Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Japan is an intriguing contrast between Imperial and traditional past and the ultra modern. While the outward surface has changed dramatically, its unique character, brought about by thousands of years of isolation, lies just below the surface.

Taxis are driven by cabbies who only speak Japanese, restaurants and bars refuse tips, the degree of ostentatious courtesy is staggering (except on the subway) and the atmosphere is twinged with wealth and material success.

Japan is an archipelago in the Northern Hemisphere, located off the eastern coast of the Asian continent. Comprising over a thousand islands stretching for 3800km in a string from a latitude equivalent to New England in the north to New Orleans in the south and has a climate range to match. The topography varies from tropical beaches to snowy mountain slops, lush green fields to bubbling hot springs.

The Japanese public transport system has to be the envy of the world. You may have heard of the famous Shinkansen or Bullet train. There is not just one, but a whole fleet with different sizes and different speeds, criss-crossing the huge distances between major centres of population.

The efficiency and time keeping of the system is legendary, the train doors even stop at exactly the points market on the station platforms. In addition these super trains there are a number of other private railway companies operating services on a more regional basis, and of course within the cities, buses, taxis and an underground network.

It is difficult to imagine cleaner taxis or more courteous taxi drivers than those found in Japan. Unfortunately, the road system particularly in and out of Tokyo is not so efficient and can suffer from long, slow moving queues. The underground is consequently the preferred method of travelling within the cities, with signs in English, colour coded and use of appropriate symbols it is relatively simple to master.

The Japanese entertainment industry is one of the world's largest and most innovative, and despite the culture and language barrier, various forms of Japanese entertainment have become internationally popular.

Eating out in Japan is easy and the choice varied. Restaurants are plentiful but can be very small, sometimes seating only twelve people and it may be situated in the basement level of a building, approached down very narrow stairs. The cleanliness and hygiene are generally excellent. Menu's are usually illustrated at street level, a window full of very life like wax models of the meal offered with a price tag for each. For those with a sweet tooth, the Japanese have developed a taste for watering pastries of which there is an abundance of choice.

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When ever one thinks of sport in Japan, Somo, Karate, Kendo even Golf spring to mind. The Japanese have even imported Baseball which has developed into a national pastime equal to that of the USA. The games are noisy, colourful with cheerleaders and all the accompanying razzmatazz one would expect from a US match.

Although the origins of Sumo Wrestling go back 2000 years, the profile has only been raised since the tournaments held in London and surrounding TV coverage. The major tournaments are held in Japan 6 times a year and it is extremely difficult to get tickets as they are sold out well in advance.

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