Souvenirs from Japan

Visiting every corner of the world people always buy gifts and souvenirs to their friends and relatives. Having old, special cultural and historical roots Japan suggests the tourist not only colorful impressions but also great opportunities of choosing souvenirs. They will remind you the time spending in the Land of Rising Sun. It is traditional to bring green tea from Japan, samurai belt, kimono, sushi utensils and special glasses for sake. However, the list of shopping is not complete with these souvenirs. Accordingly, what can be brought from Japan? First of all, it...

Way Japan

We are going to present you some irrefutable arguments if you are suspicious to have your next initiative in Japan. Why spend the initiative in Japan? Japan is considered to be world leader in domains of scientific researches and in discovery of information technologies It is already many years that Japan is one of the World Leaders in the field of machinery, robotics, pharmaceuticals and etc. Japan has strongly developed scientific base. Moreover, Japanese scientists regularly receive international awards of the highest levels and in the most different fields. Enterprises...

Japan’s Prefectures, Cities and Re...

Kanto Kanto region, located in one part of Honshu Island, is considered to be the highly developed part of Japan. Kanto plain is surrounded with massive mountains; together with Tokyo Bay it forms the region boundaries. Ibaraki  Tochhigi Gunma Saitama Chiba Tokyo Kanagawa Kinki Another name of the region is Kinki-Kansai. This region is located in the south-western part of Honshu Island. The great part of this region is covered with mountains and plateaus. The biggest lake of Japan-Biwa is located in the north-eastern part of this...

Practical Information

Passport and Visa Every foreign tourist who wants to visit Japan needs to have a passport. Armenian citizens in case of visiting Japan need to receive visa. More detailed information can be taken from the official web-site of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Japan. Besides, you can go to the Japanese embassy or consular of your country. Go to «visa» page. Customs regulations It is enough to have your verbal declaration about the imported products in order to cross the customs checkpoints: if you don’t have baggage with you ; or if you don’t import products out of the...

Animals That Will Certalnly Be Loved

Everyone has his/her preferred domestic animals. They are dogs, cats or hamsters. However, what can you say about wild animals? Wild animals are mainly shot in serious, famous and documentary films. Nevertheless, wild animals, shooting in films, don’t become less wonderful. These Pikachu-like shaggy animals will melt the ice in your heart. The greatest island of Japan is Hokkaido. It is located in the north of the country. Here you can meet little and beautiful animals which cannot be found in another part of the country. There are six types of animals which can be...

“TOKYO City of Lights” (video)

Festivals and Holidays

Great part of Japanese archipelago is in climate zone. A number of festivals are connected with the change of the seasons. Accordingly, festivals and holidays make journey unforgettable throughout Japan. There are festivals almost every day in each season and in each part of the country. Below you can see the main Japanese festivals and holidays: Spring-period of plum and sakura blossoming Beginning from the first days of March when plum begins blossoming, and till the end of May, when the last cherry leaves begin falling in the northern regions, spring wakes up the...

Ten useful advices

Forget about tips During trip throughout Japan you can forget about tips. You haven’t to give tips in restaurants, bars, halls and taxis at all. Moreover, it is not your fault. It is a Japanese habit. Accordingly, breathe well and appreciate famous Japanese hospitality. Japanese hospitality is a part of Japanese culture. This has no any connection with your thankful attitude. You just go to restaurant and have fugue fish. Only in Japan this poisonous fish is not dangerous. It is very delicious dish here in Japan. Kampai! Hello! In Japanese bars people usually give...

World Heritage of UNESCO in Japan

The elements of cultural heritage Gusuku castle and the related monuments of Ryukyu Kingdom This castle was listed in 2000 and it is located in Okineva prefecture. During several centuries Ryukyu Kingdom was cultural and economic centre among the south-western Asian countries, Korea, China and Japan. Everything is clearly reflected in maintained monuments. Ryukyu Kingdom culture was originated and thrived in special political and economic conditions. The history of Ryukyu Kingdom reaches to 500 years, from the 12th up to the 17th centuries. Everything began from the...

The beauty of Japan

11 Japanese customs that are shocking to...

Japan has a unique culture that has a very strict code of etiquette. There are specific ways to eat noodles, good practices for accepting gifts, and certain rules to follow so that you avoid insulting a host. This complex web of social rules and traditions can be overwhelming for those travelling to Japan, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the things that foreigners find most shocking when visiting the country. Here are 11 customs you should know before travelling to Japan. 1. The number four is avoided at all cost. In Japan, the number four is avoided because it...

Japanese Moments of Happiness (video)

About Japan

Japan Japan (in Japanese Nihon or Nippon (kanzi-日本), officially–Nihon-koku or Nippon koku (kanzi-日本国), literally–the Country of Japan) is an island-country in East Asia. The Nippon variant is often used as an official form on the stamps and banknotes, while the Nihon variant is mainly used in everyday life. The Japanese call themselves Nihondzin (in Japanese-日本人), and the language-Nihongo (in Japanese-日本語). Nihon literally means “the motherland of sun”, and from here comes the name “Country of the Rising Sun”. Until the 700-ies the...

Interesting Japanese laws

The 9th Article of the Japanese legislation forbids the country to have an army and to participate in wars. In Japan there functions one of the most liberal laws concerning smoking: it is allowed to smoke everywhere, besides the airports and the stations. In Japan the prisoners have no right to participate in the elections. There is capital punishment in Japan. Last year 8 prisoners were sentenced to death. There isn’t an appropriate law, but it is an established order in Japan always to serve men first. At the restaurant man is the first to make an order and he is the...

Which city to go in the spring. The firs...

We recommend you to follow one of the Japanese cities tracks. There are months and periods when some areas are especially beautiful and attractive. Events, international events, seasonal affordable prices, or the monsoon rains: all these factors determine the choice of final destination, but in some cases, there are seasonal nature’s wonders which we offer you to see this spring. And why to  Japan just in this period? In one of the local small towns, Kitakyushu, which is about 4-5 hours away from Tokyo, one of the wonderful gardens is located. Every year, from...

Choose a souvenir from Japan

A wonderful landscape, a unique architecture and smiling natives–these are what Japan is known for. However, only pleasant memories are not enough for the tourists. Material memories are also necessary. That is why Japanese offer unique souvenirs that are typical for them. By visiting Japan you can easily be confused in the profusion of markets, which offer thousands of souvenirs, that is why you should quickly decide what to buy. Here is some advice:        1. Maneki-neko: Everywhere in Japan you can see a figurine of a cat holding its hand up. It is...

Interesting facts about Japan

PART 1 On St. Valentine’s Day in Japan girls make presents as a sign of sympathy. This custom allows girls not to wait for the boys to accumulate their courage and approach the girls. The question of honor is on the first place for the Japanese, as it used to be in the old times. This also concerns the sphere of politics: the Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who governed during 2009-2010 resigned because he couldn’t fulfill his pre-election promises. The two ministers that preceded him had also behaved the same way. Japan is a small country but here are the most...

History of Japan

As a rule, the history of Japan is identified with the history of the Japanese Islands. Nevertheless, the original creation of Japan by kokugoui* was at the end of the 7th century. Chronological classification is the job of the history and archaeology.      The chronology of the history: Old time 1. Kofun era /250 since 600, in the end/ 2. Asuka Era /592 -710/ 3. Nara Era /710-794/ 4. Heian Era/794-1185/ Middle Ages 1. Kamakura Era /1185-1333/ 2.Muromatsi Era /1336-1573/ 3. Sengoku Era /1493-1590/ Start of new era 1. Adzutsimomoyama Era /1573 -1603/ 2. Edo Era...

Services for tourists

Visit Japan “V” Information System During the journey in Japan you will be suggested to use “V” national information system, the branches of which are located at 220 places around the whole country.  Each “V” center is a source of information about the region where you are. “V” centers are usually located at railway stations or in the center of the city. They are very easy to recognize with the logo–it is a red interrogation mark with the word “information”. Goodwill Guide JNTO program supports the “Goodwill guide” program according to which...

The Land Of The Rising Sun. Fertile Gro...

HARUT SASUNYAN “THE CALIFORNIA COURIER” NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Last month I visited Japan for the first time. In Tokyo’s Narita airport I put my foot seem to, and it seems that I was in  a surreal country, it was so good that I could not believe my eyes… The first thing that you see in Japanese is extremely courteous. Their greetings with guests is humbling and it is far more respectful than the usual shaking hands. I was surprised when they found out that they are all the same excellent service is provided at no additional charge. No one...