Traveller's Guide to Japan
An island in East Asia, Japan is located at a point where the
East China Sea, Philippine Sea and Sea of Japan meet. The latter
separates Japan from its nearest neighbours, South and North Korea and Russia to the west. Far
to the east of Japan across the North Atlantic Ocean the next major
land mass is the USA.
Japan's History
Whilst modern Japan's history can be traced back as far as
500BC, much of the culture and tradition that exists today
originated with settlers from Asia who arrived via Korea, China and
Russia in the third century, forming clans throughout the island.
The leader of the influential Yamato clan became Japan's first
emperor in the fourth century. In subsequent centuries the heads of
various clans claimed the role of emperor, each changing Japan's
capital city in the process. By the eighth century, culture and
civilization had developed to the extent that Japan enjoyed an
exceptionally high standard of living.
In the following century a new emperor nominated Kyoto as
Japan's capital city; a position it would hold for the next
thousand years. Between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, Japan's
aesthetically-focused Heian culture was established, embracing and
emphasising beauty in all aspects of Japanese life. Japan's feudal
era began in the twelfth century when a ruling class of warlords,
the shogun, seized power, provoking fierce and ongoing conflict
between rival clans. This era culminated in the enforcement of an
'isolationist' policy in the seventeenth century, effectively
ending Japan's interaction with the outside world.
An American treaty in 1854 overturned this policy and
re-established the role of emperor as Japanese ruler. Following the
Second World War, during which Japan mounted an aggressive campaign
against China until American intervention forced Japan's
unconditional surrender, the country's current democratic
constitutional monarchy was established.
Climate
Japan's climate is generally mild and temperate with four
seasons - spring, summer, autumn and winter - which more or less
equate with Europe's. Spring is warm and largely dry whilst summer
can be hot and humid following a four-week period of rain which
usually begins in June. Autumn is breezy and cool, whilst winter is
mild and dry with temperatures rarely falling below zero, although
Japan's central and northern regions may experience snow.
Japanese Cuisine
Most people tend to equate Japanese cuisine with raw fish dishes
such as sashimi or sushi but in reality Japan's culinary culture is
far more extensive. Noodles play an important role in many dishes
with soba, made from buckwheat flour, and udon the most popular
varieties. Tempura cooking involves the coating of meat, seafood,
vegetables or fish in an extremely light batter and deep-frying
them. Japanese specialities include Sukiyaki, a dish of
thinly-sliced beef with tofu, vegetables and vermicelli noodles
traditionally prepared and cooked at the table; Yakitori; small
pieces of meat or fish on a bamboo skewer barbecued over coals, and
Tonkatsu, a cutlet of pork rolled in breadcrumbs and
deep-fried.
Rail Travel in Japan
Touring Japan by rail can be a peculiar experience for the
European rail traveller. The Japanese claim that their rail service
is the most dependable in the world with an average delay lasting
only 30 seconds. In Europe this would count as a punctual
arrival!