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Japan, known as Nihon or Nippon (日本) in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Its insular character has allowed it to develop a unique and very intricate culture, while its closeness to other ancient East Asian cultures, in particular China, has left lasting influence. Despite belonging to a nation long at war, both internal and foreign, Japan’s people have always placed emphasis on inner balance, tranquility and natural beauty. These traditional values have become increasingly important now that Japan has grown to be one of the world’s most densely-populated countries, and its legendary work ethic makes life in its cities quite hectic.
Japan’s sophisticated cuisine has spread to all corners of the world, but it is only in the country of its birth where you can appreciate its true form. Even more fascinating is the country’s popular culture, which has developed a fandom all over the world, in particular manga comics and anime cartoons — with the Japanese taking their affinity for their favorite characters and themes to the extreme.
In the 20th century, Japan enjoyed impressive economic growth, putting it among the world’s most affluent nations today. This was mostly driven by rapid modernization and specialization in high technology. Japan is now full of contrasts between the living tradition and much cherished heritage, and its ultra-modern infrastructure, buildings and facilities. While the Japanese are known to be reserved and their language skills are not their strongest asset, they will go out of their way to make you feel a welcome visitor. Japanese retail businesses are also known for their legendary customer service, and visitors from overseas are often surprised at the lengths service staff would go to satisfy the demands of customers.
Regions
Japan is conventionally divided into nine regions, listed here from north to south:
Cities
Japan has thousands of cities; these are nine of the most important to the traveller.
1 Tokyo — the capital and main financial center, modern and densely populated
2 Hiroshima — large port city, the first city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb
3 Kanazawa — historic city on the west coast
4 Kyoto — ancient capital of Japan, considered the cultural heart of the country, with many ancient Buddhist temples and gardens
5 Nagasaki — ancient port city with a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, and European influences
6 Nara — first capital of a united Japan, with many Buddhist shrines and historical buildings
7 Osaka — large and dynamic city located in the Kansai region
8 Sapporo — largest city in Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival
9 Sendai — largest city in the Tohoku region, known as the city of forests due to its tree-lined avenues and wooded hills
Other destinations
See Japan’s Top 3 for some sights and places held in the high esteem by the Japanese themselves, and Off the beaten track in Japan for a selection of fascinating but less well known destinations throughout the country.
1 Miyajima — just off Hiroshima, site of the iconic floating torii
2 Mount Fuji — iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776m)
3 Mount Koya — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect
4 Naoshima – “Art Island” with many museums and installations off the coast of Shikoku
5 Sado Island Sado, Niigata on Wikipedia — island off Niigata, former home to exiles and prisoners, now a brilliant summer getaway
6 Shirakawa-go — one of the most well-preserved and picturesque historic villages in the nation.
7 Shiretoko National Park — unspoiled wilderness in northeastern Hokkaido
8 Yaeyama Islands — the farthest-flung bit of Okinawa, with spectacular diving, beaches and jungle cruising
9 Yakushima — UNESCO World Heritage site with enormous cedars and misty primeval forests