The Orient - Japan - Country Information

Journey through Japan's central island of Honshu by Bullet Train as we invite you to enjoy one of the world's unique destinations. Japan is of course a modern superpower, but behind the 21st century facade lies an ancient culture, where Shinto shrines and Buddhist monasteries are still revered as they have been for many centuries. The unique culture of this country makes it a fascinating holiday destination.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Japan (Nippon)
Area	377,435 sq km
Population	130 million
Capital	Tokyo
Time Difference	GMT +9
Visa	Visa not required
Currency	Yen
People	The principal ethnic majority are the Japanese who account for 99.2% of the population while the remainder are the Burakumin, the Ainu and the Koreans.
Language	Japanese
Dialling Code	+81
Electricity	100V

Visas:

British citizens do not require a visa in order to visit Japan. A full 10 year passport is required and it must be valid for at least six months after your arrival back into the UK.

Health risks:

Hepatitis A & B, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Typhoid

When to Go:

The climate of Japan is generally mild but because the country is made up of a long thin archipelago of islands stretching for some 3,000 km from north to south conditions at any one time vary enormously between Siberian Hokkaido and sub-tropical Kyushu and Okinawa.   Our departures fall into the spring (March/April and May) and autumn (September), which are reputedly the best seasons to visit. Our March departure has been planned to coincide with the renowned cherry blossoms, which flower during this period, at varying times in the different regions.  We have avoided the winter months that can be very cold.