| Japan is a country of striking natural beauty that | | | | drink is green tea. |
| will make for a memorable sightseeing vacation. | | | | Through the years, Japan has played an important |
| Situated on the east coast of Asia, it's varied | | | | part in the arts, more notably in printmaking and |
| selection of cultural, environmental and urban | | | | in garden design. Classical and rock are popular |
| settings offer so much to any traveller. | | | | forms of music, but the traditional styles remain |
| Geologically, Japan is very active due to the plates | | | | widely played. It is well worth visiting some of the |
| that it sits on and there are over one hundred | | | | art centres, where they will show you how the |
| and fifty volcanoes on the islands with half of | | | | traditional arts were made. |
| them active. It consists of over three thousands | | | | Shopping in the capital, Tokyo, and the main cities |
| islands many of which are very mountainous. | | | | will be a pleasant experience. Every thing you |
| Most of the Japanese countryside is covered in | | | | need - you will find. For many years, the Japanese |
| forest, but due to its economic success, a large | | | | have been to the forefront of electronic creation. |
| amount of natural plant species are nearing | | | | Great electronic gadgets can be bought at a |
| extinction. | | | | reasonable price. The currency used is the |
| When travelling to Japan, plan and research the | | | | Japanese Yen. |
| best time of year to go. The climate differs | | | | If time allows, you should try to take in some of |
| considerably in different parts of the islands. It | | | | the national games. Traditional sports, such as |
| gets extreme snowstorms in the north of the | | | | archery, judo and karate are extremely common |
| country during the winter months. In the south of | | | | and in some regions samurai sword fighting is |
| the country the weather is more tropical and | | | | popular. Sumo wrestling is the most popular of the |
| humid. Tsunamis and typhoons are a very popular | | | | traditional sports, drawing huge crowds and large |
| occurrence during the year. | | | | television audiences. Baseball, football and rugby |
| Japan's history dates back for thousands of | | | | are the most popular modern sports. |
| years. The countryside has stunning old temples | | | | The Japanese people are extremely pleasant and |
| and castles along with great museums that show | | | | will go out of their way to make your holiday |
| the traditional art of warfare that the Japanese | | | | special. English is not widely spoken, so you should |
| are famous for. Temples are also a place of | | | | buy some sort of translation book to make your |
| worship for the Japanese. | | | | travel experience more enjoyable. |
| Western style foods are very popular with most | | | | Japan is an ideal location for a long vacation - and |
| of the more popular chain restaurants established | | | | to be honest, very little will be seen on a |
| there. Traditional dishes tend to be served in small | | | | weekend break. If you are planning a holiday |
| portions with many dishes being served raw. Rice | | | | there, give yourself at least three weeks to see |
| is served with most meals and the most common | | | | and enjoy this charming country. |