Far East.

GMT + 9.

377,864 sq km (145,894 sq miles).

127.8 million (UN estimate 2006).

343 per sq km (13,800 per sq km in central Tokyo).

Tokyo. Population (central Tokyo): 8.4 million (census, 2005).

Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea. About 70% of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes. A series of mountain ranges runs from northern Hokkaido to southern Kyushu. The Japanese Alps (the most prominent range) run in a north-south direction through central Honshu. The highest mountain is Mount Fuji at 3,776m (12,388ft). Lowlands and plains are small and scattered, mostly lying along the coast and composed of alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands. The coastline is very long in relation to the land area, and has very varied features. The deeply indented bays with good natural harbours tend to be adjacent to mountainous terrain.

Constitutional monarchy.

Emperor Akihito since 1989.

Prime Minister Taro Aso since 2008.

The  LDP (Liberal Democratic Party, or Jiyu Minshu-to) has been in power almost continually since its foundation in 1955. Prime Minister Taro Aso, the LDP's leader, was elected in September 2008 following the resignation earlier that month of Yasuo Fukuda, who had held the post for less than a year.

In October 2002, the Koizumi government finally unveiled plans to tackle the country's financial crisis. Barring unemployment, which reached an unprecedented 6%, the programme had begun to show results by late 2003 as government measures began to take effect.

In September 2006, when his term as president of the ruling LDP ended, Koizumi stepped down and was replaced by Abe, his former chief cabinet secretary. Under Abe, the economic improvements have continued, with Japan moving out of negative inflation, ending a five-year period of stagnant or falling prices.

However, in September 2007, Shinzo Abe announced his resignation admitting that ministerial scandals and defeat at the polls had destroyed the public's trust in him. He was replaced by veteran politician Yasuo Fukuda.

Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in Tokyo, but is less usual in other big cities.

Shintoism and Buddhism (most Japanese follow both religions, although religion does not play a major everyday role in most Japanese lives, with frequent temple visits being more usually attributed to tourism). There is a Christian minority, and in the island of Okinawa, some people believe in Niraikanai, a paradise that lies beyond the sea.

100 volts AC, 60Hz in the west (Osaka); 100 volts AC, 50Hz in eastern Japan and Tokyo. Plugs are flat two-pin plugs.

Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. A strict code of behaviour and politeness is recognised and followed by almost all Japanese. However, they are aware of the difference between themselves and the West and therefore do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs (but do expect them to behave formally and politely).

A straightforward refusal does not form part of Japanese etiquette. A vague ‘yes' does not really mean ‘yes' but the visitor may be comforted to know that confusion caused by non-committal replies occurs between the Japanese themselves. Entertaining guests at home is not as customary as in the West, as it is an enterprise not taken lightly and the full red-carpet treatment is given. Japanese men are also sensitive lest their wives be embarrassed and feel that their hospitality is inadequate by Western standards; for instance, by the inconvenience to a foreign guest of the custom of sitting on the floor. Bowing is the customary greeting but handshaking is becoming more common for business meetings with Westerners.

The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing all men and women; for instance Mr Yamada would be addressed as Yamada-san. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant it is customary to remove shoes - and there are separate ‘toilet slippers' that should be put on before entering a bathroom, and taken off again on leaving. Table manners are very important, although the Japanese host will be very tolerant towards a visitor. However, it is best if visitors familiarise themselves with basic table etiquette and use chopsticks. It is customary for a guest to bring a small gift when visiting someone's home. Exchange of gifts is also a common business practice and may take the form of souvenir items such as company pens, ties or high-quality spirits.