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Japan - Land of the Rising Sun
Need an editable PowerPoint map of Japan Japan... Land of the Rising Sun... a land that is so different that sunrise is probably one of the only things that this country has in common with the rest of the world. Completely isolated from the rest of the world (until about 150 years ago), from a foreigner's perspective, this land just holds a mysterious oriental charm. As someone who's resided in Japan for a fairly long period of time, and a lover of travel, here is Japan the way I've seen it: Country – It is a small country where majority of the land mass is covered in mountains; this explains why population concentration is mainly on the coast. This also explains why the small houses resemble toy houses. Anybody who enters a business hotel room will find that the first step is inside the room, the second could be on the bed, and third in the washroom. You will find that all required amenities are readily available. Be prepared for everything compact, small, a tad inconvenient at times but just about sufficient for your needs. Climate - The year consists of spring, rains, summer, autumn and winter. The country usually witnesses heavy rainfall during the month of June, the rainfall predicted is pretty much always precise and this is usually referred to as Pin Point Tenki (weather). Summers can get really hot and winters really cold, with occasional rainfall. People – As petite as the Japanese may be (which is what they're known for), they are a very helpful people. They are also always polite, honest and are a peace-loving people. A national diet research is being conducted which would, hopefully, help in the increase of the average height of the population. Language – Language is a problem that any foreigner is likely to face here. Even when residents speak no English, they are always willing to help as best they can. The national language is spoken everywhere - in malls, supermarkets, stations, banks... even the doctors, which can sometimes lead to a bit of a hassle. To add to these problems, Japanese is also a very difficult language to learn, so I wish you luck! Currency – It normally starts from 1 yen to 10,000 yen. The lowest price is about 100 yen, so one needs to get used to carrying wads of cash. Credit cards are accepted in almost every hotel, definitely in upper-crust restaurant and shopping malls, although not as much as in the United States. Modern modes of payment (through phones or prepaid cards) are becoming popular among youngsters. Also, 5% sales tax is always added to any purchase made, and 10-15% of service tax in restaurants. Travel – One good thing about Japan? You don't need to own a car here. Public transport (subways and bus networks) is excellent, on time and always very clean. Queuing up for buses or trains is very common. During rush hours, preference is given to people getting down, so I would advise you not to get this confused with the Mumbai lifestyle. While we have Japan's world-famous bullet trains that need to be experienced, you will notice that anyone who is physically fit would rather cycle to get to places covering short distances. Spacious cycle tracks have been made for riders and footpaths for pedestrians. Food – Japanese cuisine is one of a kind, sushi and sushimi being world-famous delicacies. Rice is the staple food crop, eaten with fish, sea weed and tofu, along with a glass of sake (rice wine fermented in-house). I was completely taken aback when I learned that wheat bread is a rarity and also thought it unfortunate that the Japanese are pretty clueless about vegetarian dishes. Interestingly enough, they consider fish to be a vegetarian diet. Electronics - In terms of technology, I would have to say that Japan is one of the most advanced nations. Washlets (automatic toilet seats for cleaning yourself), escalators that get turned on as you approach them and shinkansen (train seats that automatically rotate to face the other way) and massage chairs are just a few examples to prove how advanced the Japanese are. Social problems – Behind what seems like a life filled with glitz, Japan has its own share of social problems. Working hours are usually very long - beginning at 9 in the morning with no specific time for when work might end. The Japanese are known to be workaholics and therefore, have no time for their families and friends during weekdays. Japanese society is based on hierarchy, and social manners and etiquette are observed and followed with utmost sincerity. Japan after World War II – The darker side of Japanese history (WW-II and the atomic bombings) is familiar to everyone. The Japanese are still facing the ill effects of the past but their sincerity, persverance and hard work have helped transfrom the country into a Developed nation. What I have written here mostly applies to big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya etc. But if you just so happen to visit the countryside, you would probably think differently of the country as a whole. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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