Japan is an island country in East Asia. Most of the islands are mountain covered, and many of the mountains are volcanic. Japan’s highest peak, Mt Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world’s tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.

The Japanese keep the best aspects of their life private, so to experience traditional Japan, visitors must go off the beaten track of the major cities and into the countryside. Traditional Japan is more obvious on the islands of Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, each of which offers an extensive range of experiences that will deepen your appreciation of Japan and its culture.