Japan is a thin, long strip of land. The total area of Japan is slightly smaller than the state of California. The population that inhabits the country is almost 26 million, which is nearly half the population of the entire United States. The physical features of the country can be split into the following: 15% agriculture, 75% is uninhabitable as the terrain is rough and mountainous. This leaves the population to only live on 10% of the land.
The chief crops in Japan are potatoes, sugar beets, fruit, rice and vegetables. With its long, rich history in politics, heritage, arts and language, there is a lot that Japan offers tourists. Japan can be expensive, but that does not mean it does not cater to low budget travelers.
Japan is divided into four main islands: Hokkaido in the north, Honshu is the main island, Shikoku is in the Southwest and Kyushu is in the South. There are about 4,000 smaller islands that surround these main islands.
There are a lot of things to see in Japan. This can range from city life to natural wonders like Mount Fiji; the country has something to offer to everyone. Japan offers a lot of exciting electronic products that can be bought from anywhere in Japan. The main place for electronic goods is Tokyo in Roppongi, Akihabara and Shinjuku districts.
If your travel is limited to two weeks or less, you should limit yourself to the island of Honshu. This is because most of the big cities are here and the city is a must see. If you like partying and outdoor activities, the island of Hokkaido is for you. The beer hub of Japan is known as Sapparo and the famous Ice Sculpture festival is held here.
The main sightseeing feature of the island of Kyushu is Nagasaki. In times gone by, the only foreigners that were allowed to visit this place were the Dutch and the Chinese. In World War II a nuclear bomb was dropped over this city and another over Hiroshima. It is a special place because many people died here and this is where they are all remembered.
The island of Shikoku is the smallest island in Japan and is perhaps the least visited by foreigners.
