Excited about your trip to the “Land of Rising Sun”? Here are some interesting facts about Japan that will heighten your anticipation levels of unraveling the unique culture of this beautiful country, and also enrich with you some intriguing customs that are followed in the Hometown of Sakura.

* More than 70% of Japan’s landscape consists of mountains that include more than 200 volcanoes. The tallest mountain in Japan – Mt. Fuji is an active volcano.

* The Japanese language has four different writing scripts: Romaji, Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji.

* Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee production.

* Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.

* Noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), are slurped very loudly when eaten. It is believed that slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, and also helps to cool down the piping hot noodles.

* When moving into an apartment it is customary to gift the landlord money which is equivalent to two months' rent.

* Japanese people live an average of 4 years longer than Americans. Average life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world.

* The Japanese language has thousands of foreign loan words, known as gairaigo, which indicates a "borrowed word" of foreign origin that is transliterated into Japanese.

* Shaving the head is a custom followed by some men to express apology.

* Cutting the hair is a custom followed by some women after breaking up with their boyfriends.

* Tokyo has had 24 recorded instances of people either killed or receiving serious skull fractures while bowing to each other to honor the traditional Japanese greeting.

* Contrary to popular belief, whale meat is not a delicacy in Japan. Many Japanese dislike the taste and older Japanese are reminded of the post-World War II period when whale meat was one of the few economical sources of protein.

* It was customary in ancient Japan for women to blacken their teeth with dye as white teeth were considered ugly. This practice persisted until the late 1800's.

* Sumo wrestlers eat a stew called Chankonabe to fatten up. Many restaurants in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo serve this nabe (Japanese word for stew).

Now that you know a little about Japan’s unique culture and traditions, it will be an interesting activity to confirm these facts when you actually visit this exotic country. Despite some common customs, Japan also exudes diversity. Get ready to experience this diversity by exploring Tokyo Tours, Kyoto Tours, and Osaka Tours and visit Japan’s most significant cities.