Japan
Discover Japan
Japan, known as Nihon or Nippon (日本) in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Its insular character has allowed it to develop a unique and very intricate culture, while its closeness to other ancient East Asian cultures, in particular China, has left lasting influence. Despite belonging to a nation long at war, Japan's people have always placed emphasis on inner balance, tranquility and natural beauty. These traditional values have become increasingly important now that Japan has grown to be one of the world's most densely-populated countries, and its legendary work ethic makes life in its cities quite hectic. Japan's sophisticated cuisine has spread to all corners of the world, but it is only in the country of its birth where you can appreciate its true form. Japanese pop culture is enormously popular around the world, especially anime, manga and video games, driving tourism to this country.
Famous Beaches
Taste of Japan...
Japanese cuisine, renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, has taken the world by storm. The key ingredient of most meals is white rice, usually served steamed. Soybeans are a key source of protein and take many forms, notably the miso soup (味噌汁 miso shiru) served with many meals, but also tofu (豆腐 tōfu) bean curd and the ubiquitous soy sauce (醤油 shōyu). Seafood features heavily in Japanese cuisine, including creatures of the sea and many varieties of seaweed. A complete meal is always rounded out by some pickles (漬物 tsukemono). One of the joys of getting out of Tokyo and travelling within Japan is to discover the local specialties. Every region within the country has a number of delightful dishes, based on locally available crops and fish. In Hokkaido try the fresh sashimi and crab. In Osaka don't miss the okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) stuffed with green onions and the octopus balls (たこ焼き takoyaki). Most Japanese food is eaten with chopsticks (箸 hashi). Eating with chopsticks is a surprisingly easy skill to pick up, although mastering them takes a while. You shouldn't "whittle" your disposable chopsticks after breaking them apart (which would imply you think they're cheap), but for cleanliness it is good manners to put them back in their paper wrapper when you're finished eating. Most soups and broths, especially miso, are drunk directly out of the bowl after you've chopsticked out the larger bits, and it's also normal to pick up a bowl of rice for easier eating.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Having been in the Chinese cultural sphere for much of its history, substantial Chinese influences can be seen in Japanese culture. They have been seamlessly blended with native Japanese customs to give rise to a culture that is distinctly Japanese. During the Edo Period, Japanese culture was strongly influenced by Confucianism. The Tokugawa Shogunate instituted a rigid class system, with the Shogun at the apex, a small group of feudal lords called daimyō below him, and the other samurai below that, followed by a vast population of commoners below them. At the bottom below even the commoners was a group of outcastes called the burakumin, who took on jobs considered "unclean" such as undertakers, butchers and executioners. Commoners were expected to pay respect to samurai (at the risk of being killed if they didn't), and women were expected to be subservient to men.
Religion
Japan has two dominant religious traditions: Shinto (神道 Shintō) is the ancient animist religion of traditional Japan. At just over 1,200 years in Japan, Buddhism (仏教 Bukkyō) is the more recent imported faith. Christianity (キリスト教 Kirisutokyō), introduced by European missionaries, was widely persecuted during the feudal era but is now accepted, and a small percentage of Japanese are Christian, concentrated in western Japan. Generally speaking, the Japanese are not a particularly religious people. While they are strongly influenced by Buddhist philosophies and regularly visit shrines and temples to offer coins and make silent prayers, religious faith and doctrine play a small role (if any) in the life of the average Japanese. Thus it would be impossible to try to represent what percentage of the population is Shinto versus Buddhist, or even Christian.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Japan into what it is today.
Japan's location on islands at the outermost edge of Asia has had a profound influence on its history. Close to mainland Asia, yet far enough to keep itself separate, Japan has experienced alternating periods of closure and openness. Until the mid-19th century, Japan was able to turn on or off its connection to the rest of the world, accepting foreign cultural influences in fits and starts. Recorded Japanese history begins in the 5th century, although archeological evidence of settlement stretches back 50,000 years. The mythical Emperor Jimmu is said to have founded the current Imperial line in the 7th century BCE. Archeological evidence, however, has only managed to trace the Imperial line back to the Kofun Period during the 3rd to 7th centuries CE, which was also when the Japanese first had significant contact with China and Korea. Japan then gradually became a centralized state during the Asuka Period, during which Japan extensively absorbed many aspects of Chinese culture, and saw the introduction of Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism. During that period, Prince Shotoku, the regent of Japan, sent envoys to Tang China to learn more about Chinese culture and practices and introduce them to Japan. The first strong Japanese state was centered in Nara (Heijo-kyo), which was built to model the then Chinese capital Chang'an. This period, dubbed the Nara Period was the last time the emperor held political power....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Japan.
Japan has an estimated 200,000 festivals (祭 matsuri) throughout the year. Festivals are held for a variety of reasons, the most common being to give thanks (e.g. for a successful rice harvest) and bring good fortune. Although most festivals are small events sponsored by local shrines or temples, there are hundreds that are large city-wide affairs, any of which would be a nice addition to your itinerary if they overlap your schedule. The main event at many large festivals is a parade of floats, which are usually lifted and carried by hand by several dozen men. Often a shrine's kami (spirit/deity) will be ritually put in a portable shrine (mikoshi) and carried around the neighborhood as part of the parade. At some festivals, anyone can take a turn helping to carry a float for a few minutes. Fireworks (花火 hanabi) are also a common event at festivals, particularly in the summer; in Japan, this is the most common use of fireworks.
Climate
The Japanese are proud of their four seasons, but the tourist with a flexible travel schedule should aim for spring or autumn. There are multitudes of books written on Japan. A good place to begin is one of the many recommended reading lists such as sites like The Crazy Japan Times or Japan Visitor. Some recommended books include: Much of the government's travel information is available in English. The native language of Japan is Japanese (日本語 nihongo). Very different from English and not known to be related to any other language group, it's nevertheless worthwhile to try to pick up at least basic greetings and thank yous to put people at ease. The Japanese writing system is arguably the most complex in the world, since it incorporates three different scripts including Chinese characters, but the native katakana and hiragana syllabaries of 46 characters each are reasonably tractable and will come in handy for longer visits.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsCitizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, UK and EU, can obtain entry permission on arrival without a visa. This is usually valid for a stay of up to 90 days, although Mexicans and some Europeans are permitted to stay for 180 days if they ask for a longer stay upon entry. All others must obtain a "temporary visitor" visa prior to arrival, which is generally valid for a stay of 90 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains an on-line Guide to Japanese Visas. No visa is required for a same-day transit between international flights at the same airport, so long as you do not leave the secured area. Visitors with tickets for onward travel to a third country may be granted a Shore Pass for a maximum of 72 hours with their permitted stay area limited to the vicinity of the port of entry. The port of departure does not have to be the same as the port of entry. Instead, it only needs to be in its vicinity....
Regions
Explore AreasJapan is administratively divided into 47 prefectures. These are conventionally grouped into nine regions, listed here from north to south: Japan has about 800 cities; these are nine of the most impor…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Japan has one of the world's best transport systems, and getting around is usually a breeze, with the train being overwhelmingly the most popular option. Trains are generally very punctual except during inclement weather or natural disasters. Travelling around Japan can be expensive, but there is a variety of passes that can be used to limit the damage. For sorting through transport schedules and fares, Navitime and Hyperdia are useful companions, although some features are limited to subscribers. Google Maps and Apple Maps can give detailed train and bus directions including platform numbers, but given the plethora of choices on popular routes it can be hard to filter results. You'll often have better results using apps like Jorudan's Japan Transit Planner to navigate the train system, then use Google or Apple for walking from the stations. English timetables for long-distance trains are available on the websites of JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central and JR Kyushu.
Where to Stay
In addition to the usual youth hostels and business hotels, you can find several kinds of uniquely Japanese accommodation, ranging from rarefied ryokan inns to strictly functional capsule hotels and utterly over-the-top love hotels. When reserving any Japanese accommodation, bear in mind that many smaller operations may hesitate to accept foreigners, fearing language difficulties or other cultural misunderstandings. Many Western hotel booking sites also have only a small selection of Japanese hotels available; to explore the full gamut, use local companies Rakuten Travel or Jalan, which have good English sites. Pricing for Japanese inns is often per person, not per room. Bizarrely, some Japanese hotel chains also charge per person. Read the fine print, and check what meals are included at inns since this can make a big difference in the price (and the experience). All accommodations are required by law to make a copy of your passport unless you are a resident of Japan.
Money & Budget
The Japanese currency is the Japanese yen, abbreviated ¥ (or JPY in foreign exchange contexts). The symbol 円 (pronounced en) is used in the Japanese language. Cash is available in the following forms: Prices in Japan are almost always listed using Western numerals, with Japanese numerals only occasionally spotted in places like high-end restaurants. The main exception is that large sums are sometimes abbreviated with 万 (man, 10,000), so 5万円 is 50,000 yen. For easy cash withdrawal, ATMs (ē tī emu), also known as "cash corners" (キャッシュコーナー kyasshu kōnā), are ubiquitous in Japan and can be found at most convenience stores and train stations. Oddly, some close at night or on weekends, although this restriction is slowly going away. Also, at night the additionally charged fee might be higher.
Language & Talk
The native language of Japan is Japanese (日本語 nihongo). Very different from English and not known to be related to any other language group, it's nevertheless worthwhile to try to pick up at least basic greetings and thank yous to put people at ease. The Japanese writing system is arguably the most complex in the world, since it incorporates three different scripts including Chinese characters, but the native katakana and hiragana syllabaries of 46 characters each are reasonably tractable and will come in handy for longer visits. Although English is a compulsory subject in Japanese schools, the focus is entirely on formal writing and grammar. Outside of major tourist attractions and large international hotels, it is rare to find people who are conversant in English.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, with crime rates significantly lower than that of most countries. Kōban (交番), usually translated as police boxes, can be found in nearly every neighborhood, identified by a flashing red light. The police are generally helpful (although they rarely speak English), so ask if you get lost or have any trouble. They usually have a detailed map of the area around showing the difficult-to-understand numbering system and the names of major buildings to help to find your way. You can report accidents and petty crimes at a kōban, but for serious crimes or other police services, go to a police station (警察署 keisatsusho). Report any thefts or lost items at the kōban. They have forms in English and Japanese, often referred to as the "Blue Form". For lost items, even cash, filling out this form is not wasted effort, as Japanese people will very often take lost items, even a wallet full of cash, to the kōban.
Glimpses of Japan
pagoda surrounded by trees
Shibuya crazy
Famous Fuji
Chureito Pagoda
Temple, Fujisan and Sun.
Getting myself lost in Japan [ IG: @clay.banks ]
Sakura
Fushimi Inari Shrine path
boats on body of water
Mt. Fuji, Japan
pagoda surrounded by trees
Shibuya crazy
Famous Fuji