Introduction
The Japanese archipelago stretches over 3000km (1900 miles) from the temperate, northernmost island of Hokkaido to the subtropical islands of Okinawa in the south. Both Tokyo and Kyoto are located on Honshu, the largest and economically and culturally most important of the four major islands. Shikoku and Kyushu lie to the southwest. Much of the archipelago is mountainous and only a small percentage of land is available for agriculture and development. Thus large areas remain forested while towns and cities tend to be densely populated. The coastline is indented with numerous bays, inlets and small islands.
Note: A volunteer ‘Goodwill Guide’ service is available in Kyoto, Nara and other popular destinations such as Himeji and Hiroshima. Call the Tourist Information Centre in the areas visited for more information (Kyoto 075 371 5641; Osaka 072 456 6025; Tokyo 033 201 3331; see Contact Addresses section).
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