Here are some interesting facts about Japan
LAND AREA:
377,899 sq km
POPULATION:
127.8m (February 2008)
MAIN TOWNS:
Population in millions (October 2006)
Tokyo (capital; 23 central wards): 8.5
Yokohama: 3.6
Osaka: 2.6
Nagoya: 2.2
Sapporo: 1.9
Kobe: 1.5
Kyoto: 1.5
Fukuoka: 1.4
CLIMATE:
Generally temperate with seasonal winds and typhoons in September-October and, on the Japan Sea side, heavy snow in December- February
WEATHER:
IN TOKYO (ALTITUDE 5.3 METRES): Hottest month, July, 28.5 C; coldest month, January, 4.9 C (2001 data); driest month, February, 23 mm rainfall; wettest month, October, 343 mm rainfall (2001 data)
LANGUAGES:
Japanese
MEASURES:
Mainly metric system. Some local measures are: 1 tsubo=3.3 sq metres; 1 sun=3 cm; 1 ri=4 km; 1 kairi=1.8 km (used for sea distances)
TIME:
9 hours ahead of GMT
CURRENCY:
Yen (¥)=100 sen; average exchange rates in 2007: ¥117.8:US$1, ¥161.2:€1, ¥235.7:£1; exchange rates on March 31st 2008: ¥99.7:US$1, ¥157.7:€1, ¥197.8.1:£1
FISCAL YEAR:
April 1st-March 31st
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
January 1st, 14th; February 11th; March 20th; April 29th; May 3rd-5th; July 21st; September 15th, 23rd; October 13th; November 3rd, 23rd; December 23rd