The official currency of Japan is the yen. It is pronounced like the letter n, with no y sound. The yen is roughly equivalent to one US cent. The yen is available in ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500 coins and ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥5000 and ¥10, 000 banknotes. While Japan has many automatic teller machines, most will only accept cards issued in the country. However the nation’s post offices have ATMs which accept most foreign bank cards. These include cards belonging to the Visa, Plus, MasterCard, Cirrus American Express, Maestro, and Diners Club networks. If your bank card is not accepted by the post office ATMs, it can be very difficult to get cash in Japan. For this reason, tourist...

Japan has a reputation as the world’s technological center. But many tourists to the Asian nation are just as impressed with the country’s natural wonders. One of the most magnificent is the caldera of Mount Aso. The caldera of Mount Aso at Kyshu, Japan You’ll find this active volcano at the heart of the island of Kyushu. Its caldera is one of the largest in the world, measuring 25 kilometers across. In fact, the caldera contains the town of Aso and several more volcanic peaks. These include Nakadake, an awe-inspiring active crater. Tourists are warned that the crater’s gases can be intense, so people with respiratory complaints including asthma shouldn’t visit....

As a tourist traveling to Japan, you should be mindful of local customs and etiquette, especially when visiting the nation’s temples and shrines. When visiting these religious sites behave calmly and respectfully. You may show your respect at a temple by tossing a coin into the offering box and saying a short prayer. Shrines also have offering boxes, but the practice here is slightly different. After donating you should take two deep bows, clap twice, take another bow, and say a quick prayer. If the shrine has a gong, strike it before praying to get the attention of the kami, or Shinto gods. It may seem strange to Western audiences, but it is important to appear pure when visiting a sh...

In the mountainous nation of Japan one summit stands tall above the rest. At an imposing 3776 meters tall, Mount Fuji isn’t just Japan’s highest peak. The dormant volcano is also a site of great cultural and spiritual significance. It is located in Fuji-Hakona-Izu National Park, 80 kilometers west of Tokyo. You can see Mount Fuji from Tokyo and Yokohama on a clear day, but you’ll be lucky to strike one. Japan often experiences low clouds and high levels of air pollution, which can obscure the view. Visibility is best during cold weather, especially early in the morning or late in the evening. While it can be admired from afar, Mount Fuji’s power is best experience...