Japan

About Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Taiwan in the south. Japan is a part of the Ring of Fire, and spans an archipelago of 6852 islands covering 377,975 square kilometers (145,937 sq mi); the five main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu (the "mainland"), Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Tokyo is the nation's capital and largest city, followed by Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, and Kyoto.

The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with more than 37.2 million residents. Japan is the eleventh most populous country in the world, as well as one of the most densely populated and urbanized. About three-fourths of the country's terrain is mountainous, concentrating its population of almost 125 million on narrow coastal plains. The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate but varies greatly from north to south. Japan is divided into 47 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions.

Japan is a developed country and a great power. It is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations (since 1956), G20, OECD, and the Group of Seven. Its economy is the world's third-largest by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest by PPP, with its per capita income ranking at 36th highest in the world. Although Japan has renounced its right to declare war, the country maintains Self-Defense Forces that rank as one of the world's strongest militaries. After World War II, Japan experienced record growth in an economic miracle, becoming the second-largest economy in the world by 1972 but has stagnated since 1995 in what is referred to as the Lost Decades.

Japan has the world's highest life expectancy, though it is experiencing a population decline. A global leader in the automotive, robotics and electronics industries, the country has made significant contributions to science and technology. The culture of Japan is well known around the world, including its art, cuisine, film, music, and popular culture, which encompasses prominent manga, anime and video game industries.

Why Japan is Popular

Japan such a unique country. The culture, the history, food, and the place itself it’s something that you can’t find anywhere else. Japan is a popular tourist destination for many reasons. Its more than 6,800 islands are home to a wide array of sights and attractions that lure millions of visitors from around the world, whether it is summer, autumn, winter or spring.Japan is the most amazing tourist destination and it offers many unique experiences that you cannot find in any other part of the world. The culture of this country is an interesting blend of Eastern traditions and Western modernity that can be seen everywhere. Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara.

Japan’s history has existed for a few thousand years now, and that until this day a lot of it remains very much alive. Even though the country is one of the most advanced in the world somehow, it’s great at mixing the best of both worlds. You can be walking in the streets of Tokyo and find ancient monuments or temples that have existed in the city for centuries as well as with the newest technology existing today. Throughout the whole country really, you’re able to not only able to explore the traditional beauties this country has to offer, but also seeing the convenience of its modernization and technological advances.

The food is something we cannot put aside! Ramen, sushi, udon, yakiniku, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and many more!! The food is amazing! And the best part is that depending on where you go it will always have a different taste. Many regions in Japan have their own style of cuisine, and a plate that they’re known for, which only makes more interesting! Another thing that is great, is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on these foods, most restaurants will cost between $5-$10 for one meal. Unless you go to a very prestigious place, most of the foods will be affordable. So, if you come to Japan don’t forget to try as much food as you can!

Something that surprises most people when they first arrive to Japan is how polite people are. Japanese people tend to be always really nice even if they’re not having the best day. Always helping people when they are in need, like giving directions, and sometimes even taking the person to the place they want to go to when they might have a prior engagement. People always follow the rules and maintain order anywhere they go. Keeping the city very safe and clean 99% of the time. It’s something that you definitely don’t see everywhere you go, making Japan even more unique in that sense. Sometimes, it might even be a bit difficult to follow as a foreigner since there are a lot of unspoken rules that Japanese follow each day. However, they are always very understanding and will help you out if you are ever in need of help.

Another thing that most visitors in Japan get stunned by is by how everything works so smoothly in Japan. Public transportation is probably one of the main things. Buses, Trains, Bullet trains, everything! It’s just so convenient for travelers and locals. It is incredible the punctuality in which these types of transportations work by. The average rate of delays is 0.18 seconds! Something that you can’t really experience in other places. Not only punctuality, but safety as well. Everything tends to be so safe and if there is a rare case of disturbance, police officers are always available to help. Of course, many other countries have amazing efficiency. But Japan, is quite jaw dropping when it comes to a lot of it. Convenient stores, discount stores, and many other things are running constantly to make people’s lives much easier.