* Population: 127,333,002
* Currency:Yen (JPY) 100 JPY=0.75 EUR
* Time zone: GMT +9 hours
* Country dialing code: +81
* Major Language: Japanese
* A nice musk melon, similar to a cantaloupe, may sell for over $300US.
* Japanese celebrate Christmas, but it is more like Valentine's day in the western world.
* Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.
* Noodles are slurped very loudly when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating.
* Average life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world. Japanese people live an average of 4 years longer than Americans.
* Japan is the largest automobile producer in the world.
* Tsukiji market in Tokyo is the world's largest fish market.
* Tokyo has had 24 recorded instances of people either killed or receiving serious skull fractures while bowing to each other with the traditional Japanese greeting.
* Geisha means "person of the arts" and the first geisha were actually men.
* It is considered rude to blow your nose in public and also to openly express your emotions in public.
Japan consists of four main islands and over 4,000 small islands. 73% of the country is mountainous which resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones. Abundant nature and many historic structures still remain in Japan and there are 14 World Heritage sites in Japan inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, 11 cultural heritage sites and 3 natural heritage sites. Hot spring resorts are all over the country, each with different water qualities and effects.
The cities is Japan are a mix of old and new. They are very modern and high tech, but you can still see wooden shacks next to famous designer shops, or in the middle of a modern skyscraper you might discover a wooden door leading to a traditional room with tatami mats, calligraphy, and tea ceremony. These contradictions are exactly why you will never get bored of traveling to Japan, as there is always something to surprise you.
Sushi - is a type of Japanese cuisine featuring seafood and vinegared rice. The most common type of Sushi is Nigiri-zushi. Kaitenzushi (conveyor belt Sushi) - plates with already prepared Sushi are placed on a rotating conveyor belt and customers can choose the types of Sushi they would like to eat. In most cases, this kind of Sushi is a lot more reasonably priced.
Tempura (deep-fried seafood and vegetables) - it is now recognized by many foreigners as one of Japan's representative foods, after Sushi. The main ingredients that are being used for making Tempura are sweet potatoes, shrimps, pumpkins and peppers. Before frying they are dipped in a batter made from flour, eggs and cold water. he most typical way to eat Tempura is dipping it into a sauce called Tentsuyu.
Sukiyaki - slices of meat either grilled or simmered in a shallow iron pot. The word "yaki" means "sautee" or "grill" in Japanese. Sukiyaki is usually cooked at the table, and it's common to eat with others from the same pan. Sukiyaki is a typical menu when people gather together in Japan.
Sake - this traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage is made from rice, through a brewing process similar to that of beer. It is served chilled, at room temperature, or heated, depending on the drinker's preference, the quality of the sake, and the season. Traditionally, Sake is served in small cups called choko and poured into the choko from ceramic flasks called tokkuri.
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