Introduction to Japan

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan!


Japan Overview
Japan is a country with a enriching and unique culture where it is famous for sightseeing, shopping, eating and many other forms of entertainment.

Many tourists travel to Japan to experience its exotic cultures and gracious hospitality of the locals. Japan’s culture is very extreme from one region to another as certain regions are heavily influenced by the westerners. In cities that are rich in heritage such as Kyoto and Nara, one will be able to experience the Japanese cultural traditions. These cities are well known for their museums, temples and tea ceremonies etc. However, in other cities of Japan where the culture is commodified by the westerners, one gets to experience the modern and vibrant pop cultures.

Geography
Situated in the northeast of Asia, Japan is an archipelago consisting of four big islands, namely Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. The main Islands are then further divided into nine regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chubu, Chugoku, Kanto, Shikoku, Kinki/ Kansai, Kyushu and Okinawa. Japan has a land area of 377,873 square kilometres with a population of over 126 million. It consists of mostly mountainous areas with a few large plains and it has a total of 47 prefectures.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo, which is the main city of Kanto. Located in the middle of the Japan archipelago, Kanto is the largest plain in Japan where one third of the Japanese population live. Formerly known as Edo, Tokyo is the largest city in Japan which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Japan. Tokyo is a bustling city which is renowned for its Harajuku culture and many entertaining tourists’ attractions.
Climate
The climate in Japan can be divided into six categories since it ranges from subarctic in the northern most areas to the subtropical in the southernmost regions.

Hokkaido (Severely cold in winter and cool in summer)
The Japan Sea Coastal Area (Heavy snow in winter)
The Pacific Ocean side (Usually clear days and not too cold in winter)
Central Highland (Cold in winter and cool in summer)
Inland Sea (Mild throughout the year without much rain)
The Southwest Islands (Warm winter, hot summer and much rain)

Seasons
There is a total of four distinct seasons in Japan:
Spring (March to May)
Summer (June to August)
Autumn (September to November)
Winter (December to February)

Here are some tips for you when travelling to Japan:
Take note that the rainy season (Tsuyu) is from mid-June to mid-July and the typhoon season is in September. Hence, it is best not to travel during this period of time. High peak season for travel is during March to May as this is the period when the Cherry blossoms.