million Japanese lives and including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan signed an instrument of surrender on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2 1945. As a result of World War II Japan lost all of its overseas possessions and retained only the home islands. Manchukuo was dissolved and Manchuria was returned to China; Japan renounced all claims to Formosa; Korea was granted independence; southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles were occupied by the U.S.S.R.; and the United States became the sole administering authority of the Ryukyu Bonin and Volcano Islands. The 1972 reversion of Okinawa completed the United States' return of control of these islands to Japan. After the war Japan was placed under international control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur. U.S. objectives were to ensure that Japan would become a peaceful nation and to establish democratic self-government supported by the freely expressed will of the people. Political economic and social reforms were introduced such as a freely elected Japanese Diet (legislature). The country's Constitution took effect on May 3 1947. The April 28 1952 Treaty of Peace with Japan afforded a progressive and orderly transition to the restoration of full sovereignty from the stringent controls immediately following the surrender. Recent Political Developments The post-World War II years saw tremendous economic growth in Japan with the political system dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). That total domination lasted until the Diet Lower House elections on July 18 1993. The LDP in power since the mid-1950s failed to win a majority and saw the end of its four-decade rule. A coalition of new parties and existing opposition parties formed a governing majority and elected a new Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in August 1993. His government's major legislative objective was political reform consisting of a package of new political financing restrictions and major changes in the electoral system. The coalition succeeded in passing landmark political reform legislation in January 1994. Under the 1994 legislation the lower house electoral system was changed to one in which 300 members are elected in single-member districts and another 200 members on proportional slates in 11 regions. The new electoral system also reduced the number of seats in overrepresented rural areas and shifted them to some urban areas. In April 1999 Prime Minister Hosokawa resigned. Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata formed the successor coalition government Japan's first minority government in almost 40 years. Prime Minister Hata resigned less than 2 months later. Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama formed the next government in June 1994 a coalition of his Japan Socialist Party (JSP) the LDP and the small Sakigake Party. The advent of a coalition containing the JSP and LDP shocked many observers because of their previously fierce rivalry. Prime Minister Murayama served from June 1994 to January 1996. He was succeeded by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto who served from January 1996 to July 1998. Prime Minister Hashimoto headed a loose coalition of three parties until the July 1998 Upper House election when the two smaller parties cut ties with the LDP. Hashimoto resigned due to a poor electoral showing by the LDP in those Upper House elections. He was succeeded as party president of the LDP and Prime Minister by Keizo Obuchi who took office on July 30 1998. Sea of Japan/East Sea : The naming dispute over the sea are located between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Archipelago has been the object of increasing attention in the international community. Japan insists that only one name, the “Sea of Japan”, be used for this sea area since the designation is widely used. The Republic of Korea, however, proposes that both names, “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan”, be used concurrently until the two countries agree on a common designation. Korea’s argument is based on two facts: first, Korea and Japan are using two different names for this sea at present, “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan”, and second, the concurrent use of these two designations is increasingly apparent. The relevant international organizations and many governments recommend that this naming dispute be resolved through the reaching of mutual agreement between the governments of Korea and Japan. Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and The Northeast Asian History Foundation _________Getting Around Edit This Shinkansen Shinkansen Out of the Grey Rail is probably the most convenient way to travel, although there are inter-city buses. Since the railway stations are usually conveniently located within the centre of town, it is preferable to take a train, than to even fly. That said, a trip from Tokyo to Hakata takes a good part of a day, even on the Nozomi. A little more detailed information can be found here Contributors October 25, 2005 change by out of the grey November 04, 2005 change by gwkuma [Add Local transport mode] Japan Rail Edit This Before traveling to Japan every tourist wishing indpendent travel in Japan would be well advised to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. This needs to be purchased outside Japan and validated by visiting a related travel centre when you are ready to travel in Japan. However it is not available for those on work and other non-tourist visas so if in any doubt this should be made clear before purchase, as this ticket will not be valid for these travellers. Wherever you are in the world check more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 020 8909 6492 address: jamesjamesjapaneselessons@hotmail.co.uk ______Getting There Edit This [Add Global transport mode] Airplane Edit This Being an island country, Japan is usually entered via airplane. There are three main international airports in Japan. NRT, New Tokyo International airport, located in Chiba about one hour outside of Tokyo, KIX Kansai International Airport located in Osaka Bay, and newly opened NGO Nagoya International Airport in Ise Bay, South of Nagoya. type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] Ferry Edit This There is a ferry that connects Shimonoseki as well as one that connects Fukuoka to Busan, Korea. type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] ________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: Government-industry cooperation a strong work ethic mastery of high technology and a comparatively small defense allocation (roughly 1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers suppliers and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force; this guarantee is eroding. Industry the most important sector of the economy is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s a 5% average in the 1970s and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Growth picked up to 3.9% in 1996 largely a reflection of stimulative fiscal and monetary policies as well as low rates of inflation. But in 1997 growth fell back to 1%. As a result of the expansionary fiscal policies and declining tax revenues due to the recession Japan has one of the largest budget deficits as a percent of GDP among the industrialized countries. The crowding of habitable land area and the aging of the population are two other major long-run problems. GDP: purchasing power parity—$3.08 trillion (1997 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 0.9% (1997 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$24 500 (1997 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 41.5% services: 56.5% (1995) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 1.7% (1997) Labor force: total: 67.23 million (March 1997) by occupation: trade and services 50% manufacturing mining and construction 33% utilities and communication 7% agriculture forestry and fishing 6% government 3% (1994) Unemployment rate: 3.4% (1997) Budget: revenues: $497 billion expenditures: $621 billion including capital expenditures (public works only) of about $72 billion (FY98/99 est.) Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and nonferrous metallurgy heavy electrical equipment construction and mining equipment motor vehicles and parts electronic and telecommunication equipment machine tools automated production systems locomotives and railroad rolling stock ships chemicals; textiles processed foods _________People Edit This i Population: 125 931 533 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: lol JAPAN RULES! Yes Yes... We all know that, but- *kicks* WEEE! O____O 0-14 years: 15% (male 9 802 921; female 9 342 254) 15-64 years: 69% (male 43 486 840; female 43 135 979) 65 years and over: 16% (male 8 388 242; female 11 775 297) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 0.2% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 10.26 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 7.94 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -0.36 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.1 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80 years male: 76.91 years female: 83.25 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese Ethnic groups: Japanese 99.4% other 0.6% (mostly Korean) Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84% other 16% (including Christian 0.7%) Languages: Japanese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1970 est.) male: NA% female: NA% ::::::::::Tokyo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sakura - Festivities II Sakura - Festivities II Mihoshi Myru Tokyo is really, really big, and depending on who you talk to, the largest city in the world. It consists of 23 different inner cities (ku), 26 suburban ones (shi), five towns (cho), eight villages (mura), over 300 islands, two major island chains, and various other bits, each with their own special attractions. Since it doesn't make too much sense to tell about all of these different cities as if they were one city, we have subdivided Tokyo in the following way. Tokyo has been the capital of Japan since 1868 when it replaced the old capital of Kyoto (just north of Osaka, the 2nd largest city in Japan). Tokyo was previously called Edo before it became the capitol. Greater Tokyo is 239 square miles (618 square km) and is home to more than 17 Million people in the day time and 12 Million at night... which means that 5 Million people commute to and from work from the outer bedtown cities daily. Akasaka is the posh high class district which is home to over 3725 companies (as of Jul 2006). There are plenty of reasonable establishments in the area, but some of them can cost you an arm and a leg, so check the menu(s) out before you walk inside. If you see no prices posted outside and only Visa, MasterCard and a few other credit card companies stickers on the wall next to the entrance... expect to pay an enormous amount for what ever it is they offer. Akihabara has the largest concentration of electronics shops in the world. There are good deals to be found. Most shops have English speaking staff. Foreign visitors can get refunds for taxes paid. Remember to bring your passport as proof of foreign residency. The big shops also have locations in Shinjuku West Exit with prices being about the same but Akihabara specializes in the foreign market. Asakusa is famous for its temples and pagoda. Across the river you can see the Asahi Beer building. It's the cube-shaped black building with the gold *thingy* on top. If you don't know what is supposed to represent.... don't feel bad. The gold worm like thing is commonly refered to as the 'turd'. Enjoy the veiw but if you want to drink down some suds and eat some food the restaurant on the ground floor of that building can accomodate any hunger or thirst. Ginza has fabulous shopping opportunities for equally fabulous prices. It is an extremely busy place. Apple's first retail outlet is located in Ginza. The Mac Store has English speaking staff & 4 floors of that computer cult culture for all to enjoy. Harajuku Takeshita-dori is a high school girl's dream street. With cheap fashions abounding and sickly sweet crepes made Japanese style guaranteed to rot your teeth and add buxom to your fashion vocabulary. On the other side of the spectrum, continue to Omotesando, the fashion avenue, with names like Armani, DKNY, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Christian Dior to name a few, fashion is everywhere! How much you want to spend is up to you! Marunouchi is the area around the huge Imperial Palace. The newly renovated Marunouchi Building is filled with spectacular dining opporunities. Roppongi is the place to go to for nighlife. Filled at night with energy, people from around the world walk the streets in search of fun and excitement. This part of Tokyo never sleeps. Adult entertainment, a play ground of sorts is yours for the enjoyment. Shibuya is north of the center and has shrines and trendy shops. With its neon, traffic, and huge tv screens, it resembles New York City's Times Square. This is the center of youth fashion for the affluent Japanese teenager. Styles change weekly with hip designers along side more established names in the big *deppato* Be sure to visit *centa-gai* the main street just across the scramble crossing in Shibuya (the world's busiest pedestrian crossing). Great food awaits visitors who venture into mid-range Izakaya. Traditional Japanese food is very healthy, light and nutritious! Shinagawa is a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen amongst other train lines. It is less frantic than more central parts of Tokyo, but is well connected via the JR Yamanote line, the Tokaido line, the Keihin Tohoku line, the Keihin Kyuko line and the Yokosuka line. It is a good base to use to visit Japan, with a quieter location, and many international hotels right across the street. There is also an Outbacks restaurant just up the street too. Shinagawa has recently become a large business base with all of the new high rise buildings that have sprung up over the past several years. Shinjuku offers good shopping facilities and high skyscrapers. Famous for the movie-famed hotel in "Lost in Translation" and Takashimaya Department store's flagship location TIMES SQUARE. Shinjuku station is the busiest in the world. Ueno has a beautiful park, some good museums and temples. Ueno station used to be the entry point to Tokyo for the folks from the northern provinces. You can visit nearby Ameyoko (American Alley) that attracted many Japanese looking for novel goods in the post-war years, and is still vivrant with hundreds of discount shops of abundant varieties. To get from one end to the other, the best thing to do is to use the metro system. Although it takes some time to get used to it, it is by far the fastest and cheapest way to get around. For more info see Getting Around. With the new *foreigner friendly* revision (April 2004) even the most novice of traveller can get from 'Shimokitazawa' to 'Kokuritsu Kyougijou Tokyo-to taiiku kan mae' with no problem. All the lines have a designated letter, and all the stations have a number. Navigating the 'Tokyo Metro' has never been easier! Among the highlights of Tokyo no one can afford to miss are: the Sony building in Ginza, the Imperial Palace, the temples of Asakusa, Shinjuku Gyoen park in Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine, Korakuen Garden, the sight of the sacred mountain of Fuji in early morning (mainly visible during winter. A good spot is from top of Government Building in Shinjuku "the To cho" long vowels). If you can, try to see a Kabuki performance as well. The Tsukiji Fish Market is worth seeing but you have to be there by 7:00 am at the latest to see merchants buying tuna by auction to be served in restaurants later that day. Also children enjoy spending a day at Toyko Disneyland. Banks are open from 09:00am to 03:00 pm Monday to Friday (closed on Sat, Sun and national holidays). There are Citibank locations in the largers centers for those people using the *PLUS* system but be warned, the Japanese banking system is not always as advanced as other industrialized countries. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo#Geography_and_administrative_divisions :::::::::::::Asakusa Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Home of the largest Buddhist temple (Senso-ji) in Tokyo. :::::::::Hiroshima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see http://www.gethiroshima.com/en a good website that tells you whats going on and how to get there. The rest is history. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.gethiroshima.com/en :::::::::::Hokkaido Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Niseko Company's premier property Niseko Company's premier property Hokkaido is the northernmost of the four big islands that make up Japan. It is really a great place if you are an outdoor enthusiast. There are many many hiking possibilities in the great national parks such as Daisetsuzan and there are some good skiing slopes (Sapporo hosted the winter olympics once). Sapporo is the capital and one of the most lively cities of Japan. It has a great beer drinking culture. The city is an ideal place to arrange everything for a trip to some of the most remote parts of Japan. ::::::::::Honshu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Street Scene, Shibuya, Tokyo Street Scene, Shibuya, Tokyo J. Becker Honshu has all the fun and all the attractions. Tokyo and Kyoto, the imperial cities are both on Honshu. Other big cities with a long history and many sights such as Yokohama and Osaka are on Honshu too. The holy mountain of Mr. Fuji is on the island as well. Nikko in northern Honshu is definitely worth a visit. It's one of the most historic towns of Japan and the old city centre is still very much in use. The rest of Northern Honshu is less touristed, although cities like Niigata are rich in history and tradition. In central Honshu, the area around Furukawa is pretty and the Japanese alps are great for hiking in summer and winter sports and activities in winter. Matsumoto and Takayama are good places for exploring the alps. Also in central Honshu is the city of Nagoya, which can be used as a base to visit the Aichi and Gifu prefectures. The Kansai region, with Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Osaka, is a must for visitors. Also around Kansai, are Koyasan and Amanohashidate. In the west Kurashiki is a very charming town. Hiroshima is famous for being bombed in the second world war and a visit to the Peace park is impressive. Although the Seto Naikai or "inland sea" is no longer lined with traditional fishing villages it's still a nice area to spend some time. Pick an island and come to rest in the beautiful surroundings. All three classic views of Japan (the Nihon Sangei) are situated in Honshu. Matsushima is outside Sendai, Miyajima is outside Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate is reachable from Kyoto by train. The best way to travel in Japan is on the Bullet Train which cruises at a speed of 235 kmh. Most trains in Japan are almost always on time. :::::::::Ikebukuro Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see One of the largest stations at the JR Yamanote Line. Gateway to Saitama and Tohoku area. ::::::::Iwate Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Iwate is prefecture abundant in natural surroundings from which history has unfolded and various cultures have been nurtured. This vast land, blessed with rich natural resources, was considered by Miyazawa Kenji to be a utopia, which he affectionately referred to as 'Ihatov.' Miyazawa praised Iwate as 'a place where anything is possible.' 'If people were able to soar above the icy clouds and drift with the great wind currents, then traveling north, they would find a place where it is possible to talk to the very ants scuttling beneath vast carpets of red flowers.' Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.pref.iwate.jp/english/ ::::::::::Kagoshima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A view of Mt. Sakurajima from Kagoshima city A view of Mt. Sakurajima from Kagoshima city Melissa Whitcomb Sprawled around the Sakurajima Volcano, the birthplace of the Meiji Restoration, Kagoshima is home to many of Japan's historical heroes. The reminants of samurai strongholds (Bukeyashiki), which are still lived in today, lay scattered throughout the mountains. With few foreign chains, no cable TV, this is a chance to see what Japan was like before the invention of concrete. ::::::::::Kagoshima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A view of Mt. Sakurajima from Kagoshima city A view of Mt. Sakurajima from Kagoshima city Melissa Whitcomb Sprawled around the Sakurajima Volcano, the birthplace of the Meiji Restoration, Kagoshima is home to many of Japan's historical heroes. The reminants of samurai strongholds (Bukeyashiki), which are still lived in today, lay scattered throughout the mountains. With few foreign chains, no cable TV, this is a chance to see what Japan was like before the invention of concrete. __________Beaches Edit This Wakayama Prefecture (70 km south of Osaka) boasts some of Japan's finest beaches. Kataonami Beach (over 2 km of white sand) in Wakayama City is a mere 70-minute train ride from Tennoji station in Osaka and well worth visiting in the hot summer months. The beach is open daily from 9 - 5 pm from July 1st to August 31st. Travelers should take advantage of the shoulder seasons before and after the crowds hit and the weather is still hot. <br> Shirahama Beach in Shirahama City imported its white sand from the Australian Gold Coast several years ago and is another popular destination for beach lovers (however during the summer, this beach is incredibly crowded.) ::::::Kunitachi, Tokyo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see About 40 minutes west of metro Tokyo on the Chuo Line is Kunitachi City, a college town home to Hitotsubashi University. The station is one of the oldest in Japan and has a small rotary from which roads radiate outwards to the south. Because much of Kunitachi was once a US base, it is more spacious and green that many other station towns between Tachikawa (the next station west) and Tokyo. This is perhaps one reason why rent in Kunitachi tends to be somewhat above average. Kunitachi is best known for its broad cherry-tree lined Daigakumae Doori (roughly, "University-fronting Road") that goes straight south from the station. When the cherry trees are in bloom, varying from late March to early April, swarms of sightseers and tourists descend on Kunitachi to walk beneath the cherry blossoms, which continue for about a kilometer. About 300 meters south of the station, Hitotsubashi University is split by Daigakumae Doori, but both sides of the campus are heavily wooded with attractive brick buildings from the late Meiji Era. The university's library is open to the public, though you have to fill in a small card to enter. Because the university's library is designated as a special repository for foreign language materials, the selection of periodicals is quite broad, though many are highly technical academic journals. ::::::::Kyushu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Thousands of origami cranes forming a tribute to Peace. Thousands of origami cranes forming a tribute to Peace. Evanesca Kyushu is the southernmost island of the four main islands of Japan. Although the island is a bit isolated with respect to events in Honshu, it is a major point of entry for influences from the outside world. Kyushu is close to China and South Korea and for centuries it was the sole link with "the West." It's most recognized city is Nagasaki, one of the two places bombed by the United States in "World War II" with a nuclear bomb. Kagoshima and Kumamoto have interesting castles and gardens. Mt Aso is great for hiking. In the north Fukuoka City/Hakata is the main point of entry. Ferries to Okinawa leave from here, and the Shinkansen trains from Tokyo Odaiba arrive here. :::::::::::Ryukyu islands Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Kabria Bay Kabria Bay winged_eel The Ryukyu islands, also known as the South-West islands are located in the south-west of the archipelago. Okinawa is the largest and most famous of the Ryukyu islands. It is a popular tourist destination for the Japanese who live on mainland Japan. Many of the island's resort hotels can be found in the northern half of the island. Okinawa is also home to many U.S. military bases; Air Force (Kadena Air Base), Marines (Camp Foster is one of many), Army (Torii Station) and Navy (Camp Shields) can all be found here. Naha City is in the southern end of the island. There you will find the airport, monorail, and other "city-life" amenities. Miyako island is much smaller. It has beaches with some good diving, and also some remnants of the native Ryukyu culture. Even further south are the Yaeyama islands, Ishigaki and Iriomote; both great places for diving. :::::::::Shikoku Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The fourth largest, but least visited of Japan's main islands, Shikoku offers a far more rural character than that found in much of Honshu. Although renowned domestically for its 88-temple circuit (Hachiju-hakkasho), the island sees fewer foreign tourists than nearly any other region of Japan (apart from, perhaps, Tohoku). Shikoku's name stems from the four historic provinces of Sanuki, Tosa, Iyo and Awa, who have their modern inheritors in the prefectures of Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime and Tokushima respectively. The principal cities of the region are the prefectural capitals, Takamatsu, Kochi, Matsuyama and Tokushima, which also serve as convenient tourist centers. Other cities such as Marugame, Kotohira and Uwajima have their own attractions for visitors, but much of the island's charm lies in the mountainous countryside. For anyone seeking an extended stay, the 88-temple pilgrimage is probably the island's greatest attraction. Though naturally it is most properly pursued on foot (for which one should allow for one to two months), other, modern pilgrims often choose to go by bicycle or car. Those visitors not wishing to spend such an extensive time in the region may choose to base themselves in the cities, with the occasional jaunt to surrounding areas. Although train service runs to most cities, many of the island's rural attractions are best visited with private transportation. One such area is the Iya Valley, west of Tokushima, which is well-known for its traditional folk architecture and vine bridges. Despite its mountainous terrain, Shikoku is considered one of Japan's best areas for cycling. ___________Tours and Excursions Edit This We arrange a wide range of tours and visits to suit different needs and interests; we provide tours on Culture, Trekking, Textiles, Festivals, Flora & Fauna, Bird watching, Religious Tours, Mountain Biking, Photography tour and other adventures. Please contact us if you need any further information:tourbhutan@druknet.bt http://www.tourbhutantravel.com :::::::::Tohoku Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunset @ Tazawako Sunset @ Tazawako ykdannert Tohoku is the geographical region of northeastern Honshu, comprising Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. The region was initially settled between the seventh and ninth centuries A.D., well after Japanese civilization had been firmly established in southwestern Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. Today the region remains sparsely populated and therefore has a reputation of being rural and unsophisticated. Consequently, it is one of the few places in Japan where traditional culture has continued to evolve in an environment relatively free of the exploitative effects of tourism and modernization that are ubiquitous in the Kansai and Kanto regions. Many of it's inhabitants refer to the culture of Tohoku as "the real Japan," an appellation that has ironically become the center of a campaign to promote tourism in the region. However, for the moment the region remains relatively quiet and secluded, with abundant Shinto shrines, breathtaking scenery and rich regional sub-cultures. ::::::::::Yakushima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Yakushima is a island south of Kyushu. It's famous for it's ancient forest, with some of the oldest trees on the planet. Shiratani forest is especially beautiful with it's mystical aura. This forest was used as the inspiration for the Anime princes Mononoke .