Introduction to JAPAN

Japan is a fascinating country situated in north east Asia between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. It comprises
of more than 4,000 islands, the main four being Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. The Japanese name for Japan is 'Nippon’ or ‘Nihon’ meaning ‘sun origin’ and is often translated into ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. With a population of approximately 127 million, Japan is the 10th most populated country in the world. It is a land of contrasts, an engaging combination of futuristic cities, ancient culture and diverse scenery.

Japan is famous for its relatively short Cherry Blossom season. Flowers can bloom as early as January on the south island of Okinawa, or as late as May on the north island of Hokkaido. In major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, the Cherry Blossom season is generally in early April to mid-May, which makes this a popular time to travel.

TIME - Japan is 4 hours behind New Zealand.

LANGUAGE - The official national language is Japanese, however, English is widely spoken.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS - Passports must be valid for six months beyond the length of stay. Visas are not required for New Zealand passport holders for entry into Japan for stays of up to 90 days.

Cities

TOKYO

Located on the main island of Honshu, Tokyo, meaning ‘Eastern Capital’, was originally a small fishing village called Edo. Although it has had a turbulent past including the wrath of war and devastation of earthquakes, the city has risen and is today one of the world’s major metropolises.

KYOTO

Once the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto is another city with a ravaged past. The city is home to over 2,000 places of worship, comprising of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

OSAKA

The modern day city of Osaka, meaning ‘large hill’ or ‘large slope’, is Japan’s third largest city. Established as a major industrial and cultural centre in 1889, it is also home to one of Japan’s most famous castles, Osaka Castle, which was originally built in 1593.

Country Map

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Images from JAPAN

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