Journey to Japan

Japan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean with dense cities, imperial palaces, mountainous national parks and thousands of shrines and temples. Shinkansen bullet trains connect the main islands of Kyushu (with Okinawa's subtropical beaches), Honshu (home to Tokyo and Hiroshima’s atomic-bomb memorial) and Hokkaido (famous for skiing). Tokyo, the capital, is known for skyscrapers, shopping and pop culture.

Capital: Tokyo

Population: 127 million (2015)

Currency: Japanese yen

Emperor: Akihito

Here are some interesting facts about Japan:

Eating Raw Horse Meat Is Perfectly Normal in Japan

1,500 Earthquakes Hit Japan Every Year

Slurping When Eating Soups or Noodles Is Perfectly Normal in Japan

Japan Is Home to the World’s Craziest Vending Machines

Baseball Is Very Popular in Japan

Families in Japan Use the Same Water for Bathing

Many Streets in Japan Don’t Have Names

Melons are very expensive in Japan. One can go for up to $400

Snowmen in Japan are made with only two large snowballs.

Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.