Located in Asia, Japan is actually an archipelago of 6,852
islands rather than a single island. There are four main islands
- Honshū (the main island), Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku - that
make up the majority of Japan. To understand the country, you
have to remember that their history is full of long periods of
isolation followed by contact with nearby neighbors like China.
This allowed their culture to evolve differently than it did
elsewhere in the world. This is what makes Japan such a special
place, however. If you think you've "seen Asia," but you haven't
been to Japan yet, you're really missing out on something
special.
While the island isn't very large, there's actually quite a bit
to see in Japan. The Greater Tokyo Area in Japan is home to
roughly 30 million people, making it the largest metropolitan
areas in the world. The country is also the world's 10th largest
population, despite the fact the island nation is so small.
Another interesting thing to note if you're traveling there is
that even though they're on the "Ring of Fire" and experience
quite a few earthquakes, over the years architects and science
have come up with great, innovative ways to make sure minor
earthquakes aren't a problem.
Tourism isn't the main industry in Japan (which has the world's
second largest economy) as it is in some other countries in
Asia, but that doesn't mean it's not a great destination. Here
are just a few of the great reasons to visit Japan:
Robots and Technology - If robots are your "thing," then
you're going to want to plan a trip to Japan at some point in
your life. The country is also a leader when it comes to
technology - especially robotics. With museums full of robots,
robots for sale in shops, and robots even seen out in public,
Japan is the place to be if you're into robotics.
Mount Fuji - This is the highest mountain in Japan. It is an
active volcano that last erupted in the early 18th century. If
you're into physical challenges (and natural beauty), then
taking a climb up Mount Fuji will be fun. The cone of Mt. Fuji
is really symmetrical and it has become known as a symbol of
Japan over the years. It's considered one of their three holy
mountains.
Japanese Culture - There's truly nothing like the Japanese
culture anywhere else on the planet. Because they were isolated
for so many years, their culture is really rather unique when
compared to other Asian countries or other places in the world.
Still, their music and other things have borrowed from other
cultures over the years. Some things, like Manga animation, are
truly unique to Japan.
Japanese Sport - The national sport of Japan, Sumo may be an
acquired taste, but if you decide to go to the country, you're
going to want to see at least one Sumo event. Baseball is
another very popular sport in Japan. European football (soccer)
has also started becoming more and more popular in the country.
While Japan has a history of being a very private and secluded
nation, they aren't mean to foreigners by any means. That said,
there are some things that you should be aware of if you want to
show respect as a visitor in the country.
Language - While Japanese is one of the most difficult
languages to learn, you should at least attempt to learn some of
the language. The Japanese people for the most part will respect
you for this and may be more apt to help you.
Bowing - Meant as a sign of respect, you'll want to make sure
you bow correctly. Men bow with their hands at their sides,
while women should bow with their hands together in front of
them.
Gift Giving - This is very popular in Japanese culture. If
you're a visitor to the country, don't be surprised if you
suddenly find yourself receiving gifts from people, even
strangers.
There are many other things you should be aware of before
traveling to Japan, but those are some of the basics. If you
keep them in mind, you'll have a great trip as you visit all the
great destinations in Japan.
About Japan