Japan

Japan Beeing one of the world's leading industrialized countrties, Japan is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and is definitely a country worth visiting, so come with an open mind and explore. Enventhough Japan is known for beeing quite formal, don't be surprised if they are throughing a festival. The "miracle" Tokyo will amaze you with its old culture and traditions combined with its working energy. Visit the amazing Bonsai Park, where you will see the art of growing and propagating the miniature trees. And remember, with prober etiquette, do always accept the Japanese tea you might be offered.

Area: 377.873 Km²
Population: 126.919.000
Density: 336 pop/Km²

System of government: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo (8.130.000 pop., 29.870.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Yokohama 3.427.000 pop., Osaka 2.599.000 pop. (16.350.000 urban aggl.), Nagoya 2.171.000 pop. (8.655.000 urban aggl.), Sapporo 1.822.000 pop., Kobe 1.494.000 pop., Kyoto 1.468.000 pop., Fukuoka 1.341.000 pop., Kawasaki 1.250.000 pop., Hiroshima 1.126.000 pop., Kitakyushu 1.011.000 pop., Sendai 1.008.000 pop., Chiba 887.000 pop., Setagaya 815.000 pop., Sakai 792.000 pop., Kumamoto 662.000 pop., Nerima 657.000 pop., Ota 650.000 pop., Okayama 627.000 pop., Edogawa 620.000 pop., Adachi 617.000 pop., Sagamihara 606.000 pop., Hamamatsu 582.000 pop., Kagoshima 552.000 pop., Funabashi 550.000 pop., Hachioji 536.000 pop., Suginami 522.000 pop., Higashiosaka 515.000 pop., Itabashi 513.000 pop., Niigata 501.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Japanese 98,7%, Korean 0,5%, Asian 0,5%, others 0,3%
Border countries: -

Principal mountains: Fuji-san 3776 m, Kita-dake 3192 m
Principal rivers: Shinano-gawa 367 Km, Tone-gawa 322 Km, Ishikari-gawa 268 Km, Teshio-gawa 256 Km
Principal lakes: Biwa-ko 670 Km², Kasumi-ga-ura 168 Km², Saroma-ko 152 Km², Inawashiro-ko 103 Km²
Principal islands: Honshu 227.939 Km², Hokkaido 77.981 Km², Kyushu 36.728 Km², Shikoku 18.297 Km², Etorofu-to 3.183 Km², Kunashiri-to 1.499 Km², Okinawa-jima 1.204 Km²
Climate: Temperate, Tropical

Language: Japanese
Religion: Buddhist, Shinto
Currency: Yen (JPY)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, 15/1, 11/2, 20/3, 29/4, 3/5, 4/5, 5/5, 20/7, 15/9, 10/10, 3/11, 23/11, 23/12, 31/12
Dialling code: 0081
GMT: +9

World Heritage List:

• Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (1993)
• Himeji-jo (1993)
• Shirakami-Sanchi (1993)
• Yakushima (1993)
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (1994)
• Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (1995)
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (1996)
• Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (1996)
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (1998)
• Shrines and Temples of Nikko (1999)
• Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (2000)
• Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (2004)
• Shiretoko (2005)