General Facts of Japan

Japan's population is just over 127 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.

Northern Japan has warm summers but long, cold winters with heavy snow. Central Japan has hot, humid summers and short winters, and south-western Japan has long, hot, humid summers and mild winters. Japan's rainy season usually starts in early June and ends in middle July except in the Hokkaido region. 5 or 6 typhoons pass over or near Japan every year from early August to early September, sometimes resulting in significant damage. Annual precipitation, which averages between 100 and 200 centimeters, is concentrated in the period between June and September.

Japan has an endless supply of restaurants - both western and traditional Japanese style. In larger cities, it's common to wait up to 1 hour before being seated as eating out is a favorite pastime amongst the Japanese. Many restaurants have a row of seats outside for patrons to wait on. Fast food is popular and can be found in all cities throughout Japan. Tap water is safe to drink, however many people drink chilled tea in the summer and hot coffee or tea in the winter. Japan has the highest ratio of vending machines in the world per square kilometer. A variety of coffees, teas, soups and soft drinks can be found. Expect to pay around ¥120 to ¥150 per drink.

Japan has an efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between large cities. Japan's public transportation is characterized by its punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it. Trains, scooters, buses and taxis are all available in Japan. Driving in Japan is on the left side of the road with steering wheels on the right. The minimum legal age for driving is 18 years. Road signs and rules follow international standards. Foreigners, who reside in Japan for more than 1 year and wish to continue driving, must convert their driver's license into a Japanese license by taking an eye exam, and possibly a practical exam. A translation will also be required of your local licence at the Japanese Automobile Federation.

In Japan, the rules for disposing of garbage are quite strict. Each neighborhood has its own pick-up schedule which is usually posted in the neighborhood at the designated disposal sites. If garbage is put out on the wrong day, or if types of garbage are mixed, the collectors will most probably refuse to pick it up. Knowing how to read the kanji characters for the days of the week is helpful, as the different types are collected on the same day each week. There are 3 main types of garbage which must be separated completely from each other:

Burnable - Household trash such as paper, diapers, clothes, food stuffs etc.

Non-Burnable - Metal, glass, china, rubber, plastic packages or wrappings etc.

Recyclables - Cans, bottles, newspapers.

ATMs are widely available around Japan. Most International credit cards are accepted everywhere. Convenience stores such as 7-11 are almost on every street corner and are all open 24 hours in Japan. You can get snacks, microwave popcorn, sushi, basic toiletries and lots of different kinds of beverages.

Health services in Japan are excellent and amongst some of the best in the world. Dental work however is very expensive. Whilst medical care in Japan is good, English-speaking physicians and medical facilities that cater to foreigner's expectations are expensive and not very widespread.