Japan

Japan (3 April, 2007)


Japan is a developed nation in the Far East. Despite being one of the most advanced nations in the world, the country has managed to keep its traditions, culture and landscape very much intact. Although it is a very expensive destination, for those who can afford a trip to Japan, it is definitely worth the while. Quality comes at a price, and in this country, the high price that you pay is compensated by the quality received.

On this page, I would like to share with you useful travel information on Japan, with details on what to see in the cities and towns across the country, and how to get there. But first, a little introduction on Japan.

Islands of Japan

Regions of Japan

Travel Tips to Major Cities in Japan

Map of the Prefectures of Japan

Prefectures of Japan

Minor Cities of Japan

World Heritage Sites in Japan

Nature Sites in Japan

Other Major Tourist Attractions of Japan

Tim at Lake Kawaguchi, with Mount Fuji in the background (4 April 2008)


Japan is an island nation in East Asia. An archipelago, it comprises four main islands and many smaller islands totalling 6,852. The four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. The nation of Japan covers an area of 377,944 square kilometers, and as of 2008, has an estimated population of 128 million. Honshu is the biggest and most populous island in Japan. Tokyo, the capital as well as biggest city, is located here. There are 30 million people living in and around Tokyo, giving it one of the most highly populated metropolitan area of any city in the world.

Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kurushima-Kaikyo_Bridge#mediaviewer/File:Kurushima-Kaikyo_Bridge_310051.jpg
Hiroshi nakai

Planning your trip to Japan

Nationals of sixty-one countries - mostly Western nations - are allowed visa-free visits to Japan, for stays of up to 90 days, with some as much as 180 days. Nationals of other countries must obtain a temporary visitor visa before arriving.

All foreigners arriving in Japan that are above the age of 16, except those on government business and some permanent residents, are required to be electronically fingerprinted and photographed as part of immigration entry requirement. Entry will be denied if this procedure is refused.

When in Japan, you must carry your passport with you at all times - if caught without it, you will be detained until someone can fetch it for you. You could face a fine of ¥200,000 if caught without your passport.

Our meal in Japan (1 April, 2007)

International Airports in Japan

The two main gateway airports to Japan are Narita International Airport (NRT) near Tokyo, and Kansai International Airport (KIX) near Osaka. Chubu International Airport (NGO) near Nagoya also receives international flights.

Planning your travel within Japan

The most popular form of public transportation in Japan is the train. It has one of the best train systems in the world with most cities served by mass rapid transit subway trains, and intercity bullet trains called Shinkanzen.

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About this website

Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.