Japan

Japan (Nihon or Nippon, literally "sun source") is an East Asian country surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, the Philippine Sea, the East China Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. To the west is Korea (North and South), to the north Russia, and to the southwest China and Taiwan.

One of the world's leading industrialized countries, the "Land of the Rising Sun" is composed of over 3,000 islands. The largest and main islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, are southwest of the main islands.

The early 20th century saw a brief period of "Taisho democracy" overshadowed by the rise of Japanese expansionism. World War I enabled Japan, which fought on the side of the victorious Allies, to expand its influence in Asia, and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. In 1936, however, Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, joining with Germany and Italy to form the Axis alliance. During this period, Japan invaded China, occupying Manchuria in 1931, and continued its expansion into China proper in 1937, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War, which lasted until the end of World War II. In 1941, after US President Franklin D. Roosevelt demanded that Japan withdraw its forces from China, Japan attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor as well as British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia, bringing itself and the United States into World War II. After a long campaign in the Pacific Ocean, Japan lost its initial territorial gains, and American forces moved close enough to begin strategic bombing of Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities, as well as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese eventually agreed to an unconditional surrender to the Allies on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day). The Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal was convened on May 3, 1946 to prosecute Japanese war crimes, including atrocities like the Nanking Massacre. Emperor Hirohito, however, was given immunity and retained his title.

The war cost millions of lives in Japan and other countries, especially in East Asia, and left much of the country's industries and infrastructure destroyed. Official American occupation lasted until 1952, although U.S. forces still retain important bases in Japan, especially in Okinawa. In 1947, Japan adopted a new pacifist constitution, seeking international cooperation and emphasizing human rights and democratic practices.

After the occupation, under a program of aggressive industrial development and U.S. assistance, Japan achieved spectacular growth to become one of the largest economies in the world. Despite a major stock market crash in 1990, from which the country is recovering gradually, Japan remains a global economic power today and is now bidding for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Area: 377,835 sq.km.
Population: 127,417,244
Language: Japanese
Religion: Shintoism (54%) or Buddhism (40%)
Currency:Yen
Government: Constitutional Monarchy

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Tokyo is really, really big, and depending on who you talk to, the largest city in the world. It actually consists of 23 different wards (ku) - cities that have 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 capitol of Japan since 1868 when it replaced the old Capitol 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 bed town cities daily. 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 referred to as the 'turd'. Enjoy the view but if you want to drink down some suds and eat some food the restaurant on the ground floor of that building can accommodate 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 every where! 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 opportunities. Roppongi is the place to go to for nightlife.

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 scrabble crossing in Shibuya (it 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. It is less frantic than more central parts of Tokyo, but is well connected via the JR Yamanote line. It is a good base to use to visit Japan, with a quieter location, and many hotels. Shinjuku offers good shopping facilities and high skyscrapers. Famous for the movie-famed hotel in "Lost in Translation" and Takashimaya Department stores flagship location TIMES SQUARE. Shinjuku station is the busiest in the world. Ueno has a beautiful park, some good museums and temples. 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 traveler can get from 'Shimokitazawa' to 'Kokuritsu Kougijou Tokyo-to taiku 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. 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 larger centers for those people using the *PLUS* system but be warned, the Japanese banking system is not always as advanced as other industrialized countries.

Nagoya is located at the heart of central Japan, some 1.5 hours by train south of Tokyo. Some of the scenic areas of the region include Nobi Plain, and the Omo River valley. As the nucleus of this central area, Nagoya, with its population of more than 2.15 million, is one of Japan's major cities, and an important industrial and cultural center. The main sight in town is undoubtedly the Nagoya Castle, famous for the golden dolphins adorning its rooftop, was constructed in 1612 and a new castle town formed. Nagoya is actively preparing for a future in which lifestyle, technology, and culture work together to create a harmonious environment.

The nearby Shikemichi quarter is well worth a visit. Its history dates back to the days of commodities merchants of the 18th century. Old warehouses, private homes, temples and shrines remain to this day. Downtown Nagoya is bustling and busy. It's a good place for shopping but it often leaves the visitor out of breath. The Hisaya Odori Park is the place to head for then. It consists of a series of parks in the downtown area and it's great for relaxing a bit. Osu is perfect for shopping or to visit one of the many museums in the area. The last sight not to be missed is the Atsuta Shrine.

Climate -- Most of Japan's islands lie in a temperate seasonal wind zone similar to that of the East Coast of the United States, which means there are four distinct seasons. The Japanese are very proud of their seasons; they place much more emphasis on the seasons than people do in the West. Kimono, dishes and bowls used for kaiseki, and even Noh plays, change with the season. Certain foods are eaten during certain times of the year, such as eel in summer and fugu (blowfish) in winter. Almost all haiku have seasonal references. The cherry blossom signals the beginning of spring, and most festivals are tied to seasonal rites. Even urban dwellers note the seasons; almost as though on cue, businessmen will change virtually overnight from their winter to summer attire.

Because Japan's four main islands stretch in an arc from northeast to southwest at about the same latitudes as Boston and Atlanta, you can travel in the country at virtually any time of year. Winters in southern Kyushu are mild, while summers in northern Hokkaido are cool. In addition, there's no rainy season in Hokkaido.



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