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Japan lies between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, made up of four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu - with Tokyo, the capital city, and Yokohama - Shikoku and Kyushu) and more than 4,000 smaller ones. Japan is smaller than the UK, but with 126 million souls has twice the population. About 80 per cent of Japan is mountainous or forested and most of the population live in coastal areas.
With this "crush" come many of the typically Japanese solutions - the maintenance of personal space, short-stay "love hotels", and capsule hotels.
Tradition and respect for the past go hand in hand with modern technology. The calibrated tea ceremony contrasts with neon-lit cities; anime (animation) with cherry-blossom viewing; painstakingly prepared sushi with the fast-service vending machines that sell everything from soft drinks to potted plants.
Cheap flights to Japan land at either Narita near Tokyo or Kansai near Osaka, both well linked thanks to Japan's superior transport system.
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Peak Season:
The peak seasons are when the Japanese are on holiday: New Year’s, December 27 to January 4; Golden Week, April 29 to May 5; and the Obon Festival in mid-August. These are the best times to book flights to Japan and visit major cities as the many Japanese have left on holiday.
Other peak seasons are school holidays, which is usually mid-July through August, national holidays, and festivals.
Off Season:
Spring and autumn are great times to visit. In spring the plum and cherry blossoms are in bloom and they alone are worth the flight to Japan. Autumn promises a foliage display. Book Japan flights and accommodation ahead if you’ll be visiting during a festival.
Japan has the world’s most efficient train service — from the Shinkansen or Bullet Train to steam locomotives — and rail passes are available.
Japan’s length makes flying worth considering; with domestic airlines offering low and discounted Japan flights.
There’s a comprehensive network of long-distance buses. The cities also have bus lines, but unless you speak Japanese, they're not as useful. Ferries are a great way to island hop and cruise, and can be a real bargain.
Subways and local trains are available in larger cities and are the best means of transport around the cities. Taxis are pretty much everywhere, but are pricey. Have the address written in Japanese as few drivers speak English.
Major airports in Japan include:
Fukuoka Airport (FUK) (website: www.fuk-ab.co.jp) The airport lies south-east of the city centre.
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) (website: www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp)
Nagoya Centrair International Airport (NGO) (website: www.centrair.jp) The airport is located in Nagoya, central Japan.
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) The airport is located 66km (40 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) (website: www.osaka-airport.co.jp Japanese only)
Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX) The airport is located 50km (30 miles) south of downtown Osaka.
All travellers must hold onward or return tickets and all documents required for their next destination, as well as sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay.
British citizens require a valid passport. If holding a passport endorsed British Citizen or British National (Overseas), no visa is required for a tourist or business stay of up to 90 days. In all other cases, a visa is required.
Irish nationals require a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
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Alan BoothBooth, an Englishman who is married to a Japanese woman and speaks Japanese, walks 2,000 miles through rural Japan and recounts his encounters and impressions of the local people.
Donald KeeneA collection of essays written by Keene, a renowned scholar of Japanese culture, considered an excellent introduction to the culture and aesthetics of Japan.
Kenzaburo OeWritten in the 1960s, a novel that deals with people’s relationships in the confusing world of post-war Japan, the knowledge, passions, dreams, ambitions, and search for truth.
Sujata MasseyThe sixth in a series with the main character Rei Shimura caught up in mystery, mayhem, ethics, and responsibility in Tokyo and San Francisco.
Haruki MurakamiMurakami is Japan's most popular novelists. This is his most successful book, which won him the Yomiuri prize.
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