Japan Car Rental  Japan Hotels  Japan Flight Discounts

To many the country of Japan is the epitome of all things oriental, being famous for its spectacular Zen gardens, ancient temples, colourful pagodas, torii gates, geisha girls and bonsai trees. However, to others, Japan is known for its futuristic cities, fast bullet trains, pulsating nightlife, world-class restaurants and gleaming skyscrapers.

Japan is made up of more than 3,000 different islands within the Pacific Ocean, the biggest and most important of which are Kyushu and Shikoku to the south, Hokkaido to the north, and Honshu, covering by far the largest space in the middle. These four islands are all connected by a series of bridges and tunnels. The island of Honshu is often referred to in Japan as the 'Mainland' and is approximately 1,300 km / 808 miles in length by up to 230 km / 143 miles wide, comprising the regions of Chugoku, Kansai, Chubu, Kanto and Tohoku. Each region is then split into various 'prefectures'.

Much of Japan is fairly mountainous, providing a pleasant backdrop for many of its cities. Mount Fuji is Japan's tallest and most famous mountain, surrounded by lakes and located to the west of Tokyo, the bustling capital city. Tokyo is not to be missed and is Japan's premier city, home to the Imperial Palace, the Japanese Government, many famous temples and shrines, and innumerable shopping centres. Other particularly tourist friendly cities within Japan include Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagasaki, Nagoya, Osaka, Saitama, Yokohama and also the northerly city of Sapporo, where skiing is possible during the winter months.

	WORLD GUIDES TO JAPAN
	World Guide to Fukuoka, Japan The biggest city located on Japan's island of Kyushu, Fukuoka historically comprises two separate towns, which merged around 200 years ago. Fukuoka has great tourist appeal and is perhaps best known for its 'ramen' noodle dish.
	World Guide to Hiroshima, Japan A prosperous city situated within southern Japan, Hiroshima is to be found within the western region of Honshu island. Hiroshima is home to a rather poignant Peace Memorial Park and a very popular tram, which links the Miyajima port.
	World Guide to Kyoto, Japan Any tourist visiting Japan simply must come to Kyoto, one of the country's true gems. With many high-rise buildings and long shopping avenues, Kyoto is regularly compared to Tokyo and contains a number of historical World Heritage Sites.
	World Guide to Nagasaki, Japan A spirited city sited on Japan's island of Kyushu, Nagasaki has an interesting history, although the WWII bombing has overshadowed much of this. Nagasaki soon recovered and today offers great beauty and some unmissable attractions.
	World Guide to Nagoya, Japan Nagoya has become famous for its scenic coastal location and is next to the Pacific Ocean. Although Nagoya may not stand out as a tourist destination, it does offer many appealing attractions, gardens, boulevards and a grand castle.
	World Guide to Osaka, Japan Second only to Tokyo in size, Osaka lies in the Kansai region of Japan's Honshu island, alongside Osaka Bay. The city is split into two main areas, Kita to the north and Minami to the south. Osaka features numerous shopping malls and top sights.
	World Guide to Sapporo, Japan Sapporo is Japan's fifth-biggest city and stands within in the Hokkaido area, on the northern side of Japan. With a large number of family parks, glorious gardens and seasonal winter sports, Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972.
	World Guide to Tokyo, Japan Without doubt Japan's most famous city, Tokyo boasts many tall skyscrapers, bright neon lights and historical palaces. Tokyo is on the eastern shoreline of Honshu Island and is a vast metropolis, being the Japanese seat of politics.
	World Guide to Yokohama, Japan Japan's second-largest city, Yokohama is to be found within the Kanto region of Honshu and is particularly close to the south of Tokyo. Yokohama is capital of the Kanagawa Prefecture and has become a thriving city with a major harbour.

Japan Information / Japan Fast Facts

• Country: Japan (island country in the Pacific Ocean)
• Population: 130 million
• Population Growth Rate: 1 percent
• Capital city: Tokyo (population 12.5 million)
• Language: Japanese
• Main exports: transport equipment and vehicles, electronic goods, machinery and many chemicals
• Area: 145,910 square miles / 377,900 square kilometres
• Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
• Time zone: nine hours ahead of GMT / UTC (daylight-saving time not observed)
• Country dialing code: +81
• Religion: most Japanese are not religious, choosing to incorporate many different religious beliefs into their daily lives (syncretism)