Over 10 cities have more than a million people in them. The biggest city in Japan is Tokyo, which is the capital. Japan is a leader in the robotics industry: It is the world's largest maker of industrial robots. [28] It has the 2nd most industrial robots behind China. [28] Economy [ change | change source ] Louis-Frédéric (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p.780. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

Japan is an all-year-round destination. The summer months tend to be hot and humid with a few rain showers, and the winters are cold and crisp with clear blue skies. Camping fans loved the Mazda Bongo Owners Group stand, where no less than 21 Bongo Friendee campers were lined up, with their elevating roofs raised and awnings extended. Another eye-catching machine was a first-generation Honda Insight ZE1 petrol-electric hybrid, which contrasted with many of the performance-orientated cars it was parked up with. Since the catastrophic atomic bombing in 1945 Hiroshima has transformed into a welcoming and thriving city that is well worth a visit. Whilst the poignant memorial in the Peace Memorial Park reminds us of the tragic event, it also inspires with messages of hope that such horrors should never happen again. Another reason to visit is the nearby Miyajima Island, just off the coast of the city, where tame deer roam. As you arrive on the ferry you'll take in the famous view of the floating torii gate. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in Japan, these red gates appear to float on the water. Miyajima is included in the itinerary of our Highlights of Japantrip. If you’re looking to travel solo, our Japan holidays are the perfect place to start. Every one of our holidays has been designed to suit solo travellers, and though it depends on the exact tour that you choose, you’ll find that about half of our customers will also be travelling solo. Not only will you get to explore a fantastic new destination, you’ll also get to meet fellow travellers who share the same interests, while we take care of the arrangements. Cherry blossom also known as Japanese cherry and Sakura is thought to be the national flower of Japan.Participant prices are only valid if arriving in a Japanese vehicle and taking part in the rally. They are not valid for those arriving on foot. Please drive carefully and responsibly when attending our events and be aware of free-roaming animals and cyclists on the roads. Due to the close proximity of our neighbours, please be respectful when entering and leaving the event. As the town was not targeted during World War II, much of Kanazawa consists of old buildings and gives a sense of what Japan was like in the 19th century. We'll spend some time wandering around the colourful stalls at the town's Omicho market, where fresh fish and crab are brought daily from the Sea of Japan along with vegetables from the surrounding countryside. A great dish to try here, particular to the region, is chirashi-zushi, which consists of scattered seasoned sushi rice topped with a variety of seafood, vegetables and raw fish. We also visit Kenrokoen Gardens which took nearly two centuries to complete and translating from their original Japanese as the 'Garden of the Six Sublimities'. The weather is at its best during the summer season from April to May, but this is also the busiest time to visit Japan and prices are higher. If you want to escape the crowds, book a trip from June to August - it will be hotter and wetter, but you’ll have more space to appreciate Japan’s wondrous sights.

The religion in Japan is mostly Shinto and Buddhist. Due to the tolerant nature of the two main Japanese religions, and the resulting intermixing of the two, many Japanese identify as both Shinto and Buddhist at the same time. There are small numbers of Christians and Hindus, and a few Jews. [29]World Factbook: Gini Index". CIA. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007 . Retrieved May 11, 2011. Saraswati is the most revered deity in Japan, after the Buddha': Filmmaker Benoy Behl". 11 May 2019. The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) grew to become a part of World War II when Japan became allies with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Hot on its heels is new event Simply Italian on National Drive-It Day 24 th April. From lively everyday Fiats and sporting Alfa Romeos and Lancias, to high-performance Lamborghinis, Maseratis and Ferraris, every car from Italy is invited to join the rally. While other favourite Simply rallies returning due to popular demand include Simply Ford on 22 nd May, Simply Electric on 29 th May, Simply Japanese on 24 th July and Simply French on 17 th July.

Next on the list of our favourite places in Japan is the city of Kyoto, vastly different to Tokyo with its peaceful Zen gardens and charming little shops. Kyoto is the city of the elusive Geisha – you may even get to see some of the beautifully-dressed women as you walk along the quaint cobbled streets, nipping in and out of historic tea houses. Our Simply Japantrip includes two days to explore Kyoto, time to walk the path to Fushimi Inari Shrine through the thousands of red torii gates, sample weird and wonderful flavours in Nishiki Food Market, or visit a beautifully manicured bamboo grove. Many trips arrive in Kyoto by the famous bullet train, or Shinkansen, offering another once-in-a-lifetime experience. Louis-Frédéric (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p.242. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

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Japan has one of the strongest economies of any country. Its nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is the 3rd highest in the world. It has a very low unemployment rate and was the 4th-largest exporter and 4th-largest importer in 2021. For a winter getaway with a difference, head to Japan from December to February. The days are usually crisp, cold and clear, and the Japanese Alps will be covered in a blanket of white snow. Travel in February to visit Sapporo Snow Festival and enjoy an ice-breaker cruise in the Seaof Okhotsk before spending time admiring the incredible snow sculptures at the annual Sapporo Snow Festival. The RX-8 Owners Club stand was the place to see rotary-engine Mazdas, while the Z Club put on an amazing display of sporting Datsuns and Nissans, dating from the 240Z coupe of the early 1970s right up to the modern 350Z. A low-cost favourite with sports car fans and customisers alike, the hugely popular Mazda MX-5 was represented by numerous factory-spec and modified examples. The mid-engine Toyota MR2 was also popular with show-goers.

In the middle of Japan there are mountains. [15] They cover the middle of the islands and leave a very narrow strip of flat land on most coasts. Many of the mountains are extinct volcanoes, but some are still active. The highest of these mountains is the beautiful, volcano-shaped Mt Fuji (3,776metres or 12,389feet high). Japan has many earthquakes, in fact there are about 1500 of these every year. [15] The biggest earthquake recorded in Japan was in 2011 - called '2011 Tohoku Earthquake'. It caused great damage to several power plants forcing Japan to shut down all its nuclear plants. There was nuclear core meltdown which caused a serious health risk to nearby villages and cities.Louis-Frédéric (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp.905–907. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.