วันเสาร์ที่ 19 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Arts and Crafts
Traditional cultural pursuits such as sado (Japanese tea ceremony) and ikebana (flower arrangement) are much more than simple pursuits in skills. They embody spiritual ways seeking the traditional values of wabi (elegant stillness) and sabi (antiquated elegance with calm).
Facilities abound which offer you the hands-on experience of the Japanese tea ceremony, flower arrangement and other cultural pursuits. There are even possibilities for you to learn dressing in a kimono all by yourself.
Tea Ceremony
Sado, the ceremony celebrating the Way of Tea, has been much favored by Japanese high society as an artistic ceremony. Today, it is popular as a means of training concentration of spirit and of learning manners. There are a number of schools in Japan, each presenting their own style of tea ceremony. Many hotels have a tea ceremony room on the grounds for the customers to enjoy a real tea ceremony.
Flower Arrangement
Ikebana originated as a means to display wild flowers in the tea ceremony room. There are more than 20 schools of ikebana, all differing in their stylistic rules and methods of presentation, and most have their own instruction center. You can enjoy the beauty of ikebana in a variety of places such as hotels, department stores and the lobbies of public buildings.
Facilities abound which offer you the hands-on experience of the Japanese tea ceremony, flower arrangement and other cultural pursuits. There are even possibilities for you to learn dressing in a kimono all by yourself.
Tea Ceremony
Sado, the ceremony celebrating the Way of Tea, has been much favored by Japanese high society as an artistic ceremony. Today, it is popular as a means of training concentration of spirit and of learning manners. There are a number of schools in Japan, each presenting their own style of tea ceremony. Many hotels have a tea ceremony room on the grounds for the customers to enjoy a real tea ceremony.
Flower Arrangement
Ikebana originated as a means to display wild flowers in the tea ceremony room. There are more than 20 schools of ikebana, all differing in their stylistic rules and methods of presentation, and most have their own instruction center. You can enjoy the beauty of ikebana in a variety of places such as hotels, department stores and the lobbies of public buildings.
Traditional Culture & Festivals
Traditional Culture
Architecture
Various styles of Japanese architecture reflecting traditional and modern usage.
Gardens
Simple, unspoiled beauty of Japanese gardens, and comparisons to Western gardens.
Castles
Elaborately designed fortresses built predominantly in the 15th and 16th Centuries.
Shinto Shrines
Shinto shrines that embody the intricate symbolism of Japan's indigenous religion, Shintoism.
Buddhist Temples
Classic Buddhist architecture originating from India but with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Tea Ceremony
Tea ceremony based on the principles of Zen, incorporating graceful performance and profound simplicity.
Jizo & Dosojin
Outdoor and roadside stone sculptures that continue to be an important part of Japanese folk belief.
Floral Art
Refined floral art dating back to the 16th Century.
Bonsai
Miniature trees or plants with an aesthetic sense that reflects nature.
Pottery
Distinctive styles of pottery reflecting different periods and regions.
Lacquerware
Japanese Lacquerware is the name for beautifully decorated utensils and objects of art coated with lacquer.
Calligraphy
Unique art of the East using gradations of ink and varying brushstrokes.
Folk Art Crafts
Folk objects and curios that used to be commonplace, now considered objects of art.
Ukiyo-e
Wood block prints from the 17th to the 19th Century featuring dramatic insights into Edo era life.
Dolls
Ancient dolls used in religious observances, festivals and burial rites.
Musical Instruments
Several styles of ancient and traditional Japanese music, each with its unique sound.
Traditional Costumes
Traditional, elegant, and formal dress still used for special occasions.
Footwear
Much loved traditional slippers that are still seen in modern day Japan.
Crests
A black and white family crest possessed by every family.
Colors & Patterns
Traditional material pattern designs used on Kimonos and other articles.
Classic Dancing
Classic dances originally developed based on incantations such as invocations of spirits of the dead.
Tanka & Haiku
Short unique poetry with specific line lengths found only in Japan.
Zen & Zazen
Originating in India, a form of mental and spiritual training similar to Yoga.
Kabuki
Original stage art that has its roots in the 17th Century.
Noh & Kyogen
A comprehensive theatrical art form embodying music, dance, literature and other artistic mediums
Bunraku
Traditional puppet theater in which puppets act out narratives.
Variety Theater
Traditional variety theater used for storytelling, narration, conjuring and recital.
Festivals & Talismans
Holidays, Occasions
& Events
Special holidays, events, festivals and other celebrations that are held throughout the year within Japan.
Festivals
An introduction to some of the festivals that revolve around the traditional agricultural calendar.
En-nichi
(Street Fairs)
Religious festivals and fairs held at shrines and temples, with bustling street stalls outside.
Folk Dancing
Festival folk dances during the summer that celebrate ancestral spirits.
Juni-shi
Twelve signs of the oriental zodiac, related to time and place.
Shichifukujin
The six gods and one goddess that make the Seven Deities of good fortune.
Good Luck Talismans
Good luck talismans that can be found in shrine shops all over Japan.
Storytelling & Fables
Animals with human qualities that appear in Japanese fables and stories.
Janken
The first game Japanese children learn, which is played anytime by young and old.
information from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/experience/index.html
Architecture
Various styles of Japanese architecture reflecting traditional and modern usage.
Gardens
Simple, unspoiled beauty of Japanese gardens, and comparisons to Western gardens.
Castles
Elaborately designed fortresses built predominantly in the 15th and 16th Centuries.
Shinto Shrines
Shinto shrines that embody the intricate symbolism of Japan's indigenous religion, Shintoism.
Buddhist Temples
Classic Buddhist architecture originating from India but with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Tea Ceremony
Tea ceremony based on the principles of Zen, incorporating graceful performance and profound simplicity.
Jizo & Dosojin
Outdoor and roadside stone sculptures that continue to be an important part of Japanese folk belief.
Floral Art
Refined floral art dating back to the 16th Century.
Bonsai
Miniature trees or plants with an aesthetic sense that reflects nature.
Pottery
Distinctive styles of pottery reflecting different periods and regions.
Lacquerware
Japanese Lacquerware is the name for beautifully decorated utensils and objects of art coated with lacquer.
Calligraphy
Unique art of the East using gradations of ink and varying brushstrokes.
Folk Art Crafts
Folk objects and curios that used to be commonplace, now considered objects of art.
Ukiyo-e
Wood block prints from the 17th to the 19th Century featuring dramatic insights into Edo era life.
Dolls
Ancient dolls used in religious observances, festivals and burial rites.
Musical Instruments
Several styles of ancient and traditional Japanese music, each with its unique sound.
Traditional Costumes
Traditional, elegant, and formal dress still used for special occasions.
Footwear
Much loved traditional slippers that are still seen in modern day Japan.
Crests
A black and white family crest possessed by every family.
Colors & Patterns
Traditional material pattern designs used on Kimonos and other articles.
Classic Dancing
Classic dances originally developed based on incantations such as invocations of spirits of the dead.
Tanka & Haiku
Short unique poetry with specific line lengths found only in Japan.
Zen & Zazen
Originating in India, a form of mental and spiritual training similar to Yoga.
Kabuki
Original stage art that has its roots in the 17th Century.
Noh & Kyogen
A comprehensive theatrical art form embodying music, dance, literature and other artistic mediums
Bunraku
Traditional puppet theater in which puppets act out narratives.
Variety Theater
Traditional variety theater used for storytelling, narration, conjuring and recital.
Festivals & Talismans
Holidays, Occasions
& Events
Special holidays, events, festivals and other celebrations that are held throughout the year within Japan.
Festivals
An introduction to some of the festivals that revolve around the traditional agricultural calendar.
En-nichi
(Street Fairs)
Religious festivals and fairs held at shrines and temples, with bustling street stalls outside.
Folk Dancing
Festival folk dances during the summer that celebrate ancestral spirits.
Juni-shi
Twelve signs of the oriental zodiac, related to time and place.
Shichifukujin
The six gods and one goddess that make the Seven Deities of good fortune.
Good Luck Talismans
Good luck talismans that can be found in shrine shops all over Japan.
Storytelling & Fables
Animals with human qualities that appear in Japanese fables and stories.
Janken
The first game Japanese children learn, which is played anytime by young and old.
information from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/experience/index.html
Eating and Drinking Etiquette
How to Eat If you are not familiar with how to use chopsticks then dining at Japanese or other Asian cuisine restaurants may present a challenge at first. But once you have mastered them then eating with this simple instrument is a genuine pleasure.
Except in Chinese restaurants that provide plastic chopsticks, you eat with wooden chopsticks that come in a paper wrapper. Take them out, split them in half, and hold the two halves in one hand with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, as if holding two pencils. Then let the middle finger slip between the two sticks. One stick will rest between the forefinger and middle finger, the other between the middle and ring fingers. Watch how other people manipulate the sticks to figure out how to pick up pieces of food correctly.
To deal with soup, pick up the small bowl with one hand and sip from the edge of the bowl. You can dip your chopsticks into the soup to pick up small chunks of bean curd or thin slices of seaweed.
Noodles served on a wooden tray are simply picked up in bite-size portions. If served in a hot broth, alternate between picking them up and lifting the bowl to sip the broth. Slurping is a sign of a good appetite and eating with pleasure, and is in this instance, perfectly acceptable.
Drinking Etiquette
In cozy and friendly Japanese-style bars, customers often pour drinks for each other from bottles of beer as a gesture of companionship. If you are a fellow beer drinker, reciprocate with your own bottle. A whiskey drinker may invite you to drink from his bottle and fix a drink for you. In this case, you need not reciprocate unless you have your own bottle. (Many of these bars have a bottle-keep system for regular patrons who buy a bottle from time to time as it is less expensive than paying for single drinks over the long run.)
If with a group, do not begin to drink until everyone is served. Glasses are raised in the traditional salute as everyone shouts Kampai! (Cheers!)
If you drink sake, and someone offers a drink from his carafe, drink what remains in your cup before holding it out. In this case, too, reciprocate. But don't let it get out of hand. Pouring sake for each other at high speed can get you drunk much faster than you might imagine.
Excessive drinking is frowned on. But it happens. Rely on the bartender if someone close to you gets too boisterous.
Japanese students have three years of English-language studies in middle (junior-high) school. Many go on to become good or even fluent English conversationalists. You are likely to come across them in bars that cater to business people who work at general trading houses or other companies with international business dealings. Even small talk in broken English, with the aid of body language, can make the evening all the more enjoyable. Don't hesitate to jump in.
Japanese sake (rice wine) goes extremely well with a variety of Japanese dishes. Brewed with rice and water, sake has been a Japanese alcoholic beverage since ancient times. Because it can be drunk warmed up in winter it warms the body. When drunk chilled, good sake has a taste similar to fine-quality wine. There are local sake breweries in every region across the country, which make their respective characteristic tastes based on the quality of rice and water as well as differences in brewing processes.
Except in Chinese restaurants that provide plastic chopsticks, you eat with wooden chopsticks that come in a paper wrapper. Take them out, split them in half, and hold the two halves in one hand with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, as if holding two pencils. Then let the middle finger slip between the two sticks. One stick will rest between the forefinger and middle finger, the other between the middle and ring fingers. Watch how other people manipulate the sticks to figure out how to pick up pieces of food correctly.
To deal with soup, pick up the small bowl with one hand and sip from the edge of the bowl. You can dip your chopsticks into the soup to pick up small chunks of bean curd or thin slices of seaweed.
Noodles served on a wooden tray are simply picked up in bite-size portions. If served in a hot broth, alternate between picking them up and lifting the bowl to sip the broth. Slurping is a sign of a good appetite and eating with pleasure, and is in this instance, perfectly acceptable.
Drinking Etiquette
In cozy and friendly Japanese-style bars, customers often pour drinks for each other from bottles of beer as a gesture of companionship. If you are a fellow beer drinker, reciprocate with your own bottle. A whiskey drinker may invite you to drink from his bottle and fix a drink for you. In this case, you need not reciprocate unless you have your own bottle. (Many of these bars have a bottle-keep system for regular patrons who buy a bottle from time to time as it is less expensive than paying for single drinks over the long run.)
If with a group, do not begin to drink until everyone is served. Glasses are raised in the traditional salute as everyone shouts Kampai! (Cheers!)
If you drink sake, and someone offers a drink from his carafe, drink what remains in your cup before holding it out. In this case, too, reciprocate. But don't let it get out of hand. Pouring sake for each other at high speed can get you drunk much faster than you might imagine.
Excessive drinking is frowned on. But it happens. Rely on the bartender if someone close to you gets too boisterous.
Japanese students have three years of English-language studies in middle (junior-high) school. Many go on to become good or even fluent English conversationalists. You are likely to come across them in bars that cater to business people who work at general trading houses or other companies with international business dealings. Even small talk in broken English, with the aid of body language, can make the evening all the more enjoyable. Don't hesitate to jump in.
Japanese sake (rice wine) goes extremely well with a variety of Japanese dishes. Brewed with rice and water, sake has been a Japanese alcoholic beverage since ancient times. Because it can be drunk warmed up in winter it warms the body. When drunk chilled, good sake has a taste similar to fine-quality wine. There are local sake breweries in every region across the country, which make their respective characteristic tastes based on the quality of rice and water as well as differences in brewing processes.
Japanese Food
The Japanese archipelago stretches from north to south, which means that each region has a different climate and that Japan is abundantly blessed with seasonal changes. Amid such environmental conditions, numerous delicacies have developed in each locality and these local cuisines together with traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi and tempura produce a dietary culture unique to Japan.
Types of Restaurant
Food, of all types and from every country under the sun, is one of the great pleasures of life in Japan. Not only has Japan developed one of the world's great cuisines, which offers palate-tickling sensations that range from the subtle joys of sashimi to the hearty basics of its noodles, but also some of the best world-class chefs have come to Japan to cook for its discriminating gourmets. Tokyo especially, as befits its status as a global capital of finance and business, is host to a lip-smacking cornucopia of food flavors and textures.
To begin scratching the surface of Japan's vast selection of culinary variety, take a walk in the vicinity of any subway or train station. The eating and drinking establishments that congregate here are sure to represent a plethora of domestic cooking, with prices generally quite reasonable. For non-Japanese speakers, many restaurants display plastic and wax replicas of their dishes in their front windows, or provide a menu with color photos. Another good place to find reasonably priced meals is in larger department stores, which will often devote an entire upper or basement floor to a variety of different restaurants. Some modestly priced restaurants ask patrons to purchase tickets for each dish, either from the cashier's counter or a vending machine. Tipping, by the way, is not practiced in Japan.
High-Class
Restaurants from the heights of Chinese culinary delights to the peaks of French haute cuisine, Japan's premier restaurants are second to none. Most are located in the best hotels or in fashionable city districts such as Tokyo's Ginza, Roppongi, Akasaka and Harajuku. Gourmets may discover new taste sensations never before encountered.
Popular Restaurants
More affordable restaurants abound in downtown office building basements, the dining floors of department stores, urban shopping centers, and the underground malls of the busiest railway stations.
At lunchtime, office workers crowd these dining spots. Many order teishoku, a low-priced complete meal on a tray. Most restaurants in the moderate to inexpensive price range have realistic plastic models of their dishes, with prices, in a showcase outside the entrance. If you don't know what to order, point to the dish you want to try. Some restaurants have bilingual (Japanese and English) menus, and you can use JNTO's Tourist's Handbook as a handy phrase book for dining out. Paperback guidebooks to inexpensive Japanese dishes are available at major bookstores.
For people in a hurry, noodle stands, coffee shops, fast-food outlets and vending machines provide a variety of food and drink at very low cost.
At most restaurants, you receive a bill and pay as you leave. A few have you buy a meal coupon in advance and hand it to the waiter or waitress. Payment is made in cash except when credit cards are accepted. Inexpensive restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food outlets accept cash only. No tipping, please.
Other delightful places to eat Japanese Dishes:
Box lunches, some unique to a particular area, are sold aboard trains.
Dinner on a cruise ship during an evening bay cruise lets you see city lights from the water.
Street side yatai stalls, some with stools, offer inexpensive taste treats.
Dinner-shows at deluxe hotels combine fine food and live entertainment for an evening you'll never forget.
Convenience stores have sandwiches, box lunches and other cooked dishes you can take out.
Department store basements are great places to sample many kinds of food for free.
Kaiten Sushi: Customers sit at a round counter and receive low-priced sushi on a circling conveyor belt.
Types of Restaurant
Food, of all types and from every country under the sun, is one of the great pleasures of life in Japan. Not only has Japan developed one of the world's great cuisines, which offers palate-tickling sensations that range from the subtle joys of sashimi to the hearty basics of its noodles, but also some of the best world-class chefs have come to Japan to cook for its discriminating gourmets. Tokyo especially, as befits its status as a global capital of finance and business, is host to a lip-smacking cornucopia of food flavors and textures.
To begin scratching the surface of Japan's vast selection of culinary variety, take a walk in the vicinity of any subway or train station. The eating and drinking establishments that congregate here are sure to represent a plethora of domestic cooking, with prices generally quite reasonable. For non-Japanese speakers, many restaurants display plastic and wax replicas of their dishes in their front windows, or provide a menu with color photos. Another good place to find reasonably priced meals is in larger department stores, which will often devote an entire upper or basement floor to a variety of different restaurants. Some modestly priced restaurants ask patrons to purchase tickets for each dish, either from the cashier's counter or a vending machine. Tipping, by the way, is not practiced in Japan.
High-Class
Restaurants from the heights of Chinese culinary delights to the peaks of French haute cuisine, Japan's premier restaurants are second to none. Most are located in the best hotels or in fashionable city districts such as Tokyo's Ginza, Roppongi, Akasaka and Harajuku. Gourmets may discover new taste sensations never before encountered.
Popular Restaurants
More affordable restaurants abound in downtown office building basements, the dining floors of department stores, urban shopping centers, and the underground malls of the busiest railway stations.
At lunchtime, office workers crowd these dining spots. Many order teishoku, a low-priced complete meal on a tray. Most restaurants in the moderate to inexpensive price range have realistic plastic models of their dishes, with prices, in a showcase outside the entrance. If you don't know what to order, point to the dish you want to try. Some restaurants have bilingual (Japanese and English) menus, and you can use JNTO's Tourist's Handbook as a handy phrase book for dining out. Paperback guidebooks to inexpensive Japanese dishes are available at major bookstores.
For people in a hurry, noodle stands, coffee shops, fast-food outlets and vending machines provide a variety of food and drink at very low cost.
At most restaurants, you receive a bill and pay as you leave. A few have you buy a meal coupon in advance and hand it to the waiter or waitress. Payment is made in cash except when credit cards are accepted. Inexpensive restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food outlets accept cash only. No tipping, please.
Other delightful places to eat Japanese Dishes:
Box lunches, some unique to a particular area, are sold aboard trains.
Dinner on a cruise ship during an evening bay cruise lets you see city lights from the water.
Street side yatai stalls, some with stools, offer inexpensive taste treats.
Dinner-shows at deluxe hotels combine fine food and live entertainment for an evening you'll never forget.
Convenience stores have sandwiches, box lunches and other cooked dishes you can take out.
Department store basements are great places to sample many kinds of food for free.
Kaiten Sushi: Customers sit at a round counter and receive low-priced sushi on a circling conveyor belt.
Transportation
International Airport Access
Narita Airport (Tokyo)
Access to Narita International Airport
Kansai Airport (Osaka)
Access to Kansai International Airport
Central Japan Airport (Nagoya)
Access to Central Japan International Airport
Domestic Air Flight
Japan Airlines (JAL)
JAL Network
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
ANA Network
Railway Services
Railways
Trains
Japan Rail Pass
Subway
Digital timetable & course and fare search
Automobiles
Bus
Taxi
Car Rental
-->
Discount Tickets
Railways
Railways & Buses
Domestic Air Service
Passenger Boats
Buses & Taxis
information from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/transportation/index.html
Attractions
Practical Information
Useful Information
Practical Travel Guides
Travel Stories
Regional Travel Plan
Golden Route
3-Day Model Trip
Festivals
Special Interest Travel Tips
Articles on Japanese Culture by Foreign Writers
Shopping
Shopping Guide
List of Outlet Malls
List of Shopping Spots
Free Attractions
Hot Springs
Gardens
Museums
Theme Parks
Sports
Outdoor Activities
Skiing in Japan
information from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/index.html
Useful Information
Practical Travel Guides
Travel Stories
Regional Travel Plan
Golden Route
3-Day Model Trip
Festivals
Special Interest Travel Tips
Articles on Japanese Culture by Foreign Writers
Shopping
Shopping Guide
List of Outlet Malls
List of Shopping Spots
Free Attractions
Hot Springs
Gardens
Museums
Theme Parks
Sports
Outdoor Activities
Skiing in Japan
information from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/index.html
Accommodations
Japan abounds in accommodations, both western-style and Japanese. Types of accommodation vary widely in terms of style and price. You can choose to stay in the familiar comforts of a western-style hotel, or enjoy the comfort and personal attention of a traditional Japanese inn. By taking time to search out some of the nation's less-publicized types of lodgings, you're sure to find clean and comfortable places to stay that suit your pocketbook.
The accommodation charge is subject to a consumption tax of 5%.First class hotels also impose a 10 to 15% service charge as well.
Tipping is not customary except at top luxury ryokan, where a guest will tip a maid when she first serves tea in the room.
The accommodation charge is subject to a consumption tax of 5%.First class hotels also impose a 10 to 15% service charge as well.
Tipping is not customary except at top luxury ryokan, where a guest will tip a maid when she first serves tea in the room.
Currency and Money
Currency and Money Exchange
There is no limit on the amount of any currency that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport (any currencies, checks, securities or other monies) exceeding 1,000,000 yen worth in Japanese currency into or out of the country then you must complete a customs declaration.
The unit of Japanese currency is yen. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.* As of November 2004, old bank notes are still in wide circulation.
You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchangers. At the international airports, currency exchange counters are usually open during normal office hours. The exchange rate fluctuates daily depending on the money market.
World Currency Shop[MONEY EXCHANGE]
Travelers Checks and Credit Cards
Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, ryokan (Japanese inns) and stores in major cities.
International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also acceptable at these major establishments. However, credit card transactions are not always convenient outside big cities so obtaining cash beforehand is recommended when you travel to the countryside.
ATMs
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are commonly available in large urban areas throughout Japan. However, many do not accept foreign credit cards or cash cards and their service hours are very often restricted. Many ATMs operate only during banking hours although some remain open until 18:00-20:00 on weekdays. Often, weekend services are restricted to Saturday mornings.
For ATMs that accept credit cards, it is advised to contact each credit company beforehand and check the location of each ATM and its availability as these conditions vary from machine to machine.
Foreign credit, debit and cash cards can be used at over 26,000 Post Office ATMs in locations throughout Japan. Post offices where this service is available display stickers indicating which cards are accepted. Cards from the Cirrus, Plus, Maestro and Visa Electron networks can be used. Accepted credit cards include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club.
There is no limit on the amount of any currency that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport (any currencies, checks, securities or other monies) exceeding 1,000,000 yen worth in Japanese currency into or out of the country then you must complete a customs declaration.
The unit of Japanese currency is yen. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.* As of November 2004, old bank notes are still in wide circulation.
You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchangers. At the international airports, currency exchange counters are usually open during normal office hours. The exchange rate fluctuates daily depending on the money market.
World Currency Shop[MONEY EXCHANGE]
Travelers Checks and Credit Cards
Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, ryokan (Japanese inns) and stores in major cities.
International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also acceptable at these major establishments. However, credit card transactions are not always convenient outside big cities so obtaining cash beforehand is recommended when you travel to the countryside.
ATMs
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are commonly available in large urban areas throughout Japan. However, many do not accept foreign credit cards or cash cards and their service hours are very often restricted. Many ATMs operate only during banking hours although some remain open until 18:00-20:00 on weekdays. Often, weekend services are restricted to Saturday mornings.
For ATMs that accept credit cards, it is advised to contact each credit company beforehand and check the location of each ATM and its availability as these conditions vary from machine to machine.
Foreign credit, debit and cash cards can be used at over 26,000 Post Office ATMs in locations throughout Japan. Post offices where this service is available display stickers indicating which cards are accepted. Cards from the Cirrus, Plus, Maestro and Visa Electron networks can be used. Accepted credit cards include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club.
Population
Japan's population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.
Major cities of Japan and their approximate populations
City Population
Tokyo 12,059,000
Yokohama 3,426,000
Osaka 2,598,000
Nagoya 2,171,000
Sapporo 1,822,000
Kobe 1,493,000
Fukuoka 1,290,000
Sendai 1,008,000
City Population
Tokyo 12,059,000
Yokohama 3,426,000
Osaka 2,598,000
Nagoya 2,171,000
Sapporo 1,822,000
Kobe 1,493,000
Fukuoka 1,290,000
Sendai 1,008,000
Language
There is only one official language spoken in Japan, which is of course Japanese. However, many Japanese are able to understand English to a certain extent since English is the foreign language that everyone must learn as part of compulsory education. Even if you don't understand Japanese, you can still certainly enjoy Japan. But if you know a few everyday Japanese phrases then it will make your trip even more memorable. A few words make a big difference.
Useful Japanese Phrases:
Japanese < > English
Ohayou gozaimasu Good morning
Kon'nichiwa Good afternoon
Kon'banwa Good evening
Oyasumi nasai Good night
Sayounara Good-bye
Sumimasen Excuse me
Gomen nasai I am sorry
Wakarimasen I don't understand
Arigatou Thank you
Hai Yes
Iie No
Geography
Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.
Shown below are the four major islands, their locations and sizes.
Hokkaido(northern island)
83,000 square kilometers
Honshu(main island)
231,000 square kilometers
Shikoku(smallest island)
19,000 square kilometers
Kyushu(southern island)
42,000 square kilometers
Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains, which are very often volcanic and twisted valleys that invite visitors into the mysterious world of nature.
Shown below are the four major islands, their locations and sizes.
Hokkaido(northern island)
83,000 square kilometers
Honshu(main island)
231,000 square kilometers
Shikoku(smallest island)
19,000 square kilometers
Kyushu(southern island)
42,000 square kilometers
Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains, which are very often volcanic and twisted valleys that invite visitors into the mysterious world of nature.
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