Travel Guide To Japan
The life expectancy rate in Japan is one of the highest in the world, at approximately 81 and a quarter years. Also, the Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with over 30 million residents, and included in this area is Japan’s capital city, Tokyo.
Japan is comprised of many islands. The main islands, sometimes called the “home islands,” are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Of its over 3,000 islands, many are volcanic and most are mountainous. In fact, about 73 per cent of Japan is mountain-covered. Japan’s territory is 146,000 square miles, a small percentage of which is water. Japan’s area has been increasing due to construction of the extension of shorelines and creation of artificial islands. Japan’s total area is slightly smaller than the US state of Montana, and bigger than Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and Britain.
Although Japan belongs to the temperate zone and enjoys four distinct seasons, these effects on the country vary from north to south. In general, Japan is a country with high humidity and rain. Warm summers are characteristic in the north, but winter brings heavy snow and cold temperatures. Central Japan has short winters and hot, humid summers, and finally to the south of the country long, hot and humid summers followed by mild winters are characteristic. There is a definite rainy season, lasting about a month beginning in early June. High humidity and heat comes in the months to follow rainy season, bringing five or six typhoons over or near Japan from early August to early September.
The highest mountain in Japan is the dormant volcano, Mount Fuji. Sleeping since the early 1700s, the volcano’s peak is at 12,388 feet. Mount Fuji is a well-known symbol of Japan, and is often depicted in Japanese art and visited by sightseers. Roughly 200,000 people climb Mount Fuji annually, 30 per cent of whom are foreigners. Including Mount Fuji, there are approximately 150 dormant volcanoes in Japan. And, ten per cent of the world’s active volcanoes are also found in this country.
Japan has a network of high-speed railways that connect most of the country’s major cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu called the Shinkansen. Running speeds of these trains are up to 188 miles per hour, and are a help to tourism and commuters alike.
Shintoism, Buddhism and Christianity are the main religions practiced in Japan, with Christianity only accounting for only about 10 per cent of the population. The Buddhist temple, Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera is a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the best-known sights of the city of Kiyomizu-dera. The temple is important because of the wide veranda which is supported by hundreds of pillars, that expands over the hillside and offers fantastic views of the city.
Traditional Japanese architecture is influenced greatly by Chinese architecture. This is because of the introduction of Buddhism and the influx of architects who were experts in this Chinese style of Buddhist architecture. Because of the country’s mild climate, residential homes in Japan have fairly thin walls. Because of the significant rainfall in the country, the roofs of these homes are overlapping, slanted and slightly curved. Today, you are likely to see Western influences in Japan’s architecture, although the Buddhist influence is still typical in Japan’s temples.
