Japan Information Guide & Facts

  JAPAN

To view property available for sale or rent in Japan please click here

While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.

Climate:

---

Winter (December - February)
The temperature rarely drops below 0°C in the plains along the Pacific coast during wintertime. It is also quite dry and very often sunny. Central Japan and Northern Japan are highly reputed regions for winter sports. Southern Japan is comparatively mild and pleasant in winter.
Clothing: overcoats, sweaters, etc.

Spring (March - May)
The plum blossom is a good sign that the cold winter will soon end and spring is just around the corner, followed by the cherry blossom at its best in the Tokyo area between the end of March and the beginning of April to bring this beautiful season to a climax. Splendid views of mountains, fields and gardens all blanketed in gentle pink abound in this season.
Clothing: light jackets, light sweaters and other similar kinds of tops. 

Summer (June - August)
The Japanese summer begins in June with a three to four week rainy season. This is an important time for farmers to plant rice. It becomes seriously hot and humid from July onward and many Japanese enjoy bathing in the sea and relaxing at cool resorts in mountainous areas. Summer is when many interesting festivals and other events are held all over the country.
Clothing: light clothes (cardigans and other similar kinds are handy, since indoors are mostly air-conditioned.)

Autumn (September - November)
Autumn always brings such freshness with a light breeze and cool temperature after the hot and humid summer. All forests are dyed in glorious autumn colors. Chrysanthemums create beautiful displays with their abundance of flowers to enchant visitors to parks and gardens. Autumn is also the season for many exhibitions, music concerts and sports tournaments in Japan.
Clothing: light jackets, light sweaters and other similar kinds of tops.

Main Cities in order of Size:

---

Tokyo (Ku-area), Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, Sendai, Chiba, Setagaya-ku, Sakai, Kumamoto.

If you want to sell, buy, rent or exchange property, house, villa, apartment world wide click here

For the Japanese tourism Organization website please clike here

Government  Websites:

---

Cabinet Legislation Bureau
National Personnel Authority
The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Members of the Cabinet)
Cabinet Office
National Police Agency, NPA
Defense Agency
Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
SME-related Policies and Informations
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Ministry of the Environment

General country data:

---

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula 
Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E 
Map references: Asia 
Area: total: 377,835 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
water: 3,091 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km 
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California 
Land boundaries: 0 km 
Coastline: 29,751 km 
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM 
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north 
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous 
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m 
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish 
Land use: arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 86.86% (1998 est.) 
Irrigated land: 26,790 sq km (1998 est.) 
Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons