Japan

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General Information About Japan

Japan is modern country with strong traditions that offers wide variety if attractions for its visitors, from historical and cultural treasures to modern and futuristic sites and beautiful forests, mountains and beaches. The traditional for Japan amusements include karaoke bars, Manga and Anime, and of course the hot springs. Most of the Japanese main cities are offering very effective transport and are connected through the Japanese Bullet train.

Tourism in Japan

Accommodation
Besides the western style hotels, the country offers many different forms of traditional Japanese accommodation, like riokan and the minusuku. The riokans are traditional Japanese inns, usually situated around the hot springs. They are much more than just inns, in the riokan you have the opportunity to taste the Japanese traditions and hospitality, local cuisine, tatami on the floors, personal with kimonos, which makes them very popular not only among the tourists but for the locals too. Minusuku are mostly traditional family houses, offering you the change to get closer with the locals.

Restaurants and Food
One of the biggest attractions in Japan is the local cuisine and food. Large number of restaurant types can be found in Japan, often specializing in just one type of food. The service in the Japanese restaurants is usually on high level, the clients are welcomed with "irashimas" which mean "please come in" or "welcome". Most of the restaurants are equipped with western style tables and chairs, but there are traditional Japanese type of restaurants, where you may have to take off your shoes. Usually after you sit a coup of tea will or water will be served for free and refilled later. In Japan giving tips isn't accepted nor expected and you may end up with the waiter running after you to give you the change. The polite way is to say "gochisosama deshita" (thanks for the meal) on your way out. Many Europeans have difficulties eating the Japanese food, but don't worry there are some famous international chains for your needs.

Okinawa

Okinawa is the most southern point of Japan, consisting of several dozens of small islands. In Okinawa is situated one of the biggest and most fascinating aquariums.
The Yaeyama islands are perfect with its tropical atmosphere for provincial life. They are popular destination for these that want to run away from the Tokyo's daily round. This small paradise offers beaches, diving and relaxation. The most crowded island from the chain is Ishigaki, which serve for hub. The other islands are, the jungle covered Irimote island and Taketomi island, famous with its beautiful traditional Ryukyu Village.

Kyoto

Kyoto was the capital of Japan and imperial residence from 794 until 1868. Now it's the seventh largest city with 1.4 million people and modern face. In the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed from many wars, but because of its historical value it was spared from the nuclear bombing during the World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historical priceless structures survived in the city to present days.

Hakone

Hakone is part of the Fuji National Park on less than 100km from Tokyo. Famous with its hot springs, outdoor activities, natural beauty, and view toward Fuji Mountain, Hakone is one of the most popular destination for the people looking to rest from Tokyo.

Nikko (Tokyo)

Nikko is town on the entrance of the Nikko National Park, famous with Toshogu - the most generous decorated temple and mausoleum in Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nikko was center of Shinto and place of Buddhist respect many centuries before the building of Toshogu at 1600. The national park offer scenic landsapes, rivers, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and walking alleys. Nikko and the Okuniko region around Chuzendji River are well known with their beautiful autumn colors.

Kamakura

Kamakura is coastal town on less than hour south from Tokyo. Kamakura became political center of Japan, when Minamoto Yoritomo chose the town for place for his new military government in 1192. The government of Kamakura continued to rule Japan more than a century first under the Minamoto shogun and then under the Hojo regents. Today Kamakura is small town and very popular touristic destination, sometimes called "Kyoto of Eastern Japan".

Weather in Japan

November is the best time to visit Japan, the weather is mild and dry, and the colorful autumn leafs are wonderful.
New Year is one of the three main touristic seasons in Japan. December, January and February are wonderful months for tourism, the weather is sunny and dry, and it's not that crowded. You can see snow cover only in the most northern parts of Japan and the conditions are good for winter sports. The minus when visiting Japan during the winter is the comparatively short day (sunset at 5pm in Tokyo) and the loss of blooming plants.
After November, April is the next best time for tourism, because the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the weather is mild. Domestic travel activity increase because of the spring school holidays and the seazon of the cherry blossoms. At the end of April and the beginning of May starts the so called Golden Week, collection of four national holidays in seven days, the crowds and traffic are huge and it's better not to be there.
In the beginning of June, the rainy season visit most parts of Japan, except Hokkaido. The resorts with hot springs are becoming more than attractive at that time.
The rainy season ends in the first half of July. The weather is hot and humid, you can sweat from just standing still. The weather is more comfortable in the higher grounds and Hokkaido. Many local festivals are celebrated in July. The summer school holidays start in the end of July until the end of August, the domestic travels increase at that time with the hotel prices.
Same as July, August is hot and humid month with many local festivals. The festival of the death, called Obon, is taking place around the middle of August and it's one of the three busiest travel seasons in Japan.
September is the season of the typhoons. They usually hit the coasts of Okinawa, Kioshu and Shikoku. Fortunately the typhoons last only a couple of days and always bring clear weather. Usually the prices of the hotels are going down during this season.

Japanese cities

Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital and the largest city in Japan, also called the metropolis. The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards, 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara islands. The 23 wards are the center of Tokyo and make up around 1/3 of the metropolis.
Shibuya is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, but it's often connected just with the popular shopping and entertainment zone around the Shibuya Station.  Shibuya is one of the most colorful and busiest regions that gave birth to numerous Japanese fashion and entertainment trends. A prominent landmark of Shibuya is the large intersection in front of the station, which is heavily decorated with neon advertisements and huge video screens, and gets crossed by amazingly large crowds of pedestrians each time the traffic light turns green.
Shinjuku is another of the 23 wards, connected mainly with the large entertaining, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station. Northeast of the town is located Kabikicho, the largest and widest Red Light District in Japan.
Sensoji is the Buddhist temple situated in Asakusa. The temple is finished in 645 which makes it the oldest in Tokyo. The Meiji Shrine is the other interesting place for the visitors. Dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shiken. Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan, by the time of his death in 1912 the country have already endured political, social and industrial revolution, more famous like the Meiji Restavration.

Hiroshima

The first nuclear bomb falls in Hiroshima on 6th August 1945. The destructive power of the bomb destroyed anything in 2km radius. After the war great effort were taken to rebuild the city and the predictions that it would be inhabitable prove false. In the center of the city is build large park with called Peace Memorial Park.

Osaka

Osaka is the third largest city in Japan and second of importance, with population of 2.5 million people. Osaka is the historical and merchant capital of Japan and one of the most developed industrial centers in the region.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is attractive harbor town, played important role in the past as the most important and the only open harbor for foreigners for centuries in the period of isolation of Japan. Nagasaki is the second town after Hiroshima destroyed of nuclear bomb during the World War II.

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