Mt. Fuji

Geography:

Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.

Climate:

Summer begins in June with a three to four week rainy season. It becomes rather hot and humid from July onward. Clothing: Light clothing is recommended. A cardigan may also come in handy, as rooms are generally well airconditioned. The average temperature in Tokyo (July) is around 25°C (77°F).

Shibuya

Tempura

Traditional Dishes:

Japanese cuisine has in recent years become much more familiar and appreciated around the world. Many visitors will have already sampled the pleasures of raw fish or batter-fried shrimp. But few first-time visitors are prepared for the variety and sumptuousness of Japanese food, as it is traditionally prepared.

Time Difference:

All of Japan is in the same time zone, 9 hours ahead of G.M.T. Daylight saving time is not observed in Japan.

Currency:

The unit of Japanese currency is the yen. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 yen, and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen.

Access to Tokyo:

Narita Airport (Tokyo) is located 60 km to the east of central Tokyo. Airport fees are included in the flight fares to all overseas destinations if departing from Narita Airport.

⇒ http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/index.html

For Further Travel Information:

Japan National Tourism Organization

⇒ http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/index.html

The Imperial Palace

Ginza

Shinjuku

Tokyo is not only the political and economic center of Japan, it has also emerged as a center of the world economy and culture. There are large-scale downtown areas, including Ginza where famous shops from around the world stand side by side. The sleepless area of Shinjuku has become the “new city center of Tokyo.” Asakusa is reminiscent of traditional Edo (the former name of Tokyo), while Shibuya starts the trends for the young people. Other unique areas include Akihabara, a retail shopping area, dense with electronic product stores that compete against each other for shoppers from Japan and overseas. Tsukiji is an open-air wholesale food market catering to shops and consumers all over Japan.

Asakusa

Akihabara

Tsukiji Fish Market

Tokyo Travel Guide:

⇒ http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/travel/