Travel

Japan

Japan is a country like no other and its many contrasts are startling. Tokyo dazzles the senses with bright lights, high-tech wizardry and some of the busiest intersections in the entire world. Despite this, Japan's capital city manages to balance this fast-paced persona with beautiful cherry blossoms, numerous gardens and ancient shrines. Japan is a land of skyscrapers and bullet trains, offset by stunning landscapes and the magnificent Mount Fuji. No matter what your tastes, a vacation in Japan is truly unforgettable.

Japan is an island country in the Pacific Ocean and lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia. It is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun" and is one of the world's major economic powers. Japan consists of four major islands surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands, though most of its major cities are found on the largest island, Honshu. Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains (including some that are volcanic) and twisted valleys that invite visitors to explore the beauty of nature.

The weather throughout the four main islands that make up Japan is generally temperate and, like Ontario, has four distinct seasons. The summer months bring very hot temperatures, while May, June and July continually experience heavy rain. If it's heat you're after, June to August are the best months to visit, though Japanese summers can also be fairly humid. In the south winters are cool but sunny, but as one moves further north temperatures drop and snow falls. The island of Hokkaido in the far north of Japan is bitterly cold in the winter and experiences heavy snowfall, as does the western portion of Honshu island.

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