Japan
Tokyo is quite a diversion from the relaxed traditional Japan and is Japan’s largest city with some of the best shopping in the world. The best places to check out are a Kabuki (Japanese type of theatre) performance in Ginza (also a top shopping district), the crazy street fashions of Harajuku, The Tokyo Tower, the Ameyoko markets and ‘Electric Town’ at Akihabara.
No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to the iconic Mt Fiji which is surrounded by five lakes and beautiful scenery.
Kyoto is a bit more traditional, and has many cultural and historical landmarks (the city was one of the few not bombed during the war). Kyoto is the place to find citizens in traditional dress (of note are the Gion’s Geisha girls.) There are plenty of cherry trees, an abundance of temples, traditional festivities and hot springs to relax in.
The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun". The greatest charm of sightseeing in Japan is surely the seasonal change, such as the cherry blossoms of spring and the crimson and golden leaves of autumn.
Japan is an island country located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. Japan comprises over three thousand islands, most are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano.
Spring in Japan is associated with cherry blossoms. Since olden times, cherry blossoms have captivated the hearts of the Japanese people. The traditional custom of hanami is to visit mountains and parks with cherry blossoms and hold sake-drinking parties beneath the cherry trees in full blossom.
The years from the Medieval Period to the Modern Age marked the era when samurai warriors rose to power, and Japan was divided into small states in which many castles were built. The early castles were forts built mostly in mountainous districts for warfare purposes.
Japan is a treasure-trove of traditional performing arts. The best known and most loved by people around the world is the traditional performing art of Kabuki. Rhythmical lines spoken by actors, colourful make-up and a stage full of mechanical devices for special effects are essential characteristics, but the most important is that all the roles, including those of women, are played by male actors.