“Kyūshū hōgen,” (Kyūshū-type dialects) form a smaller third group. The final category of dialects, “Hachijō hōgen,” are those Missav – Mature that are descended from the Eastern dialect of Old Japanese; these dialects are spoken in Hachijojima, Kochi Prefecture, and very few other locations. Japanese vocabulary has been heavily influenced by loans from other languages.
Although the LDP remains the largest party in the National Diet, with Ishiba as its leader, the party lost 56 seats in October 2024, failing to reach a majority. Trump’s determination to put pressure on U.S. allies to pay their “fair share” in maintaining security partnerships has only heightened the stakes. The Japanese government provides standardized tests to measure spoken and written comprehension of Japanese for second language learners; the most prominent is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The Japanese External Trade Organization JETRO organizes the Business Japanese Proficiency Test which tests the learner’s ability to understand Japanese in a business setting. Many major universities throughout the world provide Japanese language courses, and a number of secondary and even primary schools worldwide offer courses in the language. Katakana, like hiragana, are a syllabary; katakana are primarily used to write foreign words, plant and animal names, and for emphasis.
- Crossed by an unfaithful husband, saved by HR…but at a cost to her dignity.
- However, this group is all but extinct nowadays, having become mainstream Christians or Shinto/Buddhist for the most part.
- The Byodoin Temple in Uji, Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, and Joruriji Temple in Kizugawa are among the most famous of those that remain.
- For men, speedos or trunks are fine at a bath; for the beach, boardshorts are also okay.
- Other major national newspapers include the Mainichi Shimbun (毎日新聞) and Sankei Shimbun (産経新聞).
Business hotels
The number of foreign visitors to the country hit an all time high of 36.8 million last year, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. The surge in tourism has piled pressure on several popular onsen areas across the country, from Ureshino in the west to Niseko on the northern island of Hokkaido, said researcher Akihiro Otsuka of the Chuo Onsen Research Institute. Pocket Wi-Fi is another option for people wanting to use their Wi-Fi enabled devices (smartphone, iPhone, iPad, laptops etc.). A Pocket Wi-Fi device is a little smaller than a deck of cards and fits in your pocket or bag. It makes available a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot you can connect your devices to.
The 10-Day Japan Itinerary
Soba and udon noodle soups virtually always use bonito-based katsuodashi, and typically the only vegetarian-safe item on the menu in a noodle shop is zarusoba, or plain cold noodles — but even for this the dipping sauce typically contains dashi. During the summer months when it’s not raining, many buildings and hotels have restaurants on their rooftops and serve dishes like fried chicken and french fries, as well as light snacks. You can order large mugs of beer or pay a fixed price for an all-you-can-drink (飲み放題 nomihōdai) course lasting for a set period of time (usually up to 2 hours). Cocktails and other drinks are also often available as part of all-you-can-drink sets.
It can be had neat/straight (ストレート sutorēto) or on the rocks (オン・ザ・ロック on za rokku or simply ロック rokku), but it’s much more common to dilute it, the same as with shōchū. The most common preparation is a highball (ハイボール haibōru), 1 part whisky and 2 parts soda water over ice. Another common drink uses cold mineral water (水割り mizu-wari) in the same proportions, or in the winter, hot water (お湯割り o-yu-wari).
It’s a large contrast to Tokyo or Kyoto and a welcomed change that is worth the effort to get there. Public Wi-Fi is kind of common but not enough to help you navigate through the city. I use Holafly for an E-sim or I check my carrier’s rates for international.
The highest peak is Mount Fuji, a cone-shaped volcano considered sacred by many Japanese. On a budget, kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) chains such as Sushiro and Kura deliver a fun experience and great cost performance, while the wallet-breaking, high-end sushi includes 20 sushiya in Tokyo alone with Michelin stars. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use Priority Pass to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover.
Unwind in traditional ryokans, enjoying authentic Japanese hospitality. Planning out a trip to Japan takes careful consideration — I remember my first trip to the country. I was honestly overwhelmed by how much time to spend, where to go, and how to navigate transportation. After my most recent trip in January, I was reminded just how lovely it is to travel here. A period of record growth propelled Japan to become the second-largest economy in the world. On 11 March 2011, Japan suffered one of the largest earthquakes in its recorded history, triggering the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
The main distinction in Japanese dialects is between Tokyo-type (東京式, Tōkyō-shiki) and Western-type (京阪式, Keihan-shiki) pitch accents. The “Nishi-nihon hōgen” (West Japan dialect, including Kansai hōgen) categories are actually spoken in the central region, with borders roughly formed by Toyama, Kyōto, Hyōgo, and Mie Prefectures; most Shikoku dialects are also Western-type. Dialects spoken further west are actually of the “Higasi-nihon hōgen” (East Japan dialect, including Tokyo hōgen) category.
If caught in a random check without it (and nightclub raids are not uncommon), you’ll be detained until somebody can fetch it for you. First offenders who apologize are usually let off with a warning, although you could be fined up to ¥200,000. Generally speaking, the Japanese are not a particularly religious people. While they are strongly influenced by Buddhist philosophies and regularly visit shrines and temples to offer coins and make silent prayers, religious faith and doctrine play a small role (if any) in the life of the average Japanese. Thus it would be impossible to try to represent what percentage of the population is Shinto versus Buddhist, or even Christian.