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Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the core of the most populated urban area in the world, Greater Tokyo, which has a population of 35 million people. This massive, wealthy and fascinating metropolis places high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and has something for every type of visitor.

Huge and varied in its geography, with over 770 square miles to explore, the Tokyo area spans not just the city, but also rugged mountains to the west and subtropical islands to the south.

Tokyo is so vast, it is best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown together. Tokyo's districts vary wildly in character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next one, and you will find something entirely different.

The sheer size and frenetic pace of Tokyo can intimidate the first-time visitor. Don't get too hung up on ticking tourist sights off your list: for most visitors, the biggest part of the Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe.

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. Japan consists of four main islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku—and many smaller islands, notably Okinawa. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano.

Visitors to Japan come to experience the country’s natural beauty, awesome temples and monuments and unique culture that stretches back thousands of years. Besides Mount Fuji, the 88 Temple Pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku and the Narrow Road to the Deep North are popular destinations for the adventurous traveler. Others come to visit the modern and crowded Tokyo, the capital city; Sapporo, with its snow festival and eponymous breweries; Osaka, a large city in the Kansai region; or Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country, with many Buddhist temples and gardens. History buffs may want to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki for a more sobering experience.