Japan is an island nation that exists in Eastern Asia. The island exists in the Pacific Ocean, and Korea, Russia, and China sit to its east. Japan is comprised of a large number of islands which extend from the East China Sea to the Sea of Okhotsk. Japan is famous for its nickname which is "Land of the Rising Sun."
The total number of islands which comprise Japan are well in excess of 3,000, and the largest of these islands are Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku. These four islands make up well over 90% of Japan's surface, and consquently, most of the nation's people live on one of these islands.
Japan is known for being a very mountainous nation, and it has a sizeable number of volcanoes. The largest volcano in Japan is Mount Fuji. It should also be noted that the island has approximately 128 million people, and it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Japan is also home to Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, with a grand total of 30 million people when the entire metropolitan area is measured. A number of studies conducted on the history of Japan indicate that people have lived on the island since prehistoric times.
Japan is also known for both influencing and being influenced by foreign cultures. At this time, the government is based on a constitutional monarchy and it has its own parliament. Economically, Japan is a powerhouse, and it is home to some of the most advanced technology in the world. In fact, it is said that Japan has the world's second largest economy. The country is known for its culture, fashion, cars, gadgets, music, movies, and technology. The country has a GDP of approximately $4 trillion, and it is the sixth largest exporter in the world when it comes to various types of machinery. Japan's official currency is the Yen.
Japan Tip #1
If you are planning on traveling to the orient, one fact about japan that you should know is that you must have local currency (yen) on hand before you leave the airport. Taxi, buses and other transportation services do not accept debit or credit cards or any other currency except the yen. |
Japan Tip #2
Another fact about Japan to remember is that it is considered impolite and even rude to offer a monetary tip to a Japanese person. Some finer establishments may reqire a tip type fee, but it will be included in your bill. So remember don't tip your waiter or waitress or the bell boy, or even the taxi driver, instead save your money. |
Japan Tip #3
One of the most confusing facts about Japan is known as the consumption tax. The consumption tax is a feel that is applied to all purchases made in Japan and is currently at 5%. This means that whatever the price of the item you are buying, you need to add an additional 5% to the price. Be aware that some stores include this tax in the price of the item and some stores do not, so it is better to ask if you are in doubt. |
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