The Beginner’s Guide to Japan

Japan is a tiny country, about the same size as California, which has had a disproportionately large impact upon the rest of the globe and on the course of human history. The traveler can experience some of the unique culture that has both caused and resulted from Japan’s place in the world, and will find that their trip is enhanced by having some prior understanding of what has made Japan into the modern and exciting country that it is today.

Japan is formed from several larger and thousands of smaller islands. Honshu is the largest and this is the part of Japan which most visitors will experience. Hokkaido Island is another popular destination, while Kyushu and Shikoku are the other fairly large islands.

The Japanese islands are volcanic in origin, and they still experience the effects of tectonic activity, particularly in the fairly frequent earthquakes. The countryside is predominantly mountainous. The most famous peak is that of Mount Fuji, and you have probably seen photos of its characteristic snow-capped dome even if you didn’t know its name.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo, and the majority of the Japanese are packed into this and other cities. The population is well over one and a quarter million, but has begun to decline in recent time. The life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world, 77 for men and 84 for women, and the literacy rate is also high, at 99%. The most commonly used language is Japanese.

The Japanese culture has been influenced by its landscape which has forced people to live around the coasts since the interior is to steep for building, and even for cultivation in places. This has resulted in densely populated cities and some beautifully untouched countryside. Another important influence had been the existence of two separate but similar religions, Shinto the “native” religion and Buddhism, which arrived here via China. There both value nature and share similar beliefs, with worshipers from each sometimes using the same temple.

Japan has an Emperor, and the current incumbent is a descendant of the first, Jimmu, who was traditionally believed to have founded Japan when he arrived more than two and a half thousand years ago.

Japan’s first Western visitors were the crew of a ship from Portugal that accidentally landed here after getting lost at sea in the 16th century. Many modern day visitors can feel similarly lost, as if they have stumbled onto an alien world rather than just another part of our own. This is partly because for many centuries there was a policy of isolationism. Foreigners were banned until mid way through the 19th century, and the Japanese culture developed without outside influences.

The changes were rapid once Japan had opened its doors. Unfortunately Japan’s new interest in world affairs resulted in their association with Nazi Germany during World War Two. Japan had fought with the Allies in World War One, and gained a reputation for military might to match its new economic status. It then developed ambitions for dominance in Asia and attacked China, and began a relationship with the Nazis. In 1941 the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor stimulated the US into action. Over three million Japanese people lost their lives during the war, and a huge amount of damage was incurred by the cities. The worst attacks came at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the US dropped atom bombs, effectively bringing about the Japanese surrender and the end of the war.

Japan has changed a lot since this low point at the end of the war, when it lost its possessions overseas and was placed under the control of General MacArthur. It became a democracy and regained control of its own governance in 1952. While its military ambitions were gone, Japan became an important player in the world economy.

The raid changes that Japan has undergone have created a unique and vibrant culture that provides much of interest for the visitor, especially the Western traveler whose home country will seem a million miles away.

A Brief Guide to the History of Japan for Modern Visitors

Japan may appear small when you look at it on the world map, but its history has had a much greater influence than its size would suggest. This is a country packed with historical and cultural sites for the visitor to discover, and a striking combination of scenic mountains and stunningly modern cities. Tourists can often feel overwhelmed by their first introduction to Japan. A brief overview of the history that has made Japan what it is today may help you to adjust more easily.

First, a refresher on the geography of Japan. The total area is a little smaller than California, although it consists of thousands of scattered islands. The main island is Honshu. Hokkaido, together with Shikoku and the island of Kyushu, make up the other three major islands. These islands are all the result of ancient volcanic activity and Japan suffers from earthquakes which are occasionally severe.

The origins of the islands are reflected by their characteristic mountains. The most famous of these is Mount Fuji, which reaches over twelve thousand feet at its summit. The steep slopes covering most of the country have caused the Japanese people to congregate in densely populated cities along the coasts. The majority live in these urban areas, such as the capital, Tokyo.

Japan has a population of over 127 million, which is gradually decreasing at the moment. The term “Japanese” is used to refer to the people, and is also the name of the main language. Japan has a literacy rate of 99%, and life expectancy here is very high, 77 for men and 84 for women. The two main religions have co-existed harmoniously in Japan for a long time due to their similar beliefs. Shinto and Buddhist temples are often shared.

The Emperor of Japan traces back his ancestry to the legendary founder of his nation, Jimmu, who supposedly created Japan as a country in about 600 BCE.

It was by chance that the first Europeans arrived in Japan, when a ship that had lost its way brought some Portuguese sailors to its shores. As more travelers came from the West they were welcomed only with suspicion. They were eventually banned from entering the country, and for two centuries Japan remained isolated. In 1854 this decision was reversed after Japan came to an agreement with the US. This time the contact with the outside world brought change to the people of Japan, and their society changed its traditional feudalism for more modern values.

Japan came out of the First World War, having supported the Allies, as a respected world power of economic as well as military value. This good relationship did not last, however. The then Emperor attempted to spread the influence of Japan by attempting to take over parts of China, hoping to make Japan the dominant power across the whole of Asia. As the Nazi party rose to power in Germany, Japan decided to ally itself with this new power.

Japan entered the Second World War with an attack on the US at Pearl Harbor in 1941. By the end of the war, with more than three million casualties and the horror the two atomic bombs dropped on their soil, Japan was left with no alternative but to surrender. Japan lost most of its overseas territories and was placed under the command of General MacArthur, until it regained its independence in 1952. Japan underwent great changes during this and subsequent times, developing as a democracy and becoming the world’s second largest economy.

Japan can be a confusing and expensive place to visit, due to its unique culture and fast-paced cities, but with a willingness to try to understand its history, modern Japan can be an extremely interesting and exciting destination- and if one thing is sure, it is that you will never be bored.