Far East.

GMT + 9.

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

127.9 million (2008).

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

Tokyo. Population (central Tokyo): 8.65 million.

The archipelago of Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea and split into four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. About 70% of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes, including Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak, reaching 3,776m (12,388ft). 

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. 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 and who had struggled to lead the country amid the ongoing world economic crisis, which has hit Japan particularly hard.

Aso's position also looks insecure as his popularity is very low with voters, who are set to cast their opinion in key lower house of parliament elections by September 2009. The LDP are predicted to lose to the main opposition party the DJP (Democratic Party of Japan, or Minshu-to) led by Yukio Hatoyama. However, the recent resignation of Hatoyama's predecessor, Ichiro Ozawa, amid a party fundraising scandal, could hinder this outcome.

Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in Tokyo and other large cities but is less usual in rural areas.

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.

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 everyone. 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 traditionally does not form part of Japanese etiquette, and a vague ‘yes' does not always mean ‘yes'. (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.