
Welcome to Japan!
Konnichiwa! Let’s go to Japan, a land of ancient traditions, and magical landscapes!
About Japan
Japan is a country made of islands in East Asia, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. It’s a place where old things and new things come together, like ancient temples and cool robots. Japan looks very different to anywhere else, making it a magical place to explore.
Japan’s geography
Japan is made up of several islands, with four big ones called Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. There are lots of volcanoes in Japan, including Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan—a sleeping volcano! Japan has all four seasons, with snowy winters and colourful springs when cherry blossom trees bloom with beautiful, pink flowers.
What makes Japan super interesting
Japan is famous for these cherry blossoms (called “sakura”), which people celebrate by having picnics under the trees. It’s also known for super-fast trains, called “shinkansen,” which zoom across the country. Japanese culture also includes cool samurai stories, fun anime and manga, and special tea ceremonies.
Where people live
Many people in Japan live in big cities like Tokyo, the busy capital, or Kyoto, which has beautiful temples and gardens. Japanese homes and buildings are made to fit in nicely with nature, and even in big cities, you’ll find peaceful gardens and shrines.
Language
Japanese is the language spoken in Japan. You might hear “こんにちは” (Konnichiwa) for Hello, “ありがとう” (Arigatou) for Thank you, and “さようなら” (Sayounara) for Goodbye. Japanese has a beautiful writing system, including characters called kanji, which are fun to learn!
Food
Japanese food is so healthy and really nice. Sushi is popular all over the world. Other tasty dishes include tempura, crispy fried vegetables and seafood, and ramen, a noodle soup that comes in delicious flavours. Don’t forget to try mochi, a sweet rice cake!
Interesting things to see and do
You can explore ancient Japanese castles, visit busy fish markets, or participate in exciting festivals with dancing and big, colourful floats. Japan has big, beautiful parks, museums, and even magical theme parks like Tokyo Disneyland!