Japan Travel Planner

Japan is home to 127 million people and some of the largest cities on earth. It is located in north eastern Asia, separated from its closest neighbour South Korea to the east by the Sea of Japan with the vast North Pacific Ocean on its western side. It is an archipelago comprised of four main islands, the largest of which is Honshu, with Hokkaido to the north and Shikoku and Kyushu to the south.

There is something to whet the appetite of any traveller to Japan, whether you're looking for traditional Japanese culture, major sporting events, buying the latest high-tech gadget or skiing in Hokkaido.

The first written recordings of Japanese history were from around the 5th century AD and it was around this time Buddhism was introduced as a result of contact with Korea.

Japanese culture was greatly influenced by China from around the 8th century and it was at this time an Imperial Court was established. During subsequent centuries the Imperial Court was challenged by warrior clans as well as other powerful families.

In 1192 a military government (known as a Shogunate) was established and ruled the country for the next 700 years. In 1542 a Portuguese sailing ship chanced upon Japan and trade with Portugal, Spain, England and Holland was established but was short-lived. Around 1600 the Shogunate banned almost all contact with the west for fear of their support of a local Japanese revolt. Japan was isolated for the next 250years.

In the mid-19th century trade was re-established by the American Navy and in 1868 the Shogunate was abolished by the new Emperor Meiji and the 'Meiji Restoration' began. The first Japanese Parliamentary government was created in 1889 and in the following decades Japan's military was greatly increased. Following wars with China and Russia around the turn of the 20th century Japan's empire expanded to include Taiwan and Korea as well as other areas within the region.

In World War II Japan joined Germany and Italy as the major Axis powers. The tide of the Japanese war turned after America’s entrance in 1941 and Japan formally surrendered to the Allied powers on 2nd September 1945.

Japan enjoyed a remarkable economic recovery after the war and became one the major economic powerhouses until it was hit by the Asian Economic Crisis in the 1990s. Japan's economy has recovered well in the 2000s but its rate of growth has been far less than in the past.

Some outstanding attractions are the Cherry Blossom festival in spring, karaoke singing, the Kabuki theatre, Sumo wrestling and Major League baseball, Shinkansen bullet trains, traditional Japanese inns (known as ryokan), and the Sapporo Snow festival in winter as well as the various shopping districts of Tokyo