Asia is a vast continent of exotic sights, sounds and tastes. Rich history, religion and culture define much of the area and provide visitors with more than just a holiday destination, but also a resounding sense of lessons learnt. Because the continent is so extensive, it also offers something different for every calibre of traveller. So, whether you delight in an elephant ride through the Thailand mountains, a traipse up the Himalayas, diving in Malaysia, or partying in the Philippines, Asia guarantees an unforgettable experience.

For travellers staying in Tokyo, the Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip is a must. This involves a coach trip to the Fuji Visitor Centre, nearly 2500 meters above sea level (depending on the weather). Lunch is optional, and can be loved at the Japanese, Chinese, Western or Italian restaurants, with gorgeous views.

After lunch, a cruise along Lake Ashi and a ride on the cable car both promise spectacular views of the landscape and of Hakone National Park. But, guests are advised not to get too relaxed as their trip back to Tokyo is on the Shinkansen – Japan’s super express bullet train!

Amusement parks are a major attraction in cities such as Japan and China. In fact, Forbes listed these parks as the most visited attractions of Eastern Asia. Universal Studios in Osaka (Japan) and the Pleased Valley Theme Park in Shenzhen (China) are two of these favourites.

Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour offers the prime opportunity to take in the vibrant sights of Tokyo at their best. This cruise is ideal for visitors who only have a limited time in Tokyo, as it showcases some of the major attractions in one tour. This exciting day trip takes visitors to the Tokyo Observatory Tower for stunning views of this cosmopolitan city, as well as to a traditional tea party at Happo-en, the Japanese Garden, home to many gorgeous bonsais. Lunch is served at Chinzanso Restaurant, followed by the photo stop at the Imperial Plaza and a drive through Japan’s Ginza shopping area. Among many other exciting activities, this tour finally offers a boat ride on the Sumida River, which lasts for 40 minutes.

Another favourite amongst tourists to Asia and, specifically, Tokyo is the Nikko National Park Day Trip. This tour takes ones to Nikko, which is renowned as being the centre for Shinto and Buddhist worship. Stunning surrounds are explored by tourists and wild monkeys alike as they all take in the splendour of the well-known shrines and artwork. Lunch and a stunning encounter with Lake Chuzenji (at the foot of the volcanic Mt Nantai) and the stunning Kegon Waterfall follow.

Sheer diversity and natural splendour ensure that Asia proves to be a most rewarding holiday destination for all.

I like travelling Asia as it’s the largest continent which offers the best value for money when taking a holiday. Cheap flight, cheap hotel stays and the best scenery one can question for. Be sure to see more destination tips by visiting my website.

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It will help you get a better understanding of Japan before your trip and allow you to experience Japan more comfortably.

About the Country
Japan consists of four main islands and several smaller ones. Together the islands take the shape of a sea horse and occupy an area of 377,435 square kms. Tokyo, the capital city, is very modern and bustling with activity, so when you travel to Japan, be ready for a few crowds. The landscape of Japan, away from the huge cities, is mountainous with spectacular scenery; some of the mountains are volcanic. Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, and is known for its symmetrical slopes.

About the Climate
When you travel to Japan, it’s vital to know the country’s seasons and when they occur during the year. The islands of Japan lie in the temperate and at the northeastern end of the monsoon area. The climate is generally mild, although it varies considerably from place to place when you travel Japan. Summer, which is warm and mild, starts around the middle of July following a rainy season that usually lasts for a month. Except in northern Japan the winter is mild with many sunny days. Spring and autumn are the best seasons of the year with balmy days and bright sunshine.

About the People
Before you depart to travel Japan, it’s a excellent thought to get a sense of the people and their culture. Japan is one of the most densely populated nations in the world, with some 330 persons per square kilometer (nearly 860 persons per sq. mi.). The Japanese are a Mongoloid people, closely related to the major groups of East Asia. But, some evidence also exists of a mixture with Malayan and Caucasoid strains. About 750,000 Koreans and much smaller groups of Chinese and Caucasians reside in Japan.

Religious Beliefs
When you travel Japan, you will be exposed to a new world of religious and personal beliefs. Buddhism is vital in Japan’s religious life and has strongly influenced fine arts, social institutions, and philosophy. Most Japanese consider themselves members of one of the major Buddhist sects.

Shintoism is an indigenous religion founded on myths, legends, and ritual practices of the early Japanese. Neither Buddhism nor Shintoism is an exclusive religion. Most Japanese observe both Buddhist and Shinto rituals: the former for funerals and the latter for births, marriages, and other occasions. Confucianism, primarily an ethical system, profoundly influences Japanese thought as well.

About 1.3 million people in Japan are Christians, of whom 60% are Protestant and 40% Roman Catholic.

Japan is an exotic and gorgeous travel destination that is worth traveling to. Now you can travel to Japan for less with the lowest discount airfare on cFares. The number one wholesale travel site for the shrewd international traveler.

For us Westerners, exchanging business cards is an nearly automatic action, often carried out distractedly. For a Japanese person, the same action becomes fraught with much greater formality and importance. ‎

When plotting a business trip abroad, all Japanese business men and women make sure they have more than enough bilingual business cards with them. Naturally, they’d appreciate it if foreigners did the same! ‎

Therefore, obtaining a meishi [名刺], as it is called in Japanese, is an essential step for anyone wishing to approach the Japanese market. ‎

The person’s name and surname and the company name are indispensable pieces of information. These are transliterated – i.e. the transformed into Japanese script on a phonetic basis – using the katakana alphabet. Translating a European name using kanji ideograms is not recommended, as this could give rise to ambiguity or the use of improper and sometimes even offensive terms. ‎

The company name must also be transliterated into katakana – to allow your Japanese counterpart to pronounce it properly – without, but, changing existing logos or corporate trademarks. ‎

Another fundamental piece of information is your profession, and in particular your role within the company. In this case, a clear and accurate translation is required. ‎

Roles and professions can be hard to know, even among Westerners – certainly even more so since the use of English terms has started to gain hold to define or enhance certain corporate positions. Their translation must be accompanied by an explanation of the actual duties involved, which will be translated into Japanese in order to communicate the person’s actual social status and choice-making powers. ‎

As regards postal and email addresses, and telephone and fax numbers, standard conventions apply. The business card format is strictly 90 x 55mm. ‎

Now that you have designed your business card down to a T (without of course neglecting its more graphical elements), it’s time to concentrate on etiquette! ‎

Whenever a Japanese person gives you a business card, take a small time to read through it. Placing it casually in your pocket or briefcase without so much as a glance is viewed as impolite. Next, hand over your own meishi Japanese side up, in order to aid perusal. ‎

Most of the above suggestions apply to the Chinese market, with just a few variations.

Standard Mandarin – originally the Peking dialect – is the official language of China. Other dialects (e.g. Cantonese) are spoken locally.‎

The Chinese language may be written using two very different scripts, known as simplified [简体] and traditional [繁體‎] characters.‎

The simplified script is used throughout the People’s Republic of China and Singapore, whereas the traditional script is used in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

While on the one hand we are witnessing a relentless growth in the Chinese market, generally directed towards the English language, on the other hand in vast regions of the country there also exists a highly conservative market rooted in the more restrictive use of the simplified and traditional pictogram – or ideogram, as it is more commonly known. ‎

In either case, but, the Chinese like to exchange mingpian [名片]. ‎

Here, this is viewed as an vital and formal, yet pleasant occasion, accompanied by a special gestural expressiveness. ‎

Hand your card over using both your hands, with the Chinese side facing upwards, and bend your head slightly as a sign of respect. ‎

If you are sitting round a table when a Chinese person hands you his or her business card, place it carefully before you or in a card wallet. Do not use it to take notes or for any other improper use, as this would be regarded as highly impolite. ‎

In China, as in Japan, one of the main purposes of a business card is to determine the person’s degree of influence and choice-making powers within his or her company. ‎

In the land of wisdom, but, the role stated on your business card must allow your interlocutor to know your level of experience. Therefore, be careful to avoid the use of terms that may in some way play down your professional value, such as “vice” (e.g. vice-manager, ‎vice-president, etc). ‎

Business cards [명함] intended for the Korean market must pay special attention to postal conventions and the use of colours. ‎

In Korea, the address starts with the country, followed by the region, the city and the street, stating the post code at the very end. It is always excellent practice to state the international dialling code in full. A word of warning: Koreans only ever use red for the names of the deceased, and it would certainly be most embarrassing if you were to print your name in red on your business card. ‎

Finally, avoid using business cards translated into Chinese or Japanese, thinking these will do just as well. ‎

The use of Chinese, Japanese or Korean characters requires a greater printing area, therefore, for ease of perusal, it is best to use at least a 10 or 12 point font-size, as in the following example:文言. ‎

Whatever Eastern country you visit, you must never be caught unprepared when a partner questions you for more information on your company or products. To this end, the use of bilingual summary documents could be very useful. ‎

Oh, we nearly forgot…… Soget makes business cards in all leading languages, coordinating the graphical elements of your original card with local aesthetic tastes and conventions.