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Japan


The Land of the Rising Sun conjures up many different images – from ancient martial arts and culture to high tech gadgetry, from geisha girls to sumo wrestlers and from the glitz and glamour of down town Tokyo to the beautiful temples of Kyoto, Japan perhaps more than any other Asian country is a land of contrasts. The Japan of today is one of the most powerful economies in the world, having seen astronomical economic growth in the post Second World War years. Iconic symbols of Japan’s success include the skyscrapers of Tokyo and the world-famous bullet train. But beneath all of this startling modernity lies a deeply traditional country, true to its cultural and historical traditions, as well as being fiercely proud of them. Ancient traditions and customs are stillplayed out – from the tea ceremony and the gentle art of ikebana (flower arranging) to kendo, karate and judo, all still routinely taught in schools. But don’t let the cultural diversity blind you to the stunning differences in geography and landscape of the islands that make up Japan – from the snow covered peaks of Hokkaido in the north, to the sun-kissed beaches of tropical Okinawa, and above all of this towers the mighty Mount Fuji.


Cities and places within Japan
Fast Facts
Capital City: Tokyo
Population: 127.8 million of which around 8.5 million live in Tokyo
Area: 145,894 sq miles
Geography: Separated from the Asian mainland by around 100 miles of sea, Japan is comprised of a series of islands – Hokkaido is the northernmost, Okinawa the southern most, and Kyushu and Shikoku lie to the south west of the main island, Honshu, where the major cities including Tokyo and Osaka are to be found. Around 70% of Japan is mountainous or hilly terrain, including the most prominent range, the Japan Alps, which run north to south through Honshu. Mount Fuji, in south Honshu, is the tallest mountain in Japan.  
Climate: Other than in Okinawa and Hokkaido, Japan’s climate is generally temperate, with four distinct seasons. Winters in the south are sunny and cool, colder and snowy around Tokyo and bitterly cold in Hokkaido, which has snow for around 4-5 months of the year. Summer (June to September) is either warm (Hokkaido) or very hot, and spring and autumn are generally mild. The main rainy season is in June-July.
Language: Japanese is the official language, and few other languages are spoken, though English is taught in school from a young age.
Currency: Japanese Yen Current rate £1 = Y236.05
Time: GMT+9 hours
Visa Requirements: : British visitors to Japan do not need a visa, though they must be in possession of an outbound ticket.


Getting To Japan
By Air
Japan’s main international airline is Japan Airlines, and the major international airports are in Tokyo and Osaka.
Travelling to Tokyo, the following airlines operate direct flights: Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and All Nippon Airways. Airlines operating non direct flights include the following: Sri Lankan, Air China, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Qantas Airways, China Airlines (Taiwan), Finnair, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. The journey from London to Tokyo takes around 12 hours. Tokyo’s Narita Airport is 40 miles east of the city, a journey that takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes, by luxury coach, limousine bus or shuttle bus. The Narita Express train leaves from the station terminal beneath the airport and goes to Tokyo’s central station, Shinjuku, and Yokohama. Taxis are available but are prohibitively expensive – they can cost up to five times the price of a train ticket!
 
Japan’s other main international airport is located in Osaka. Japan Airlines are the only carrier to operate direct flights from the UK to Osaka, but non direct flights are operated by the following airlines: 
Alitalia, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air China, China Airlines (Taiwan), China Eastern Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. Osaka’s Kansai Airport is located 31 miles to the South west of Osaka, and there are buses and trains that takes you to the city in around one hour. You can also take a jetfoil service from Kansai Airport to Kobe’s Port Island.
 
There are international airports outside both Nagoya and Fukuoka. The former receives indirect flights from the UK on Emirates, China Eastern Airlines, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Finnair, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines (Taiwan), Air France, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways. Again there are no direct flights from the UK to Fukuoka Airport, but indirect flights are available on the following airlines: Korean Air, China Airlines (Taiwan), Japan Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Japan Airlines.
 
By Boat
Being a group of islands, it is relatively easy to travel to Japan by boat. There are daily ferries from Osaka and Kobe to Shanghai, as well as weekly ones from Kobe to Tanggu, near Tianjin, also in China. You can also catch a ferry from Okinawa to Taiwan, and there is also a daily service from Shimonoseki in Western Honshu across the Sea of Japan to Pusan in South Korea. For the more adventurous, there are weekly services from Yokohama to Nakhoda, near Vladivostok in the Russian Federation, as well as from Wakkanai (Hokkaido) to Korsakov. Cruise boats make the crossings between the islands of Japan en route to Hong Kong and Shanghai.
By Train
It is a long trip but a thoroughly interesting journey and efficient service to travel from Europe to Japan via Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Express.
 


Getting Around Japan
By Air
Both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, plus other domestic carriers, offer an extensive network which covers most of Japan and its islands. The domestic airport in Tokyo is at Haneda.
 
By Boat
There are several options when it comes to travelling by boat around Japan. There are high speed ferry or hydrofoil services to the islands from the main ports on Honshu, the most popular routes including those between Tokyo and Hokkaido, and Tokyo in Okinawa, though there are plenty of other routes to explore.
 
By Rail
Japan Railways Group arguably is one of the most efficient railway operators in the world, and the train is a pleasurable and simple way of exploring Japan. Japan is of course famous for its “bullet” or Shinkansen train. The best option if you are planning to travel by train is to purchase a Japan Rail Pass before you leave the UK. You can choose between 7, 14 and 21 day passes and can be used on almost all trains in Japan. There are also more local passes available if your travelling is going to be limited to one region.
 
By Road
The road network in Japan is efficient, but for non-Japanese speakers, road signs can be deeply confusing. Also travel in the cities can be horrendous. There are excellent buses and coaches that link most major centres.
 
Getting Around Cities and Towns
Public transport is generally very efficient though can be very crowded. All of the larger cities have a network of underground trains (Tokyo has two!). Travel passes are available. Taxis can be very expensive.


Top Ten Things to Do and See in Japan
  1. TOKYO
Tokyo is a glittering power house of a city, boasting the Ginza, which is one of the best shopping districts in all Asia, and Akasaka and Roppongi, two of the best late night districts offering all kinds of vibrant nightlife, all of which co-exist peacefully with the stunning buildings such as the Imperial Palace and the Shitamachi Temple. Most visitors to Japan will start or end their journey here, and it is definitely a city with plenty to offer the visitor. For fish fans, you can even visit the largest fish market in the world! Visitors should be aware that there is little that is very old in Tokyo as much of the city was flattened by US bombs in World War II.  For history, head west to Kyoto and Nara.
 
  1. KYOTO AND NARA
Kyoto, first settled in the 7th century, was the Japanese capital city for over 1000 years until 1868 when the Meiji restoration moved the imperial family to Tokyo. Fortunately, Kyoto was spared the WWII bombs that destroyed Tokyo and many of the buildings in Kyoto date from the Edo Period (1600-1867). Kyoto contains one fifth of Japan’s national treasures and almost the same proportion of the country’s important cultural properties. It is a fascinating city to explore, and unmissable attractions include Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavillion), the Zen rock garden at Ryoanji and the medieval Nijo Castle. Wander around the Gion district and you might be rewarded with the view of a traditional Japanese geisha, resplendent in kimono and wooden sandals. An hour south of Kyoto is Nara, also an ancient capital of Japan, and now on the tourist route mainly thanks to the great Buddha at Todaiji Temple, which is the largest wooden structure in the world. The nearby Horyuju Temple is the world’s oldest wooden structure.
 
3. HIROSHIMA
Hiroshima is of course automatically linked in everyone’s mind with the horrors of the atomic bomb dropped on the city in the closing stages of World War Two. The Peace Memorial Park is a constant reminder of the events of August 6th 1945, and attracts thousands of visitors from all over Japan and the world who come and pay their respects to those who perished and those who are still suffering the after-effects of the blast today.  Across a T-shaped bridge from the Peace Memorial Park (it is believed that this T shape was the target for the Enola Gay to drop its deadly bomb) is the A-bomb Dome, which is the symbol of the destruction caused. There is also a fascinating if harrowing museum detailing events of the bombing and its impact, which is well worth a visit. A short journey from Hiroshima is the beautiful island of Miyajima, with the famous “floating” red torii gateway of Itsukushima-jinja shrine, one of the most photographed sights in all Japan. The town’s tame deer that wander the streets and onto the beach are also an attraction.
 
  1. OSAKA
Japan’s third largest city after Tokyo and Yokohama, Osaka is a vibrant, busy city, with some great restaurants, lively nightlife and fantastic shopping. It doesn’t necessarily offer a huge amount in the way of cultural attractions, but you have nearby Kyoto for that! Osaka Castle is the foremost attraction in the city, although it is a 1930s restoration of the original, and from the outside not overly impressive. However, inside it houses some historical information, and you can also get great views over the city from the 8th floor. Osaka is also well known for its performing arts, notably kabuki theatre and bunraku puppetry.
 
  1.  HOKKAIDO
Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost and second largest (after Honshu) island, for a long time the “wild west” of Japan, and still home to the last of the indigenous Ainu people of Japan. You can learn more about the culture of the Ainu people at the Ainu Museum in Sapporo, the main city and vibrant capital of Hokkaido. It may be the second largest island but only around 5% of Japan’s total population live here. Unlike other parts of Japan, it doesn’t boast cultural monuments but instead wide open spaces and some great opportunities for outdoor activities, including skiing, hiking, hot springs, and wildlife spotting. Sapporo hosts the annual Snow Festival each February when the city is taken over by huge and elaborate ice and snow sculptures. 
 
  1. OKINAWA
In sharp contrast to Hokkaido, Okinawa and the South West Islands stretch for around 625 miles south west of the south of Kyushu, reaching to within 60 miles or so of the coast of Taiwan. The islands enjoy an almost tropical climate, and boasts beautiful beaches, excellent diving and traditional culture. After the end of the Second World War Okinawa became a major US military base, and even since sovereignty was finally returned to the Japanese in 1972, there is still a strong military presence here. 
 
  1. MOUNT FUJI
An icon of the Japanese landscape, the perfectly symmetrical Mount Fuji is the highest peak in Japan (12,388 feet), and can be climbed during a certain period of the summer (it is climbable year round, but only by experienced mountaineers) – don’t think you will be alone to climb it though, as there are often queues of people and you are forced to climb at the pace of the person in front of you! Most people climb overnight and stay in one of the mountain huts that are dotted up the side of the mountain so they are rewarded with the spectacular sight at sunrise when they reach the summit. If you can’t face the climb or are travelling to Japan in winter, then the best views of the mountain are from the shinkansen (bullet train) as it hurtles past the city of Fuji. 
 
  1. CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
Japan has a rich array of culture and traditions, ranging from sporting to theatre, and of course the famous tea ceremony. You can watch, or even take part in various martial arts, including sumo, judo, karate or kendo. In many towns and cities you will be able to book seats to watch a production of bunraku (puppetry), kabuki or no (theatre and dance). If you would like to take part in and learn more about the tea ceremony, then the tourist information offices in Kyoto or Tokyo can assist.
 
  1. SKIING
Japan has plenty of mountains and plenty of snow in winter making it an ideal wintersports destination. Hokkaido and the Japan Alps (which run through north and central Honshu) have numerous ski resorts. Nagano played host to the Winter Olympics several years ago and has some of the best ski facilities in Japan, and night skiing is also popular here. Many of the resorts also have hot springs (see below). The Gokase Highland Ski resort also offers grass skiing in summer.
 
10     HOT SPRINGS
Hot natural mineral spas, or onsen, are hugely important and popular in Japan, and they can be found dotted around all over the country. One of the oldest is Dogo Spa, and Ibusuki Spa, at the southernmost tip of Kyushu Island is one of the most famous, known for its hot sand saunas.




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