| If you're determined to explore Asia but unsure which | | | | sunshine. |
| country to visit, you might want to set your sites on | | | | About the People |
| Far East Asia and travel to Japan. Here is some | | | | Before you depart to travel Japan, it's a good idea to |
| general but useful information that is good to know | | | | get a sense of the people and their culture. Japan is |
| when you travel Japan. It will help you get a better | | | | one of the most densely populated nations in the |
| understanding of Japan before your trip and allow you | | | | world, with some 330 persons per square kilometer |
| to experience Japan more comfortably. | | | | (almost 860 persons per sq. mi.). The Japanese are a |
| About the Country | | | | Mongoloid people, closely related to the major groups |
| Japan consists of four main islands and several smaller | | | | of East Asia. However, some evidence also exists of |
| ones. Together the islands take the shape of a sea | | | | a mixture with Malayan and Caucasoid strains. About |
| horse and occupy an area of 377,435 square kms. | | | | 750,000 Koreans and much smaller groups of Chinese |
| Tokyo, the capital city, is very modern and bustling with | | | | and Caucasians reside in Japan. |
| activity, so when you travel to Japan, be ready for a | | | | Religious Beliefs |
| few crowds. The landscape of Japan, away from the | | | | When you travel Japan, you will be exposed to a new |
| big cities, is mountainous with spectacular scenery; | | | | world of religious and personal beliefs. Buddhism is |
| some of the mountains are volcanic. Mt. Fuji is the | | | | important in Japan's religious life and has strongly |
| tallest mountain in Japan, and is known for its | | | | influenced fine arts, social institutions, and philosophy. |
| symmetrical slopes. | | | | Most Japanese consider themselves members of one |
| About the Climate | | | | of the major Buddhist sects. |
| When you travel to Japan, it's important to know the | | | | Shintoism is an indigenous religion founded on myths, |
| country's seasons and when they occur during the | | | | legends, and ritual practices of the early Japanese. |
| year. The islands of Japan lie in the temperate and at | | | | Neither Buddhism nor Shintoism is an exclusive religion. |
| the northeastern end of the monsoon area. The | | | | Most Japanese observe both Buddhist and Shinto |
| climate is generally mild, although it varies considerably | | | | rituals: the former for funerals and the latter for births, |
| from place to place when you travel Japan. Summer, | | | | marriages, and other occasions. Confucianism, primarily |
| which is warm and mild, begins around the middle of | | | | an ethical system, profoundly influences Japanese |
| July following a rainy season that usually lasts for a | | | | thought as well. |
| month. Except in northern Japan the winter is mild with | | | | About 1.3 million people in Japan are Christians, of |
| many sunny days. Spring and autumn are the best | | | | whom 60% are Protestant and 40% Roman Catholic. |
| seasons of the year with balmy days and bright | | | | |