A Mini History.

Japan has been a farely insulated country for much of its history but has in recent times blossomed into one of the most dynamic nations in the world. It is highly likely that at some point or another you have come across Japanese goods and products. From world famous reliable cars to electronic devices that are established household names, Japan has firmly established itself as one of the world leaders in technological innovation.

The islands of Japan are situated just off the coast of mainland China seperated only by the sea of Japan. Historically, for a period of almost 400 years starting from 1639 Japan had elected not to trade with the outside world. However, since 1859, Japan ended its self imposed isolation and opened up trade with numerous other nations, resulting in this highly populated country rapidly expanding in nearly all sectors. Japan is now scattered wth huge modern day metropolis's and simply the most sophistacted system of public transportation in the world.

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Climate...

Japan is a collection of islands which experience all four distinct seasons. Summer is extremely hot particularly in the southern regions. The wettest months are May through to July whilst from June to August the atmosphere becomes noticably more humid. In the northern regions snowfall is a given particularly in the island of Hokkaido situated in the far north of the country.

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Culture and Landscaoe

Even though Japan has rapidly advanced in the technological sector, it has by no means lost its cultural heritage. The Japanese are a highly disciplined people and have very strict moral guidelines when interacting with other people. They have developed their own styles of architecture and decor and are well known for their culture of tea drinking and geisha girls.

The huge neon-lit cities are scattered with ancient buildings and temples, the more rural areas are full of gardens of cherry blossom, awesome volcanoes and wonderful hot springs. Lose yourself in the tranquil peace of the many beautiful lilac fields throughout the country side or indulge your material side in the hustle and bustle of the city centre, there is no doubt that this fascinating country has almost everything a visitor could want.

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Geography

Japan is largely a mountainous region with three quarters of its geography being covered with them. The people are largely congregated in the plains of Japan in an area known as Honshu. The capital city of Tokyo is a highly populated large city with an approximate head count of around twelve million people. Despite being a huge metropolis with masses of people huddled together you will be hard pressed to find another nation with such organisation and lack of crime. As far as the people are concerned, they have a reputation of being disciplined and extremely well mannered, they are very friendly to foreigners and often greet you with a warm smile.

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Communication and Health

The local time in Japan is +9 hours GMT. Japanese is the official language. Even though most Japanese people would have studied english in school they are not particularly proficient and most will not understand when you try to communicate with them. As far as health is concerned there is no particular vaccination you need to take when visiting this country. A recent scare was the discovery of a case of bird flu in a farm situated in rural Japan, there was, however, no recorded report of human infection. Nevertheless, a recommended practise is to stay away from live contact with birds and all poultry and egg well cooked before consumption.

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Medical Facilities

The hospitals in Japan are top rate, but do however require payment up front when required to treat foreigners.
Make sure you arrange adequate medical insurance cover before you leave. If you take any particular medication, it is advised to check your local Japanese embassy to see if they are permitted in Japan. Some over the counter medicines in your home country may be prohibited over there. Medications for sinus problems in particular are banned under the anti-stimulant drug law, so make sure you clarify the status of each and every drug you may be carrying before your departure.

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Safety

Tipping and negotiating discounts are generally not the norm in Japan, prices are fixed on most goods and services and a 10-15% service charge is automatically added to your bill.
As far as your personal safety is concerned, you have little to worry about. Japan has some of the lowest crime rate levels in the world and the population is generally quite financially stable. However, as in any major city of the world, care should be taken with personal belongings and secured in a safe location on your person. Probably a greater risk to your personal safety are the typhoons which generally hit the coastal regions during the June to September months. Also Japan is situated on a major earthquake prone area, and is often subject to various minor quakes and tremors. The Japanese are used to this phenomenon and have heavily invested lots of time and money building structures that can withstand such pressures.

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Customs and Currency

As far as local customs are concerned, the Japanese are very mild mannered and polite and do not take well to rowdy behaviour. For example, when entering a public restaurant or entering someones home the custom is to remove your shoes and bow as a form of greeting.

The currency of the country is known as the Japanese Yen. One hundred sen make up 1 Yen. Major credit cards are usually accepted in established hotels and restaurants but the customary thing to do is to offer cash.

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Tokyo Airport

Your first experience of Japan will be flying into the New Tokyo international airport. The airport is situated approximately 40 miles from the heart of Tokyo. The time difference is +9 hours GMT. The airport consists of to terminals and connected via a free shuttle service. The distance to the city from the airport is covered in approximately one hour, you have the option of taking a train, bus or taxi. Generally speaking, taking a taxi is not advised as the prices tend to verge on the extortionate. The easiest way is to use the highly efficient public transportation system. Ask the information desk for help and they will guide you to the best particular option for you. The airport facilities are modern and extensive and have numerous shops and restaurants to choose from.
ATM machines, a bureaux to convert money and internet cafes are spread throughput the airport.

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Tokyo City

Tokyo, the capital of Japan is an amazing place to visit. With a mass of 12 million people crammed into the capital city, this sprawling metropolis still manages to maintain organisation to an extremely high level. The people are modern, the restaurants are varied and the exquisite nightlife is wild enough to keep you up for hours into the morning. Despite being so highly populated Japan maintains extremely low levels of crime and the people are more than happy to help a stranger in need.
There is actually no specific area in Tokyo known as the "city centre" but simply different districts grouped together. The back streets are lined with houses made of timber, home to women in kimonos and host to festivals of various kinds.

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The Imperial Palace

The Imperial palace of Japan is situated at the heart of Tokyo and is still home to the emporer. Its structure was completed in the year 1888 and acces to the inner grounds are available on the 2nd of January and the 23rd of December. This is when the Japanese imperial family greets their citizens. Generally though the surrounding grounds and guided tours of the palace are available, providing a welcome break to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo life. Opening time: East Garden is open daily except Monday and Friday from 9am to 4pm (until 3.30pm between November and February).

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Yasakuni Shrine and Akihabara Shopping

The Yasakuni shrine was built in commemmoration of the soldiers who were killed in world war 2. The shrine is confined behind a huge steel gate, and the area designated for worship is a simple building. A long avenue leads up to this building lined with numerous cherry trees. Within the vicinity is also the Yushukan museum containing chilling and thought provoking memories of less peaceful times.
The Shrine is open 24 hours every dayThe Museum opens daily from 9am to 5pm

One of the most renowned places to pay a visit to when in Tokyo is the place known as Akihabara. A small place west of the station of the same name is stuffed full of hundreds of electronic shops. A proverbial paradise for those with an interest in computer hardware and software, this area has practically every electrical appliance you could need plus numerous expert staff that can answer any queries you may have. Duty free events and various other attractions ensure a steady stream of visitors to this unique location. Specialists in this field for over sixty years, Akihabara is now considered the worlds leader in electrical equipment.

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