Japan Facts & Information

Location	Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Climate	Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain	Mostly rugged and mountainous
Population	127,417,244
Nationality	Japanese
Ethnic groups	Japanese 99%, others 1%
Religions	Japanese 99%, others 1%
Languages	Japanese
Government Type	Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital	Tokyo
Currency	Yen (JPY)
Description of Flag	White with a large red disk in the center
Tokyo Flag

More Information
 www.cia.gov

Tokyo Culture

Japanese—84%—observe both Shinto and Buddhist religions.

Tokyo itself has about 12.4 million people who live in and around the city. If you spend December in Tokyo, don’t be surprised to see Christmas lights, trees and even the holiday celebrated throughout the city (even though practicing Christians make up less than 1% of the population). The reason? Denizens love the festive commercialism! In fact, any time you head to Tokyo you’ll notice how retail savvy some of the locals can be. Just take the train to Harajuku Station and check out the street performers and, of course, the Harajuku Girls. Known for their cutesy rebellion garb, Harajuku Girls often dress in an eclectic mix of hip-hop street gear, Hello Kitty fashion accessories and British punk skirts, army pants or boots. So don’t worry about fitting in because, honestly, anything here goes.

More Information:
 www.state.gov

Tokyo Culture

Japanese—84%—observe both Shinto and Buddhist religions.

Tokyo itself has about 12.4 million people who live in and around the city. If you spend December in Tokyo, don’t be surprised to see Christmas lights, trees and even the holiday celebrated throughout the city (even though practicing Christians make up less than 1% of the population). The reason? Denizens love the festive commercialism! In fact, any time you head to Tokyo you’ll notice how retail savvy some of the locals can be. Just take the train to Harajuku Station and check out the street performers and, of course, the Harajuku Girls. Known for their cutesy rebellion garb, Harajuku Girls often dress in an eclectic mix of hip-hop street gear, Hello Kitty fashion accessories and British punk skirts, army pants or boots. So don’t worry about fitting in because, honestly, anything here goes.

More Information:
 www.state.gov

Tokyo Shopping

you’re looking for a specific store or even kind of store. Or, if you just want to marvel at the scene, grab a map and enjoy winding through Shibuya’s streets, price-checking antiques and listening to samples of new music at the various record shops.

Shinjuku is another hotspot, where shops are usually open year round from 10am to 8pm. Here you can find the tackiest, cheapest souvenirs (look for the “100 Yen” shops, which are like America’s “Dollar Shops”). You’ll also find oriental bazaars, full of spices and delicious ingredients for traditional Japanese cuisine, and traditional souvenirs, crafts, books and, of course, electronics. Again, check with tourist information booths in or near the subway stops if you’re looking for a specific kind of good; otherwise, leave at least a few hours to simply roam and wander the busy, consumer-friendly streets.

Tokyo Shopping

you’re looking for a specific store or even kind of store. Or, if you just want to marvel at the scene, grab a map and enjoy winding through Shibuya’s streets, price-checking antiques and listening to samples of new music at the various record shops.

Shinjuku is another hotspot, where shops are usually open year round from 10am to 8pm. Here you can find the tackiest, cheapest souvenirs (look for the “100 Yen” shops, which are like America’s “Dollar Shops”). You’ll also find oriental bazaars, full of spices and delicious ingredients for traditional Japanese cuisine, and traditional souvenirs, crafts, books and, of course, electronics. Again, check with tourist information booths in or near the subway stops if you’re looking for a specific kind of good; otherwise, leave at least a few hours to simply roam and wander the busy, consumer-friendly streets.

Tokyo Travel Guides
 Frommer's Tokyo
 Lonely Planet Tokyo
 Let's Go Tokyo
 Fodors Tokyo