============================== JAPAN ============================== Japan is located on the eastern margin of Asia and consists of four major islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, and many small islands. The country is made up of six chains of steep, serrated mountains, which contain about 60 active volcanoes. Earthquakes are frequent and widespread. Summers are warm and humid, and winters are mainly mild. Japan's agriculture is highly advanced. Fishing is important. Japan is the second largest industrial economy in the world. It is very dependent on imported raw materials. Area (Sq. Km.): 377,765 Population: 123,749,000 Capital: Tokyo Language: Japanese Religion: Buddhism 45% Shintoism 45% Government Type: Parliamentary democracy with constitutional Monarchy. Currency: Yen Embassy: 101 Piccadilly London W1V 9FN 0171-465-6500 The mystic east and the inscrutable oriental. The land of high tech and the ethics of work - the home of the samurai spirit and martial arts - nowhere seems to fascinate the western traveller like Japan. It is only in the last couple of decades that Japan has become a feasible option for the British traveller who is not on either a world cruise or on company business. With the drastic fall in long-haul air fares - a visit to Japan, though not cheap, has still come within the reach of many ordinary Britons. Flights from the UK to Tokyo are daily and many package holiday brochures also feature Japan. Time: GMT+9 Electricity: 100v AC Health: Precautions against Malaria and Polio are the only things to consider but even they are not strongly advised by the official guides. All major credit cards are accepted. Air Travel: National carrier is Japan Air Lines. The approx journey time from Heathrow to Tokyo is 11hrs 30mins. Major airports: Tokyo Osaka Fukuoka Nagoya Tokyos domestic airport is Haneda Sea: Kobe is a regular stop for cruise liners and many ferries operate amongst the Japanese islands. Liners also operate to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Rail: The Trans-Siberian route to Japan is one interesting possibility. Connections can be made from London and the routing is through Europe to Moscow and then on to Nakhodka and by sea to Yokohama. The famous Japanese bullet train is the fastest in the world and to see Japan by rail use a Japan Railpass which will get you around quite cheaply. Hotels: Hotels are "Western" or "Japanese" style sometimes both. "Western" is just like any other main European hotel with all the top facilities. "Japanese" is comfortable and boasts many traditional Japanese traditions such as the famous tea-ceremony. Staying Japanese can be quite an experience. RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS Tokyo - City tour Nagoya Kyoto Nara Nagasaki Nightlife: Abundant cinemas, bars, nightclubs and coffee shops make for an interesting and varied night scene. In autumn and winter, opera and music are possibilities and many world famous outfits visit Tokyo to play. Food: Japanese cuisine, now popular in the west involves very sensitive flavours, fresh crisp vegetables and an absence of richness. Chinese and Korean food is also widely available - but western dishes are best in main hotels and top restaurants. Climate: Except for the Hokkaido area, the weather is in general mostly temperate with four seasons. Winters are cool and sunny in the south, cold and sunny around Tokyo, and very cold around Hokkaido. Summer is from June to September and ranges from warm to very hot. Rain falls throughout the year but summer is the main rainy season. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Foreign Office Advice: Following the recent earthquake centred on the area of Kobe/Osaka, travellers should NOT attempt to reach Kobe itself where few essential services are working. There is massive devastation, Osaka is returning to normal but for the time being travellers should still visit only on essential business. The airport is operational and bullet train services from the Tokyo side to Osaka are being resumed. Road travel to Kyoto is normal but onwards to Osaka is restricted to minor roads. The motorways are reserved for emergency vehicles and services. Travel from Osaka in the direction of Kobe is not possible. Apart from the immediate area around Kobe/Osaka, travel in the rest of Japan is not affected. For more information ring: Foreign Office Travel Unit 0171-270-4129