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Night Safari 1
Night Safari is the attraction impressed me most during my Singapore tour. It is the wildlife s
Public Holidays in Australia
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
1 J
Stay Safe and Healthy in Malaysia
Stay Safe
Never bring any recreational drugs into Malaysia, even if you are only ther
JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDE - KEY FACTS
World Travel Guide Asia Japan Key Facts
Picture choosen by: Mr.Aadu Sye
Key Facts of Japan
LocationFar East.
Time
GMT + 9.
Area
377,864 sq km (145,894 sq miles).
Population
127.9 million (2008).
Population Density
338 per sq km (13,800 per sq km in central Tokyo).
Capital
Tokyo. Population (central Tokyo): 8.65 million.
Geography
The archipelago of Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea and split into four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. About 70% of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes, including Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak, reaching 3,776m (12,388ft).
A series of mountain ranges runs from northern Hokkaido to southern Kyushu. The Japanese Alps (the most prominent range) run in a north-south direction through central Honshu. Lowlands and plains are small and scattered, mostly lying along the coast, and composed of alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands. The coastline is very long in relation to the land area, and has very varied features. The deeply indented bays with good natural harbours tend to be adjacent to mountainous terrain.
Government
Constitutional monarchy.
Head of State
Emperor Akihito since 1989.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Taro Aso since 2008.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in Tokyo and other large cities but is less usual in rural areas.
Religion
Shintoism and Buddhism (most Japanese follow both religions, although religion does not play a major everyday role in most Japanese lives, with frequent temple visits being more usually attributed to tourism). There is a Christian minority.
Electricity
100 volts AC, 60Hz in the west (Osaka); 100 volts AC, 50Hz in eastern Japan and Tokyo. Plugs are flat two-pin plugs.
Social Conventions
Most if not all Japanese are very understanding of a foreigner (gaijin or gaikokujin) not conforming instantly to their culture; indeed, the Japanese like to boast (with debatable credibility) that their language and culture are among the most difficult to understand in the world, so they are generally quite happy to assist you if you appear to be struggling. However, there are few simple things to be aware of to show respect in Japan, many of which boil down to social norms of strict cleanliness and avoiding intruding on others (meiwaku).
Things to do:
∙Learn a little of the language, and try to use it. They will be complimentary if you try, and there is no reason to be embarrassed. They realize that Japanese is very difficult for foreigners and won't scoff at your mistakes; on the contrary, they'll like you for it.
∙Bowing. Men bow with their hands to their sides. Women bow with their hands together in front. Women's hands look like they are settled in their lap when bowing, not in a prayer position. The exact degree of the bow depends on your position in society relative to the receiver of the bow and on the occasion, the largely unwritten rules are complex but foreigners are not expected to understand them immediately and a "token bow" is fine. Many Japanese will, in fact, gladly offer a handshake instead!
∙When handing something to someone, especially a business card, it's considered polite to present it holding it with both hands.
∙When drinking sake or beer in a group, it's considered polite not to fill your own glass, but to allow someone else to do it. Typically, glasses are refilled well before they are empty. To be especially polite, hold up your own glass with both hands while one of your companions fills it.
∙Gift-giving is very common in Japan. You, as a guest, may find yourself inundated with gifts and dinners. Please be aware, though, that among Japanese, such generosity is implicitly expected to be returned in the future "Re-gifting" is a common and accepted practice, even for items such as fruit.
∙Expressing gratitude is slightly different from obligatory gift-giving. Even if you brought a gift for your Japanese host, once you return, it is a sign of good ettiquette to send a hand-written thank you card or the like - it will be much appreciated. Japanese guests always exchange photos they have taken with their hosts, so you should expect to receive some snapshots and should prepare to send yours (of you and your hosts together) back to them. Depending on their age and the nature of your relationship (business versus personal) an online exchange may suffice.
∙The elderly are given special respect in Japanese society, and they are used to the privileges that come with it. Visitors waiting to board a train may be surprised to get shoved aside by a fearless obaa-san who has her eye on a seat. Note that certain seats ("silver seats") on many trains are set aside for the disabled and the elderly.
∙If visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple, follow the appropriate cleansing procedure at the ch¨zuya (ÊÖË®Åh) before you enter. After filling the dippers with water, first rinse your left hand, followed by your right hand. Thereafter, cup your left hand and fill it with water, then use it to rinse your mouth. Do not touch the dipper directly with your mouth. Finally, rinse your left hand again with the water remaining in the dipper.
Things to avoid:
Japanese people understand that visitors may not be aware of the intricacies of Japanese etiquette and tend to be tolerant of blunders in this regard by foreigners. There are four serious etiquette breaches, however, which will meet with universal disapproval, even when foreigners commit them, and these should be avoided at all costs:
∙Don't walk on a tatami mat wearing shoes or even slippers.
∙Don't blow your nose in public, even discreetly. This is considered extremely boorish.
∙Don't leave your chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice. This is how rice is offered to the dead.
∙Don't enter a bathtub without washing up first.
Other things to watch for:
∙Shoes (and feet in general) are considered very dirty by the Japanese. Avoid pointing them at anybody (eg. when sitting on the train) and try to restrain children from standing up on seats. Brushing your feet against somebody's clothing, even by accident, is very rude.
∙The Japanese consider hearty hugs or back slaps rude, especially if they're coming from someone they just met.
∙Point with an open hand, not a finger, and beckon people with your hand facing down, not up.
∙Avoid shouting or talking loudly in public. Talking on a mobile phone on a train is considered rude. (Sending text messages, however, is considered de rigueur.)
∙As in Germany, World War II is a touchy and complicated topic. Other Japan Travel Guides Shopping Accommodation Communication Things To Do Key Facts Getting Around Climate Night Life and Entertainment General Information Getting There Duty Free Money Food and Drink Public Holidays Things To See
RECENTLY SUBMITTED IN Japan
Japan Overview
Posted by Miss Ashley on 21 April 2010 11:15:02
The "Land of the Rising Sun”, Japan, known as Nihon or Nippon in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Japan is the wealthy nation with culture stretches back millennia, yet has also adopted (and created) the latest modern fashions and trends. Japan is a study in contrasts and contr... More
Communications in Japan
Posted by Mr. Aadu Sye on 04 January 2010 10:17:05
By phone International dialling prefixes vary from company to company. Check with your operator for more details. For international calls to Japan, the country code is 81. Emergency call Emergency call can be made from any phone at free of charge: call 110 for police or call 119 fo... More
Accommodation in Japan
Posted by Mr. Aadu Sye on 04 January 2010 10:16:52
Hotels Western hotels can be rare outside Tokyo and Osaka; elsewhere, it's Japanese brands like JAL/Nikko, Rihga Royal and Prince that rule the roost Capsule hotels Capsule hotels are the ultimate in space-efficient sleeping: for a small fee (normally between ¥3,000 and ¥4,000), ... More
