Japan

Japan (Japanese: 日本; Nippon [ɲippoɴ] or Nihon [ɲihoɴ]; formally 日本国

Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku, lit. 'State of Japan') is an island country in East Asia. Located in
the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from
the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south.
The kanji that make up Japan's name mean 'sun origin', and it is often called the "Land of the
Rising Sun". Japan is a stratovolcanicarchipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands. The four
largest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, which make up about ninety-seven
percent of Japan's land area and often are referred to as home islands. The country is divided
into 47 prefectures in eight regions, with Hokkaido being the northernmost prefecture
and Okinawa being the southernmost one. Japan is the 2nd most populous island country.
The population of 126 million (2019)[12] is the world's eleventh largest, of which 98.5%
are ethnic Japanese. 90.7% of people live in cities, while 9.3% live in the
countryside.[16] About 13.8 million people live in Tokyo,[17] the capital of Japan. The Greater
Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with over 38 million people.[18]
Archaeological research indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper
Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st
century AD. Influence from other regions, mainly China, followed by periods of isolation,
particularly from Western Europe, has characterized Japan's history.
From the 12th century until 1868, Japan was ruled by successive feudal military shōguns who
ruled in the name of the Emperor. Japan entered into a long period of isolation in the early
17th century, which was ended in 1853 when a United States fleet pressured Japan to open
to the West. After nearly two decades of internal conflict and insurrection, the Imperial
Court regained its political power in 1868 through the help of several clans
from Chōshū and Satsuma – and the Empire of Japan was established. In the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, victories in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese
War and World War I allowed Japan to expand its empire during a period of
increasing militarism. The Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937 expanded into part of World
War II in 1941, which came to an end in 1945 following the Japanese surrender. Since
adopting its revised constitution on May 3, 1947, during the occupation led by SCAP,
the sovereign state of Japan has maintained a unitary parliamentary constitutional
monarchywith an Emperor and an elected legislature called the National Diet.
Japan is a member of the ASEAN Plus mechanism, UN, the OECD, the G7, the G8, and
the G20, and is considered a great power.[19][20][21] Its economy is the world's third-largest
by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest by purchasing power parity. It is also the
world's fourth-largest exporter and fourth-largest importer.
Japan benefits from a highly skilled and educated workforce; it has among the world's largest
proportion of citizens holding a tertiary education degree.[22] Although it has
officially renounced its right to declare war, Japan maintains a modern military with the
world's eighth-largest military budget,[23] used for self-defense and peacekeeping roles; it
ranked as the world's fourth most-powerful militaryin 2015.[24] Japan is a highly developed
country with a very high standard of living and Human Development Index. Its population
enjoys the highest life expectancy and third lowest infant mortality rate in the world, but is
experiencing issues due to an aging population and low birthrate. Japan is renowned for its
historical and extensive cinema, influential music industry, anime, video gaming,
rich cuisine and its major contributions to science and modern technology.[25][26]
1 Mount Fuji

Without a doubt Japan's most recognizable landmark, majestic

Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) is also the country's highest mountain peak,
towering 3,776 meters over an otherwise largely flat landscape to the
south and east, and tall enough to be seen from Tokyo more than 100
kilometers away. Mount Fuji has for centuries been celebrated in art
and literature and is now considered so important an icon that
UNESCO recognized its world cultural significance in 2013. Part of
the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Mount Fuji is climbed by more
than a million people each summer as an act of pilgrimage, which
culminates in watching the sunrise from its summit. While some still
choose to begin their climb from the base, the majority of climbers now
start from above the halfway mark, at the 5th Station, resulting in a
more manageable six or so hour ascent. Of course, for many, simply
viewing the mountain from the distance, or from the comfort of a
speeding train, is enough to say "been there, done that."
2 Imperial Tokyo

Tokyo's most famous landmark, the Imperial Palace with its

beautiful 17th-century parks surrounded by walls and moats, is a
must-see when visiting the nation's capital. Don't be put off by the fact
that the majority of the palace is closed to the public (it's still in use by
the Imperial family), as there is still enough to see simply by strolling
the grounds. In addition to the many fine views of the palace from
numerous points in the surrounding parkland - including the
famous Nijubashi Bridge, or "double bridge," so named for its
watery reflection - visitors are permitted into the East Higashi-Gyoen
Garden and other areas that are opened to the public as part of an
organized tour. Another must-see for tourists visiting Tokyo is the
famous Ginza shopping district, home to the Kabuki-za Theatre with
its Kabuki performances, as well as the Shimbashi Enbujo
Theatre with its traditional Azuma-odori dances and Bunraku
performances.
3 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

While little need be said here of the horrors of the atomic

bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945, much can be said of the
incredible efforts this vibrant city has made to commemorate the
many victims of the world's first nuclear attack, and perhaps even
more importantly, the symbol of lasting peace Hiroshima has since
become. Visited by more than a million people each year, many from
overseas, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen
Kōen) lies at the epicenter of the atomic blast in what was once a
bustling part of the city and includes a number of important
monuments, memorials, and museums relating to the events of that
fateful day. In addition to the grounds and gardens with their colorful
cherry blossoms, the park's highlights include the Peace Memorial
Museum with its numerous exhibits dealing with the issue of world
peace, and the Memorial Cenotaph and the Flame of Peace, as
well as the Atom Bomb Dome, the ruins of an administrative building
that lay at the center of the explosion.
4 The Island Shrine of Itsukushima

Just a short ferry ride from mainland Hiroshima is the island

of Miyajima, famous the world over as Japan's Shrine Island. Covering
an area of 30 square kilometers in Hiroshima Bay, Miyajima is best
known as the home of the Itsukushima Shrine, a Shinto temple
dedicated to the Princess daughters of the wind god Susanoo. Dating
from the eighth century, the majority of the shrine's buildings rise out of
the waters of a small bay supported only by piles. The effect at high tide
is simply stunning, making these structures - including the famous
Great Floating Gate (O-Torii) - appear as if they're floating on water.
Linked together by walkways and bridges, it's a fascinating place to
explore, in particular its larger halls such as the exquisite Honden (Main
Hall), the Offerings Hall (Heiden), the Prayer Hall (Haiden), and the Hall
of a Thousand Mats (Senjokaku). Another notable feature is the
shrine's stage where visitors are entertained with traditional dances and
musical performances. Also worth exploring are the island's exquisite
grounds and gardens, home to wild deer and numerous bird colonies.
5 Temple City: Historic Nara

For centuries the hub of Japanese culture, the lovely

unspoiled city of Nara is home to a large number of historic
buildings, along with important national treasures and works of
art. In addition to its many historic streets, the city boasts
numerous important old temples, including the magnificent
seventh-century Kofuku-ji Temple, perhaps the best known
of the Seven Great Temples of Nara; and the splendid eighth-
century Todai-ji (Great East Temple), famous for its huge
bronze statue of the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), cast here in AD
749. Also of interest in Todai-ji are its Great South Gate
(Nandaimon), a two-story structure borne on 18 columns with
two Nio statues standing eight meters tall and guarding the
temple entrance, and the Hall of the Great Buddha, the world's
largest timber building.
6 Osaka Castle

Built in 1586 by famous Japanese warrior and

politician Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Osaka Castle (Ōsaka-jō) was at the
time the largest and most important fortress in the country. Although
destroyed and rebuilt a number of times since, the present structure,
built in 1931, remains true to the original. Highlights of a visit include
the huge five-story, 42-meter-tall main tower built on an imposing 14-
meter-tall stone base and home to a number of displays detailing the
history of the castle and the city; be sure to visit the top floor for its
superb views over Osaka, an especially attractive sight as the sun
sets. Also of interest in Osaka Castle Park is the Hokoku Shrine,
while Osaka's best-known temple, Shitennō-ji, is also worth visiting
and dates back to AD 59. Notable as Japan's first Buddhist temple,
this lovely shrine features a five-story pagoda along with a number of
other exquisitely decorated buildings including the Golden
Pavilion (Kondō) with its fine statues and paintings, the Lecture
Hall (Kōdō), and a lovely covered corridor linking three of the site's
gates.
7 Chūbu-Sangaku National Park and the Japanese Alps

Japan boasts a number of outstanding areas of natural beauty,

many of them designated as national parks or, in some cases,
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the country's most
spectacular parks is Chūbu-Sangaku National Park in the center of
Honshu, incorporating in its northern and central regions the group of
mountains collectively referred to as the Hida Mountains, or
Japanese Alps. The region contains some of the highest peaks in the
country, including Hotaka at 3,190 meters, and Yari at 3,180 meters.
Similar in many ways to the Alps of Central Europe - both in the
character of the landscape and in its abundance of snow in winter -
the Japanese Alps attract large numbers of walkers and climbers in
summer and skiers in winter. Of particular interest is the park's
abundance of flora and fauna, including the rare ptarmigan and
mountain antelopes found at higher altitudes. The park's many hot
springs also draw visitors and led to the development of various spas
and holiday resorts, the best known being Kamikōchi.
8 The Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya

The Atsuta Shrine, in the heart of the city of Nagoya, is the

most important Shinto shrine in Japan, and attracts more than five
million visitors each year. Established in the first century, this
religious site is famous for its preserved Imperial insignia, the
"grass-mowing sword" (kusanagi-no-tsurugi), one of only three in
the country. Also of interest are its principal shrine, Hongu,
surrounded by an enclosing wall, and the treasury with its
numerous works of art, including old and modern paintings,
ceramics, jewelry, and traditional masks. While in Nagoya, be sure
to also visit Nagoya Castle, a splendid moated complex built in
1612 boasting a 48-meter-high main tower that is famous for its two
gilded dolphins (shachi), its museum containing art treasures from
the former palace, and its spectacular views over the city and the
Nobi Plain.
9 Fukuoka Castle and the City's Ancient Festivals

One of the few surviving examples of the once prolific and

majestic hilltop homes preferred by Shoguns and city rulers,
Fukuoka Castle (Fukuoka-jō) is one of the highlights of a visit to
Fukuoka. Once part of a massive complex that covered an area
of some 47,000 square meters, this beautiful castle still
impresses with its size and its position on a tall foundation
overlooking the Naka River. Fukuoka is also well known for its
many events and festivals, in particular the Hakata Gion
Yamakasa, a famous two-week long, 700-year-old celebration
held each July that draws millions of visitors from across the
country to its colorful parades, as well as its traditional races
and costumes. The city is not without its modern attractions,
too, including Canal City Hakata, a-city-within-the-city complete
with a canal running through the complex along with great
shops, hotels, restaurants, and a theater.
10 Sapporo, Hokkaido

Located on Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, the city of

Sapporo offers many things to see and do for tourists. As the island's
largest city, it's a hub of cultural activity, hosting many excellent events
and festivals; a distinctive culinary style; a rich theatrical history; and
plenty of museums, galleries, and parks. The focal point here is very
much the city's attractive downtown area, the center of which is Odori
Park, a large swath of green that's very pleasant to explore. From here,
you can also access points of interest such as the Sapporo TV Tower,
as well as the city's famous aerial tramway, an easy walk away. The
Mount Moiwa Ropeway will eventually get you to the summit's Upper
Station, from where you can enjoy incredible views over the city, a real
treat at night. The mountain is also the location of the Mount Moiwa Ski
Resort, a popular winter destination, especially since the 1972 Winter
Olympics were held in the city. And if you're arriving in winter, be sure to
visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, held here each February and drawing
in excess of two million revelers.