For a country that lived in self-imposed isolation until 150 years ago, Japan has not hesitated in making up for lost time since the world came calling. This slinky archipelago of some 6,800 volcanic islands is tucked away off the far eastern coast of Asia; and yet from the moment of arrival in this oddly familiar Oriental land, it's almost as if you've touched down on another planet.
Japan is a place of ancient gods and customs but is also the cutting edge of cool modernity. High-speed trains whisk you from one end of the country to another with frightening punctuality. You can catch sight of a farmer tending his paddy field, then turn the corner and find yourself next to a neon-festooned electronic games parlour in the suburb of a sprawling metropolis. One day you could be picking through the fashions in the biggest department store on earth and the next relaxing in an outdoor hot-spring pool.
In this mountainous country, one and a half times the size of Britain, 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 that are part of one of Japan's modern wonders - its efficient transport network of trains and highways.
Japan offers unexpectedly beautiful landscapes, charmingly courteous people, and its tangible sense of history and cherished traditions. Most intriguing of all is the opaqueness at the heart of this mysterious "hidden" culture that stems from a blurring of traditional boundaries between East and West. Japan is neither wholly one nor the other.
For information on when to go to Japan, click here.
To research where to go in Japan, click here.
For information on getting there from the U.S. and Canada, click here.
For information on getting around once you are in Japan, click here.
For information on police, crime rates and emergencies, click here.
To learn about Japan's major festivals and national holidays, click here.
For some quick tips on Japanese conventions and etiquette, click here.
For suggestions on exploring Japan, click here.
To book your flight to Japan, click here.
To book a hotel in Japan, click here.
Previous Destinations:
• Japan
• The Bahamas
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• San Diego, California
REMINDER: PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Traveling abroad? It's important you know your passport, visa, and health requirements, which vary by destination. Make sure you get all the information you need well in advance of your trip.
As of January 1, 2008, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land as well as air or sea, regardless of destination. As of January 8, 2007, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via air or sea, to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
For more information on travel requirements, contact the U.S. embassies of the countries you're visiting. A complete list of U.S. embassies worldwide can be found at the Department of State Web site.
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