General information about Japan
 Japan is an island nation in East Asia.
 Also is an archipelago of 6,852 islands .The four largest
islands are Honshu, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku.
 Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with
over 127 million people.
 Japan has the world's third-largest economy.
 Japan has the longest life expectancy of any country in
the world.
Languages
 More than 99 percent of the population
speaks Japanese as their first language
 Japanese writing uses kanji (Chinese characters) and two
sets of kana (syllabaries based on simplified Chinese
characters), as well as the Latin alphabet and Arabic
numerals.
 Most public and private schools require students to take
courses in both Japanese and English.
Religion
 84–96 % of the Japanese
population subscribe
to Buddhism or Shinto.
 Fewer than one percent of
Japanese are Christian. In
addition, since the mid-19th
century numerous new religious
movements have emerged in
Japan.
Education
 Compulsory education in
Japan:
elementary and middle
school (9years).
 the overall knowledge and
skills of Japanese 15-yearolds is 6th best in the
world.
 75.9 % attend higher
education.
Health
 In Japan, health care is provided by national and local
governments.
 People without insurance through employers can participate
in a national health insurance program administered by local
governments.
 Patients are free to select the physicians or facilities of their
choice.
Culture I
Lacquer ware.
Swords (nihontō)
Dolls (ningyō n
noh).
Hiragana
Katakana
Music
 Japanese music is eclectic
and diverse.
 Popular music has been
heavily influenced by
Western trends, ledading
to the evolution of J-pop.
 Karaoke is the most widely
practiced cultural activity
in Japan.
 Traditional housing and
Art
many temple buildings.
 Japanese sculpture.
 Japanese painting.
 woodblock printing.
 Western art led to the creation
of manga.
 Manga-influenced animation for
television and film is called anime.
Cuisine
The primary staple
is Japanese rice.
Japanese cuisine offers
a vast array of regional
specialties that use
traditional recipes and
local ingredients.
The Michelin Guide has
awarded Japanese cities
more Michelin stars than
the rest of the world
combined
Sports
 Traditionally, sumo is
considered Japan's national
sport.
 Also
judo, karate and kendo.
 Football
 Baseball
Places to visit in Japan
Japan is a country
that offers the tourist
exotic beauty and
marvelous attractions.
Tokyo
 Tokyo is where most tours
of Japan start and the city
is the natural places to
start your introduction to
this enchanting country. It
is hard to understate the
shock value of Tokyo to the
western visitor and upon
arriving in Tokyo you will
finally understand the real
meaning of the word
"foreign".
Kamakura
Kamakura contains one
of Japan's best
collections of shrines,
temples, and
monuments. In
addition, the town is
famous for its Great
Buddha statue.
Kyoto
 Kyoto is Japan's second
most popular tourist
destination. Its fame
results from a several
well preserved historical
sites
 Kyoto was Japan's
capital through part of
the First and most of the
Second Millennia.
Daisetsuzan NP
 Many visitors travel
there to enjoy the
island's reputation
as Japan's most scenic
landscape.
 The Daisetsuzan
National Park is the best
place to see "wild"
Japan.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Home to the
Hiroshima Atomic
Bomb Dome, which
was the site of the
atomic bomb
explosion.
Osaka
 Osaka is a city in
the Kansai
region of Japan's main
island of Honshū.
 Osaka is the third most
populated city
after Tokyo and Yokohama
 "Osaka" literally means
"large hill" or "large slope.
City Map
Climate
 Osaka belongs to the humid




subtropical climate zone with four
distinct seasons.
Its winters are generally mild.
Snowfalls are rare.
Spring in Osaka starts off mild, but
ends up being hot and humid; Osaka’s
wettest season.
Summers are very hot and humid.
Fall’s early part resembles summer
while the latter part resembles winter.
Time
 Standard time zone:
GMT +9 hours
 So, 5 or 6 (during daylight
saving time) hours ahead
of Greece.
Living Cost (ouch …)
 6th most expensive city in the world in 2010
 Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 9.18 €
 Water (0.33 liter bottle) 0.89 €
 Milk (regular), 1 liter 2.15 €
 One-way Ticket (local transport) 3.05 €
 Monthly Pass 138.53 €
 Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 18.32 €
 http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-
living/city_result.jsp?country=Japan&city=Osaka
Public Transportation
 Public transportation within Osaka is mostly by rail, offered by
many different companies.
 As a means of cheap transportation from home to the nearest
railroad station, lots of people use their bicycles.
 Osaka Municipal Subway is the metro network in the city
of Osaka.
 Regular bus services are provided by Osaka Municipal
Transportation Bureau
(http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.jp/foreign/english/) with
a dense network covering much parts of the city.
 Osaka Unlimited Pass:
http://www.pia.co.jp/kansai/index.html
Sightseeing
 The Osaka Aquarium
Kaiyukan (located in the
ward of Minato) is one of
the largest public
aquariums in the world.
 The Nakanoshima Park is
the first public park opened
in Osaka.
 Universal Studios Japan is a
Universal Studios theme
parks.
 Osaka Castle is one of
Japan's most famous
castles.
 Sankō Shrine is
a Shinto shrine on a hill
named Mt. Sanada (真田
山) in Tennōji-ku.
 Sumiyoshi Park, an Osaka
prefectural park in
Hamaguchi-higashi
Itchome
 Shinsekai (新世界), "New
World" in English, is an old
neighborhood located next
to downtown "Minami"
area.
 Shitennō-ji (四天王寺)
is a Buddhist temple.
• Utsubo Park is a large
public, urban park, situated
at Utsubo-Hommachi
in Nishi-ku.
Museums
 The National Museum of
Art (国立国際美術館) .
National Art
Museum
 Fujita Art Museum (藤田美
術館) is one of the largest
private collections in
the Kansai region.
 The Osaka Contemporary
Art Center (大阪府立現代美
術センタ).
 The Osaka Science
Museum (大阪市立科学館),
next to the National Museum
of Art.
Science Museum
Events and Festivals
 Tenjin-matsuri is held on July 24 and 25. Boat festival with
performing arts.
 Shitennoji Temple Doya Doya Festival (Huge Naked Festival),
January 14th
 The Kansai International Film Festival.
 Useful Sites: http://www.osaka-
info.jp/en/search/list/event.php ,
http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/search/list/calendar.php ,
http://www.osaka.world-guides.com/osaka_events.html
Nightlife
 Osaka offers countless choices !
 Bars, clubs, cafés and many other to choose from.
 Hard Rock Café(Universal City Walk Osaka, floors 3F & 4F)
 Useful Sites:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Osaka_fu
/Osaka-971424/Nightlife-Osaka-TG-C-1.html
http://www.10best.com/destinations/japan/osaka/nightlife/
Local Cuisine
 Okonomiyaki (お好み焼
き) is a Japanese
savoury pancake containin
g a variety of ingredients.
 Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸
焼) is a popular ballshaped dumpling made
of batter and cooked.
 Udon (饂飩?, usually written
as うどん) is a type of
thick wheat-flour noodle.
 Oshizushi 押し寿司 "pressed
sushi"), also known as hakozushi 箱寿司, "box sushi"), is
a pressed sushi.
Osaka Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp1WySv3O8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjmQw3JaTsE&feat
ure=channel_video_title
Thank you !!!