Japan General information about Japan Japan island nation

Japan 日本

General information about Japan �Japan island nation in East Asia. �Also is an archipelago of 6, 852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku. � Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. �Japan has the world's third-largest economy. �Japan has the longest life expectancy of any country in the world.

Languages �More than 99 percent of the population speaks Japanese as their first language �Japanese writing uses kanji (Chinese characters) and two sets of kana (syllabaries based on simplified Chinese characters), as well as the Latin alphabet and Arabic numerals. �Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English.

Religion � 84– 96 % of the Japanese population subscribe to Buddhism or Shinto. �Fewer than one percent of Japanese are Christian. In addition, since the mid-19 th century numerous new religious movements have emerged in Japan.

Education �Compulsory education in Japan: elementary and middle school (9 years). �the overall knowledge and skills of Japanese 15 -yearolds is 6 th best in the world. � 75. 9 % attend higher education.

Health �In Japan, health care is provided by national and local governments. �People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. �Patients are free to select the physicians or facilities of their choice.

Culture I Lacquer ware. Swords (nihontō) Dolls (ningyō n noh).

Hiragana Katakana

Music � Japanese music is eclectic and diverse. �Popular music has been heavily influenced by Western trends, ledading to the evolution of J-pop. �Karaoke is the most widely practiced cultural activity in Japan.

� Traditional housing and many temple buildings. Art � Japanese sculpture. � Japanese painting. � woodblock printing. � Western art led to the creation of manga. � Manga-influenced animation for television and film is called anime.

Cuisine The primary staple is Japanese rice. Japanese cuisine offers a vast array of regional specialties that use traditional recipes and local ingredients. The Michelin Guide has awarded Japanese cities more Michelin stars than the rest of the world combined

Sports �Traditionally, sumo is considered Japan's national sport. �Also judo, karate and kendo. �Football �Baseball

Places to visit in Japan is a country that offers the tourist exotic beauty and marvelous attractions.

Tokyo �Tokyo is where most tours of Japan start and the city is the natural places to start your introduction to this enchanting country. It is hard to understate the shock value of Tokyo to the western visitor and upon arriving in Tokyo you will finally understand the real meaning of the word "foreign".

Kamakura contains one of Japan's best collections of shrines, temples, and monuments. In addition, the town is famous for its Great Buddha statue.

Kyoto �Kyoto is Japan's second most popular tourist destination. Its fame results from a several well preserved historical sites �Kyoto was Japan's capital through part of the First and most of the Second Millennia.

Daisetsuzan NP �Many visitors travel there to enjoy the island's reputation as Japan's most scenic landscape. �The Daisetsuzan National Park is the best place to see "wild" Japan.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Home to the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, which was the site of the atomic bomb explosion.

Osaka �Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshū. �Osaka is the third most populated city after Tokyo and Yokohama �"Osaka" literally means "large hill" or "large slope.

City Map

Climate �Osaka belongs to the humid subtropical climate zone with four distinct seasons. � Its winters are generally mild. Snowfalls are rare. �Spring in Osaka starts off mild, but ends up being hot and humid; Osaka’s wettest season. �Summers are very hot and humid. �Fall’s early part resembles summer while the latter part resembles winter.

Time �Standard time zone: GMT +9 hours �So, 5 or 6 (during daylight saving time) hours ahead of Greece.

Living Cost (ouch …) � 6 th most expensive city in the world in 2010 �Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 9. 18 € �Water (0. 33 liter bottle) 0. 89 € �Milk (regular), 1 liter 2. 15 € �One-way Ticket (local transport) 3. 05 € �Monthly Pass 138. 53 € �Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 18. 32 € �http: //www. numbeo. com/cost-ofliving/city_result. jsp? country=Japan&city=Osaka

Public Transportation �Public transportation within Osaka is mostly by rail, offered by many different companies. �As a means of cheap transportation from home to the nearest railroad station, lots of people use their bicycles. �Osaka Municipal Subway is the metro network in the city of Osaka. �Regular bus services are provided by Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (http: //www. kotsu. city. osaka. jp/foreign/english/) with a dense network covering much parts of the city.

�Osaka Unlimited Pass: http: //www. pia. co. jp/kansai/index. html

Sightseeing �The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (located in the ward of Minato) is one of the largest public aquariums in the world. �The Nakanoshima Park is the first public park opened in Osaka. �Universal Studios Japan is a Universal Studios theme parks.

�Osaka Castle is one of Japan's most famous castles. �Sankō Shrine is a Shinto shrine on a hill named Mt. Sanada (真田 山) in Tennōji-ku. �Sumiyoshi Park, an Osaka prefectural park in Hamaguchi-higashi Itchome

�Shinsekai (新世界), "New World" in English, is an old neighborhood located next to downtown "Minami" area. �Shitennō-ji (四天王寺) is a Buddhist temple. • Utsubo Park is a large public, urban park, situated at Utsubo-Hommachi in Nishi-ku.

Museums �The National Museum of Art (国立国際美術館). �Fujita Art Museum (藤田美 術館) is one of the largest private collections in the Kansai region. �The Osaka Contemporary Art Center (大阪府立現代美術 センタ). �The Osaka Science Museum ( 大阪市立科学館), next to the National Museum of Art. National Art Museum Science Museum

Events and Festivals �Tenjin-matsuri is held on July 24 and 25. Boat festival with performing arts. �Shitennoji Temple Doya Festival (Huge Naked Festival), January 14 th �The Kansai International Film Festival. �Useful Sites: http: //www. osakainfo. jp/en/search/list/event. php , http: //www. osaka-info. jp/en/search/list/calendar. php , http: //www. osaka. world-guides. com/osaka_events. html

Nightlife �Osaka offers countless choices ! �Bars, clubs, cafés and many other to choose from. �Hard Rock Café(Universal City Walk Osaka, floors 3 F & 4 F) �Useful Sites: http: //www. virtualtourist. com/travel/Asia/Japan/Osaka_fu /Osaka-971424/Nightlife-Osaka-TG-C-1. html http: //www. 10 best. com/destinations/japan/osaka/nightlife/

Local Cuisine �Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き ) is a Japanese savoury pancake containin g a variety of ingredients. � Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸 焼) is a popular ballshaped dumpling made of batter and cooked.

�Udon (饂飩? , usually written as うどん) is a type of thick wheat-flour noodle. �Oshizushi 押し寿司 "pressed sushi"), also known as hakozushi 箱寿司, "box sushi"), is a pressed sushi.

Osaka Video http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=hp 1 Wy. Sv 3 O 8 k Surprise Video http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=mjm. Qw 3 Ja. Ts. E&feat ure=channel_video_title