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The GeishaGeisha, also known as geigi or geiko, are female Japanese entertainers who work as performers during gatherings,…National HolidaysThe following is a table of Japan’s national holidays observed every year. DATE NAME OF HOLIDAY DESCRIPTION 1…PeoplePeople who are native to Japan belong to the ethnic group known as the Japanese. Approximately 98.5% of Japan’s…Brief History of JapanThe long history of Japan, which is believed to have begun as far back as the prehistoric era, can be divided into…ReligionJapan is home to many religions, with Shintoism and Buddhism being the two most widely practiced. Religion…Bullet Trains in JapanJapan’s major cities are connected by a network of high speed trains known as Shinkansen. The network operated by…SportsSports are a big part of the Japanese culture. Even hundreds of years ago, the people practiced a number of sports…Traditional AccommodationFor travellers to Japan, there are many options available when it comes to accommodation. All over the country,…GeographyJapan is an archipelagic nation comprising several thousands of islands that lie in the Pacific Ocean, east of the…ClimateThe climate in Japan varies depending on the region. Although the entire country experiences the four seasons —…CultureJapan has a multi-faceted culture that has evolved through the centuries, starting from the prehistoric period of…

Why bother with the background?

You can enjoy Japan knowing nothing at all, but a little context turns sightseeing into recognition. Know the difference between a shrine and a temple and every torii gate starts talking. Understand how small the habitable slice of this mountainous country is and the density of Tokyo suddenly makes sense, as does the genius of the railways that stitch it together. The guides in this section are short, plain-English primers on the culture, history, geography and rhythms of Japanese life, written for travellers rather than scholars. Read two or three on the flight over and you will see a different country when you land.