Japan:

Japan is an intricate blend of East and West. It’s cities may look Westernized but beyond first impressions there's very little about this Asian nation that could lull you into thinking you're in the West.

It's been only some 140 years since Japanese opened their doors, embracing Western products wholeheartedly, yet at the same time altering them and making them unquestionably their own. Anyone who's eaten sushi, driven a Toyota or used a Sony Walkman feels they know something about this slinky archipelago of some 6800 volcanic islands and yet, from the moment of arrival in this oddly familiar, quintessentially oriental land it's almost as if you've touched down on another planet.

The vast majority of the 127 million population live on the crowded coastal plains of the main island of Honshu. The three other main islands, running north to south, are Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu, and all are linked to Honshu by bridges and tunnels.

The capital Tokyo, and the former imperial city and thriving cultural centre of Kyoto, will be top of most visitors' itineraries, and deservedly so, but you could avoid the cities entirely and head to the mountains or smaller islands to discover an alternative side of the country, away from the most heavily beaten tourist tracks. North across the Tsugaru Straits, Hokkaido is Japan's final frontier, with many national parks including the outstanding Daisetsu-zanNational Park, offering excellent hiking trails over mountain peaks and through soaring rock gorges.

South of the Japan Alps, the Kansai plains are scattered with ancient temples, shrines and the remnants of imperial cities. Kyoto, Japan's premier cultural centre, is home to its most refined cuisine, classy ryokan, magnificent temples and palaces, and glorious gardens. The slightly unconventional metropolis of Osaka has an easy-going atmosphere and boisterous nightlife, plus several interesting sights. For obvious reasons Hiroshima is the most visited location in Western Honshu. The southernmost of Japan's four main islands, Kyushu is probably best known as the target for the second atomic bomb, which exploded over Nagasaki in 1945.

Because of this unique synthesis of East and West into a culture that is distinctly Japanese, Japan is not easy for Westerners to comprehend. Discovering it is like peeling an onion -- you uncover one layer only to discover more layers underneath. So, no matter how long you stay in Japan, you never stop learning something new about it -- and that constant discovery is one of the most fascinating aspects of being here.

What you need to know:

CLIMATE:
Except for the Hokkaido area and the subtropical Okinawa region, the weather is mostly temperate, with four seasons. Winters are cool and sunny in the south, cold and sunny around Tokyo (which occasionally has snow), and very cold around Hokkaido, which is covered in snow for up to four months a year. Summer, between June and September, ranges from warm to very hot, while spring and autumn are generally mild throughout the country.

FOOD:
Japanese cuisine, now popular in the West, involves very sensitive flavors, fresh crisp vegetables and an absence of richness. The best place to try sushi is a Kaiten Sushi Bar, where many varieties pass the customer on a conveyor belt allowing complete choice over which delicacies to try.

National specialties:

• Teriyaki (marinated beef/chicken/fish seared on a hot plate).
• Sukiyaki (thin slices of beef, tofu and vegetables cooked in soy sauce and then dipped in egg).
• Tempura (deep fried seafood and vegetables).
• Sushi (slices of raw seafood placed on light and vinegary rice balls – very tasty and refreshing).
• Sashimi (slices of raw seafood dipped in soy sauce).

All Japanese restaurants serve complimentary green tea with meals. If that's a little too weak, you may want to try sake, an alcoholic beverage made from rice and served either hot or cold. It goes well with most forms of Japanese cuisine. Produced since about the 3rd century, sake varies by region, production method, alcoholic content, color, aroma, and taste.

Japanese beer is also very popular. The biggest sellers are Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi, and Suntory, with each brand offering a bewildering variety of brews.

CURRENCY:
The currency in Japan is called the yen, symbolized by ¥. Coins come in denominations of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, and ¥500. Bills come in denominations of ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000. You'll find that all coins get used (though it's hard to get rid of ¥1 coins), and you'll want to keep plenty of change handy for riding local transportation such as buses or streetcars. Although change machines are virtually everywhere, even on buses where you can change larger coins and ¥1,000 bills, you'll find it faster to have the exact amount on hand.

Conversion rate:
1.00 USD = 103 JPY

LANGUAGES:
Picking up a few words of Japanese, even managing a sentence or two, is not difficult. Pronunciation is simple and standard and there are few exceptions to the straightforward grammar rules. And any time spent learning Japanese will be amply rewarded by the thrilled response you'll elicit from the locals, who'll always politely comment on your fine linguistic ability.

Useful words and phrases:

We recommend:

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