Quick Facts About Japan
- Official name: The Nation of Japan
- Independence date: February 11 – The National Foundation Day. Celebrates the foundation of ascension of the Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan.
- Capital: Tokyo
- Currency: The Japanese Yen
- Power Adapter: Type A or Type B. Type A is more common but any two-pronged plug from the US will be usable anywhere in Japan
- Population: 123 million (2025 est.)
- Yearly tourist visits: 37 million (2024 est.)
- Best known for: Simply put: Culture!
A very brief history of Japan:
Prior to 1000BC, Japan was mostly a hunter-gatherer society, though fairly sedentary. For the next millennium the Japanese islands remained divided, with upwards of 100 kingdoms at any given time. With the beginning of the Kofun period in 250AD, Japan slowly began to unite into a single territory. Until around 1800, Japan went through a series of reunifications and civil wars, with the power of the shogun, or military ruler, dominating politics.
The shogunate began to decline in power and influence by the early 19th Century, culminating in the pivotal moment in Japanese history where Commadore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay and demanded Japan end its isolationist policies. Western powers then imposed a harsh set of treaties on Japan, which convinced several prominent military leaders of the need for modernization and aggressive expansion. Thus, in the late 19th and early 20th Century Japan grew more imperialistic, taking territories across the Pacific and eventually into the Asian mainland.
In 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, a huge set back for Russia and the moment Japan became a true world power. In 1910, Japan fully annexed the Korean peninsula. During WWI Japan fought on the side of the Allies, eventually emerging victorious. However, Japan was frustrated by the Treaty of Versailles, in which they were treated as a lesser power and they felt like their contributions were not adequately recognized. This resentment would influence future Japanese foreign policy behavior.
In 1926, Emperor Showa (aka Hirohito) ascended to the throne, beginning a consequential 63 year reign. In 1931, the Japanese military used a staged attack to justify occupying Manchuria. Then in 1937 Japan launched a full invasion of China. After drawing condemnation and an oil embargo from the United States, Japan tried to wipe out the entire US Navy in the Pacific at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
After 6 months of near constant victory, Japan suffered a setback at the Battle of Midway and from there it was a slow retreat across the Pacific. WWII officially ended on August 14th following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on August 6th and Nagasaki on August 9th. The US would go on to occupy the Japanese Home Islands until 1952 and continues to operate military bases in Japan.
After the war, Japan authored a remarkable economic turnaround, becoming the second largest economy in the world. In recent years Japan has faced several challenges, most notably an aging demographic which has led to a decline in population over the past 20 years. However it remains a strong world power and a beacon of culture throughout the world.
Check out our 16 day trip to Japan and South Korea for help planning your perfect vacation!
