JAPAN.

Endless Discovery

DISCOVER JAPAN
Japan is an island nation
in East Asia. Located in the
Pacific Ocean, it lies to the
east of the Sea of Japan,
China, North Korea, South
Korea and Russia, stretching
from the Sea of Okhotsk in
the north to the East China
Sea and Taiwan in the south.
The country is sometimes
referred to as the "Land of
the Rising Sun". Japan is an
archipelago of 6,852 islands,
the four largest being
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu
and Shikoku. Together, these
four islands hold about 97
percent of the country's land

area. Japan has the world's

tenth-largest population,
with more than 126 million
people. Honsh's Greater
Tokyo Area includes the de
facto capital city of Tokyo
and several surrounding
prefectures. It is the largest
metropolitan area in the
world, with more than 30
million residents.

HERITAGE

Japan values its cultivated traditions and practices as much as it values keeping in touch with the future.
Whether grounded in history or in religion, Japanese customs are still widely practiced to this day. There are
many ways travelers can experience authentic Japanese heritage without having to spend too much money.
A visit to a shrine, temple, or castle would provide fantastic insight into Japan's diverse history and how
Japanese society has developed.
Additionally, Japan holds festivals year round that symbolize various aspects of culture and tradition, which
are held in very high esteem by Japanese people.

Shrines and Temples

Castles

Some of Japan's most treasured ancient structures

are its shrines and temples. While shrines are
typically associated with Shinto worship, temples
are most often a symbol of Buddhism. Scattered
around the country spanning centuries of design
and worship, the shrines and temples of Japan are
some of the finest examples of Japanese heritage
and spirituality. Many beautiful shrines and temples
maintain presence in the center of the city.

The architecture of some of Japan's ancient

structures is among the most unique and ingenious
in the world. These iconic structures have attracted
visitors from all over the world for their towering
presence and interesting history. The various castles
scattered across Japan each have their own stories
to tell, so catching a glimpse of at least a few of
these breathtaking structures make any trip to
Japan worthwhile.

CULINARY DELIGHTS
One of the major attractions of traveling
throughout Japan is trying different local
cuisines in every town you visit. While sushi
is in fact a large part of Japanese heritage,
myriad flavors from all around the world have
contributed to Japan's robust foodie culture,
attracting more and more culinary figures
worldwide to try the new eastern hot spot. It
should therefore come as no surprise that Tokyo
is ranked the number one food city by Food and
Wine magazine, not to mention the fact that
Tokyo has more stars in the prestigious Michelin
Guidebook than any other city in the world.
From noodles to sashimi to gourmet French
cuisine, Japan has the food to satisfy the most
discerning of palettes, as well as the strictest
of budgets.

Unique Dining Experiences

Themed restaurants are all the rage in Japan recently, and are growing in popularity every day. You
can enjoy not only traditional Japanese food at themed restaurants, but also the great atmosphere
and unique meals. Restaurant-goers can eat fish that
they caught themselves straight out of a pond, have
food and drinks under the cherry blossoms all year
around, or dine amongst mysterious "Ninjas" lurking
throughout the restaurant. If you'd like to experience
the four seasons of Japan, learn about the different
historical periods, or enjoy the unique seafood and
other specialty cuisines from diverse regions, then
here are the best places to go!

ADVENTURE
Snowboarding? Snorkeling? Hiking? Whatever your outdoor pleasure, Japan can provide it. Hit up the
slopes in Nagano, home of the 1998 Winter Olympics or explore the beautiful oceans and beaches in
Okinawa. Or you can find some serious waves just an hour outside of Tokyo, and even traverse through
the amazing underwater ruins in the Ryukyu Archipelago. For all the active travelers out there, Japan
is the perfect place to get your adrena

Japans wild side is often lost in translation: True, where its urban, its really urban, and where
its expensive, its really expensive. But were not talking about a business trip to Tokyo. There
is an undeveloped Japanand plenty of it. A landscape as forested as any on Earth stretches
from the subtropical reefs near Okinawa to the soaring, jagged mountains of Hokkaido. Its rugged,
welcoming, and a better bargain than you might think.

TOKYO
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. At over 12 million people in the official metropolitan area alone, Tokyo is
the core of the most populated urban area in the world, Greater Tokyo (which has a population of 35
million people). This huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis brings high-tech visions of the future
side by side with of old Japan, and has something for everyone. Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known
as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when
Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into
one of the world's most populous cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital
moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were
destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.
Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to
its visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa, and in many excellent
museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of
attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.
Tokyo is vast: it's best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown
together. Tokyo's districts vary wildly by character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the
Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda, from the hyperactive youth culture mecca of Shibuya to the
pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head
to the next station, and you will find something entirely different.
The sheer size and frenetic pace of Tokyo can intimidate the first-time visitor. Much of the city is a
jungle of concrete and wires, with a mass of neon and blaring loudspeakers. At rush hour, crowds jostle
in packed trains and masses of humanity sweep through enormous and bewilderingly complex stations.
Don't get too hung up on ticking tourist sights off your list: for most visitors, the biggest part of the
Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe, poking your head into
shops selling weird and wonderful things, sampling restaurants where you can't recognize a single thing
on the menu (or on your plate), and finding unexpected oases of calm in the tranquil
grounds of a neighbourhood Shinto shrine. It's all perfectly safe, and the locals
will go to sometimes extraordinary lengths to help you if you just ask.

Share the experience

FASHION JAPAN

Japan began to emulate Western fashion during the middle of the 19th century. By the
beginning of the 21st century, this emulation has formed street fashion, a fashion style
in which the wearer customizes outfits by adopting a mixture of current and traditional
trends. Such clothes are generally home-made with the use of material purchased at
stores.
At present, there are many styles of dress in Japan, created from a mix of both local
and foreign labels. Some of these styles are extreme and avant-garde, similar to
the haute couture seen on European catwalks. The rise and fall of many of these
trends has been chronicled by Shoichi Aoki since 1997 in the fashion magazine
FRUiTS, which is a notable magazine for the promotion of street fashion in Japan.
More recently, Japanese hip-hop, which has long been present among underground
Tokyo's club scene, has influenced the mainstream fashion industry. The popularity of
the music is so influential that Tokyo's youth are imitating their favorite hip hop stars
from the way they dress with over-sized clothes to tanned skin. The idea of darkening
one's skin to more closely resemble an American hip-hop star or ethnic group may seem
like a fad, but this subculture, the black facers, do not particularly set themselves
apart from many other sub cultures that have emerged as a result of hip hop.

HARAJUKUS
Harajuku has become world famous as Japans
center of street fashion. This square mile area
is jam-packed with boutiques, fashion malls
and chains. Every single day of the year, tens of
thousands of people come here to shop, hang
out, and see what the latest trends are.
The area was originally a small village inhabited
by low level samurai. Harajukus start as a center
of fashion and youth culture came after WWII. US
Army barracks, called Washington Heights, were
built here. Shops that catered to the military
families followed. This attracted young people
curious about Western culture.
In 1964, the Olympic Games came to Tokyo.
Washington Heights became the Olympic Village
housing the athletes. People from all over Japan
came to Harajuku for a chance to meet the
athletes. The crowds of young people persuaded
young creators to set up shop here.
In 1978, the Laforet fashion mall was opened.
It quickly became Harajukus main attraction.
Harajuku had now become THE place for fashion
businesses to be. It changed from being a place,
into being a concept. Harajuku stood for energy,
change, newness.
Trends come and go at lightning speed in
Harajuku. Decora, Goth-Loli, Cyber-Punk, Mori
Girl, the list is endless. Many happen at the
same time, and influence each other. Often its
impossible to determine what gave birth to what.
This disconnect and freedom is possible because
there is no social message. Harajuku fashion is
about fun. It is fashion in its purest form.

TRADITIONAL JAPAN
The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan, and it is worn nowadays on formal occasions. It is sometimes
accused of being an impractical form of dress, but it has the advantage of giving the wearer a graceful and
elegant deportment.
Japanese clothing consisted entirely of a great variety of kimono. They first appeared in the Jomon period, with
no distinction between male and female. After Japan opened up for trading with the outside world, other options
started to come in. The kimono was originally for the men and the elderly of the household but a group of
women that called themselves Wan Ko Bee rose up against the system and started wearing them. Figuring they
were much more practical, all women started wearing them, turning a new leaf for the Japanese. Officers and
men of some units of the shogunal army and navy were among the first to adopt western clothing, fashioned
after the styles worn by English marines stationed at Yokohama. The style only grew from there, moving out
from the military to other lifestyles. Students of public colleges and universities were ordered to wear westernstyle uniforms and businessmen, teachers, doctors, bankers, and other leaders of the new society wore suits
to work and at large social functions. Although western-style dress was becoming more popular for the work
place, schools, and streets it was not worn by everybody. Since World War II most areas been taken over by
western clothing.

GEISHA
Geisha are professional entertainers who attend
guests during meals, banquets and other occasions.
They are trained in various traditional Japanese arts,
such as dance and music, as well as in the art of
communication. Their role is to make guests feel at
ease with conversation, drinking games and dance
performances.
Geisha can be found in several cities across Japan,
including Tokyo and Kanazawa, but the former capital
of Kyoto remains the best and most prestigious
place to experience geisha, who are known there in
the local dialect as geiko. Five major geiko districts
(hanamachi) remain in Kyoto. Four of them, Gion Kobu,
Gion Higashi, Miyagawacho and Pontocho, are located
in or around the Gion district in central Kyoto, while the
fifth, Kamishichiken, is located near Kitano Tenmangu
Shrine.
Geiko and geiko aspirants live in special houses
(okiya) in the geiko districts. In Kyoto, young
girls move there typically at age 15 to be taught
communication and hospitality skills and various
traditional Japanese arts. After an introductory
training and examination, the talented and
determined will go on to become a maiko (geiko
apprentice) and eventually a geiko a few years
later.

FOLKLORE
Folklore and stories plays a vital role in Japan. They are widely told all over the country. Some poeple
believe it while other believes it just to be myth. As in most developed nations, it is increasingly difficult
to find living storytellers of oral tradition. But there is a wealth of folktales collected through the ages. The
name mukashi-banashi has been applied to the common folktale, since they typically open with the formula
"Mukashi.."(akin to "Once upon a time").
These tales had been told in their local dialects, which may be difficult to understand to outsiders, both
because of intonation and pronunciation differences, conjugations, and vocabulary. Many folktales
collected from the field are actually "translations" into standard Japanese (or more like adaptations,
merging several collected versions).
Japanese folktales are heavily influenced by Chinese culture and collective norms of the isolated Japanese
islands. The Short stories and folk tales always try to teach the importance of patience, honesty and
hardworking. The stories most of the time include
1- Old grandpa and grandma who dont have any children
2- A strong little boy
3- A beatiful little girl who grows up to be a princess
4- Devil (Oni)
5- Samurai. Samurais mostly cooperate with the hero of
the story
6- Forest
7- An animal which turns out to be a human or a creature
with supernatural powers.
The short stories are very popular in Japan. The have a
unique way of ending the story with a twist and it makes
you wonder how the story will end. The creative way of
writing creates a lot of ending depending on the readers
thoughts or how they might want to end.

Once upon a time in Tokyo, there was a small family of a widowed mother and two brothers. The elder
brother, Keitaro, was a hardworking high school student while his brother, Jumpei, was a delinquent. The
brothers thoughts never agreed with each other, but they stayed peacefully just because of their love
towards their mother.
One day when Keitaro was studying for his finals, he smelled something funny. Their mother was out to buy
some groceries so he thought Jumpei was up to something. Keitaro went to Jumpeis room and was shocked
to see his brother smoking weed. He got angry and quickly threw the weed out of the window. Now Jumpei
got angry at this and started asking his brother why he did so.
Jumpei anger took hold of him, as he jumped at Keitaro and pushed him, forcing him to hit his head on the
wall; the blood was oozing down his head as he laid flat on the floor with concussion, but as soon as the
blood was pouring down Keitaros head, their mother had entered the house. She was stunned, without any
hesitation she went straight towards Jumpei and slapped him without questioning him.
The mother went to help keitaro to stop him from bleeding. He saw the love between from his mother and her
eldest son and ran away shouting at his mother saying she only loved keitaro and not him.
The following night Jumpei decides to stay with his delinquent friends. His brother and mother had
authorised the police to search for him, but they had closed that case after a week when they confirmed an
unlawful person was gone missing.
After a month later, Jumpeis criminal friends planned to rob a house just for the sake of fun. The following
night, Jumpei and his gang were walking down a dark alley way full of houses. They started to look for a
house to rob and randomly break into one.
As they started to look around, a memorisable voice screeched from the stairs shouting who they were. The
bunch of criminals hid and attacks him as soon as he enters the scene. As the criminals were beating the
person, the light turns on and there stood Jumpeis mother with a pale shocked face. Jumpei turns around to
see it was his brother they were beating.
Now you think what is going to happen next.

Published by : Toursim Tokki

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the written
permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the information contained herein
is correct at the time of publication, Tourism Tokki shall not be held liable for any errors, omissions or
inaccuracies which may occur.
25MVM (English) / IH /CE
AUGUST 1992

http://www.facebook.com/tokkijapan
http://www.twitter.com/japantokki