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Japan (dʒəˈpæn/]; Japanese: 日本 Nihon or Nippon, officially 日本国 Nihon-koku or Nippon-koku) is an island nation in East Asia.(wp) Located in the Pacific Ocean,(wp) it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan,(wp) China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk(wp) in the north to the East China Sea(wp) and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".
Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area. Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Japan and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
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Accommodation[]
Standard room rate is calculated by per person. V.A.T. is not included. Tax rate is 5%. Some hotels add 10% of room charge as service charge.
Types of Accommodations
- Hotel: suitable accommodation for business travelers ($100–500/night)
- Business Hotel: cheap but decent hotel ($50–120/night)
- Ryokan: Japanese traditional lodging ($60–300/night including dinner and breakfast)
- Minshuku: family-run hotel with Japanese lifestyle ($50–150/night)
- Pension: resort inn with western lifestyle ($60–120/night)
- Youth Hostel: suitable for young people and foreigners ($30-50)
- Guest House: Economy domitories in Japan
Hotels
- Kaike Tsuruya(A hotel with hot-springs in Tottori Prefecture)
- Koyokaku(A traditional Japanese-style hotel in the area of Arima Onsen)
- Kinoe(A traditional Japanese-style hotel in Kyoto)
Attractions[]
Hotel, Travel, I-Travel, Airlines, Tour, Trip, Motel, Cruise, Last Minute, Online Booking, Holiday, At Travel, Cheap Travel, Budget holiday
Shopping[]
Maps and transportation[]
Getting to Japan[]
Public transportation is well established in the cities in Japan. However, it is difficult to see the signs and change train lines in such big crowds. http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/ is an online train route finder service, and it is very useful when you have to change the trains to get to your final destination.
Exploring Japan[]
Japan Railway company (JR)[]
In Japan, there are 6 major railway companies. These were divided from one organization in 1989. The Shinkansen connects each railway with the others (except Shikoku, Hokkaido). Everyday Japanese use Shinkansen for business, sightseeing, and transport. The trains are well-equipped, fast and very comfortable. If you want to enjoy railway travel in Japan, it is best to buy a Railway Pass before leaving your home country.
Highway Bus[]
There are many bus companies in Japan.
Practical information and resources[]
~National Holidays in Japan~
Holiday Name[]
New Year's Day (Gantan) 01-Jan
Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi) 9-Jan(2006) 2nd Monday of Jan
National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi ) 11-Feb
Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi) 21-Mar
Greenery Day (Midori no hi) 29-Apr
Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpou Kinenbi) 03-May
National Holiday (Kokumin no kyuujitsu) 04-May
Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi) 05-May
Marine Day (Umi no hi) 17-Jul(2006) 3rd Monday in Jul
Respect for the Aged Day (Keirou no hi) 18-Sep(2006) 3rd Monday of Sep
Autumnal Equinox Day (Shuubun no hi) 23-Sep(2006)
Sports Day (Taiiku no hi) 9-Oct(2006) second Monday of Oct
Culture Day (Bunka no hi) 03-Nov
Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrou Kansha no hi) 23-Nov
Emperor's Birthday (Tennou tanjoubi) 23-Dec
If the holiday is on a Sunday, then Monday will be considered a substitute holiday. (Exceptions are "Coming of Age Day", "Marine Day", "Respect for the Aged Day" and "Sports Day".)
There is no set date for these holidays. "Coming of Age Day" is on the second Monday of January, "Marine Day" is on the 3rd Monday of July, "Respect for the Aged Day" is on the 3rd Monday of September, and "Sports Day" is on the second Monday of October.
On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, banks, post offices, and companies are closed. Most department stores and shops are open.
At the year-end and for the New Year holiday (from 28 Dec to 3 Jan), many department stores remain open. However, in smaller towns, shops may be closed during this time.
Restaurants[]
Wide variety of restaurant are available in most places. You can eat Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, and pretty much any kind of food from all over the world. Some restaurants are very reasonable, from less than 500 yen and some others are very expensive. If you are Japanese food lover, sushi restaurants can be found in many places, but they are often expensive, so why don't you try something new? Japanese food includes so much variation of food. Also, you will find the difference within Japanese food, depending on which part of Japan you are in.
If you are over 20 and looking for a place to drink, try some Japanese traditional bars, called izakaya. All kinds of Japanese beer, sake and alcohol will be served. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere and great food with alcohol. At any restaurant, you don't need to pay tips.
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Photo gallery[]
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Everything else[]
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External resources[]
- J-Log - All about Japanese pop culture and travel
- Japan Review
- News and informations on Japan travels
- Japan Travel Guide
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Major Cities: Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo, Yokohama, (edit)
Popular Areas/Cities: Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Kyoto, Matsue, Mt Fuji, Nagasaki, Narita, Okinawa, Takayama, (edit)
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