Japan Travel

Japan.com - Travel - Travel in Japan - Japan Travel Search : on the web in Japan.com Powered by Home News Business Travel Travel Cities Flying to Japan Hotel Japan Overview Airports Climate Weather - Tokyo - Osaka - Other Cities Leisure Technology Living in Japan Study Job in Japan Immigration you@japan.com Login Address Password © 2001 Japan Inc. Communications K.K. All Rights Reserved. webmasters click here SONY Cyber-shot Digital Camera T1 (JE) Newly designed optical 3x zoom. Large 2.5-inch LCD and 5.1-million-pixels CCD. Meet the new, fully flat Cyber-shot with high-performance functions in a compact body : Click here to see more... JAPAN.COM FRIENDS Sign up for FREE and meet ADVERTISEMENT Free Newsletters Email : J@pan Inc Newsletter Wireless Watch Gadget Watch Terrie's Take Music Media Watch More NEWSLETTERS English OK Key Areas: » Kichijoji » Shinjuku » Harajuku » Omotesando » Shibuya » Ebisu » Shinagawa » Roppongi » Azabu » Akasaka Overview Japan, like any country, isn't something you can describe in just a few sentences. Below we have presented just some basic facts about the country, just to get things started. Japan (Nippon or Nihon) The four major islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, covering a total area of 377,829 square kilometers (or 145,880 square miles). According to the National Census of 2000, the total population of Japan was 126.92 million, and there were ten prefectures with more than 3 million residents. The average size for households is approximately 2.7 persons, with the average life expectancy for males being 77.64 years, and 84.62 years for females. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html As of 2000, Japan's highly skilled workforce consisted of 64.46 million workers. The number of unemployed individuals, however, had exceeded 3 million per year for two consecutive years, and stood at 3.2 million. http://www.stat.go.jp/english/1.htm NATURAL FEATURES OF JAPAN The chief feature of the Japanese archipelago is its geological instability, resulting in frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes. Another distinctive characteristic of the topography is the fact that the Japanese archipelago is made up almost entirely of steep mountain districts with very few plains. Mountains and hills account for 73% of the land area, making Japan a very mountainous island country. MAJOR MOUNTAINS Mountains m Prefecture 1. *Fuji-san(Kenga-mine) 3776 Yamanashi Shizuoka 2. Kita-dake (Shirane-san) 3192 Yamanashi 3. Okuhotaka-dake 3190 Nagano Gifu An asterisk denotes a volcano. MAJOR LAKES A small number of large rivers, such as the Ishikarigawa, Shinanogawa, Tonegawa, Kisogawa, Yodogawa, and Chikugogawa, have large deltas at their mouths. A lake is defined as having an area of 10 kms2 or more and according to a 1999 survey, the lakes listed below are three of Japan's largest: lakes m Prefecture 1. Biwa-ko 670.3 Shiga 2. Kasumi-gaura 167.6 Ibaragi 3. Saroma-ko 151.9 Hokkaido FACTS IN BRIEF National Symbols Although Japan does not have an official national anthem, "Kimigayo" (His Majesty's Reign) is considered to be the 'de facto' anthem. Similarly, the "Hinomaru" ("the sun disk") has gained worldwide recognition as the 'national flag' of Japan, although it has never been officially designated as such. There is also no national flower of Japan, although many people believe it to be the cherry blossom for its overwhelming popularity or the chrysanthemum for its association with the Imperial Household. Japan has, however, officially recognized national entities such as the national butterfly (oomurasaki), national bird (pheasant), and the national sport (sumo). The national currency of Japan is yen (¥). Japanese language The Japanese language (known as nihongo in Japanese) has a complex writing system, comprised of Kanji and Kana. Kanji is derived from Chinese characters, with each character holding specific meaning, while Kana is a phonetic syllabry of characters, each character containing no inherent meaning in abstract. Hiragana and Katakana, two types of Kana, are used for locally derived Japanese words, and words initially 'imported' from other languages, respectively. It is not uncommon for students of the language to reach a level of fluency in spoken and written Japanese only after several years of dedicated study. World Heritage Sites in Japan In addition to Yakushima and Shirakami-Sanchi, which were both awarded World Natural Heritage status in December 1992, Japan also boasts nine World Cultural Heritage landmarks, including several well-known temples and shrines (see below). World Cultural Heritage Sites Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (listed in Dec. 1993) Himeji-jo (Dec. 1993) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities: Dec. 1994) Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Dec. 1995) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome: Dec. 1996) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (Dec. 1996) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Dec. 1998) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (Dec. 1999) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (Dec. 2000) J@pan Inc Magazine Get all the news on the Business - Technology and People in Japan. Aims to tell the real story of Japan's move... http://www.japaninc.com

Central America Travel Guide.

VirtualTourist.com - Caribbean and Central America Travel Guide - Pictures, Tips and Reviews Caribbean and Central America Travel Guide. Tips, Reviews & Photos plus Hotels, Restaurants, Activities & More in Caribbean and Central America member log in | join for free! | help Home Travel Guides Hotels Flights Deals NEW! Members Meetings & Events Do It Yourself Guides Forums CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA Travel Guide Home » Travel Guides » Caribbean and Central America Destinations Members Keywords Caribbean and Central America Hotel Rates City: Check-In Date: Check-Out Date: Guests: 1 2 3 4 Hotels by OneTime.com Caribbean and Central America Flight Rates From: To: Departure Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Return Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Passengers: 1 2 3 4 Flights by OneTime.com Caribbean and Central America Forum Join a Discussion Starfish Trelawny, Jamaica (2 replies, 6:09 PM Dec. 27, 2005) Cruise stops (2 replies, 3:43 PM Dec. 19, 2005) cheap flight? (3 replies, 10:38 AM Dec. 17, 2005) Be the first to reply to these questions last minute airfare to caribbean (no replies yet) Loterie Farms Treetop tour - St. Maarten (no replies yet) Stranding a van full of tourists (no replies yet) » All Caribbean and Central America Discussions » Post a Caribbean and Central America Discussion Travel Resources Car Rental Cruises Vacations Luggage NEW! Caribbean and Central America Deals 7 Night Caribbean Cruise (0 comments, 8:22 PM Dec. 20, 2005) Winter Sale to the Caribbean (0 comments, 7:30 PM Nov. 30, 2005) AWESOME flights to Central America (0 comments, 9:27 PM Nov. 16, 2005) » All Caribbean and Central America Deals » Post a Caribbean and Central America Deal FREE VT Deals Newsletter great deals, inside tips & no spam Popular Caribbean and Central America Hotels In: Havana San Juan Nassau Antigua Guatemala Caye Caulker San Jos Popular Destinations in Caribbean and Central America Havana San Juan Nassau Antigua Guatemala Caye Caulker San Jos Santo Domingo Punta Caa Varadero Trinidad Curaao Grand Cayman Santiago de Cuba Parque Nacional Tikal Bonaire Granada Baracoa Monteverde Panam City Santa Luca Countries in Caribbean and Central America Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Barbados Belize British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Clipperton Island Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Montserrat Navassa Island Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Bahamas Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands U. S. Virgin Islands Top Pages About Caribbean and Central America 1. Caribbean Cruise: A True Form Of Luxury by deecat 15 Tips 26 Pictures 2. Cruising Through The Carribbean! by ATXtraveler 10 Tips 11 Pictures 3. Welcome To The Caribbean Mon! by tpangelinan 11 Tips 13 Pictures 4. Deb In Belize by Debala 8 Tips 2 Pictures 5. Corozal... by pollon 9 Tips 16 Pictures » View all rated pages (26) » View newest pages » Build your own Caribbean and Central America page Tips and Photos about Caribbean and Central America in General Overview General Tips Tips: 68 - Pictures: 29 Restaurants Tips: 32 - Pictures: 11 Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 29 - Pictures: 12 Things To Do Tips: 50 - Pictures: 38 Nightlife Tips: 18 - Pictures: 8 Off the Beaten Path Tips: 20 - Pictures: 13 Tourist Traps Tips: 11 - Pictures: 6 Warnings or Dangers Tips: 13 - Pictures: 4 Transportation Tips: 27 - Pictures: 14 Local Customs Tips: 15 - Pictures: 9 Packing Lists Tips: 19 - Pictures: 7 Shopping Tips: 2 - Pictures: 2 Sports Travel Tips: 1 - Pictures: 1 » See tips about a specific place in Caribbean and Central America Find: Destinations Members Keywords Matching: Advanced About VT | Contact Us | Site Tour | Advertising | Local Merchant Login | Travel Tools | VT Chat | VT Gear | Help User Agreement | Privacy Statement Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2005 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Switzerland Travel lastminute.com offers

Switzerland Travel: Deals and travel information for Switzerland, Europe Mobile site | Security | Your account | Help find - find.html -- Travel to Switzerland Home > World > Europe > Switzerland Travel lastminute.com offers a fantastic array of incredible Switzerland travel deals. Whetherbooking a hotel, flight, holiday or car hire, lastminute.com is your one stop travel shop. So, either check out our special Switzerland travel deals below,use our search box to find the perfect trip or browse through our vast list of destinations to see all we have to offer. Let lastminute.com help you plan the most rewarding journey you've ever had. Search Travel Flight+Hotel-SAVE £££ Holidays Flights Hotels Holidays search Destination: list destinations Departure area: Show me all Any London Airport / Station Any East Anglia Airport Any Midlands Airport Any North East / Yorkshire Airport Any North West Airport Any Scottish Airport Any South West / Wales Airport Northern Ireland Price: Show me all Under 100 Under 200 Under 300 Under 400 Under 500 Under 600 Under 700 Under 800 Under 900 Under 1000 More than 1000 Day: Month: Any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 false Any December January February March April May June July August September October November Give or take: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ( days ) Board type: Show me all All Inclusive Bed And Breakfast Fly Drive Full-board Half-board Room Only Self Catering Length of stay: Show me all Short Break / Weekend (1-5 Nights) Week (6-9 Nights) Fortnight (10-16 Nights) Longer (17 Nights Or More) Hotel star rating: Show me all 1* 2* 3* 4* 5* Temperature: Show me all Warm (over 15c) Very warm (over 20c) Hot (over 25c) Very hot (over 30c) Travel time: Show me all Less than 3 hours 3 To 6 hours 6 To 9 hours 9 To 12 hours Over 12 hours Keywords (eg 'Pool'): Jump to... Switzerland Hotels (266) Switzerland Holidays (161) Switzerland Flights Switzerland Car rentals (41) Switzerland Short breaks Switzerland Guide Deals Area Info Attractions Events Deals Today's Top Deals La Reserve Hotel Spa Geneva 3* Skiing Holiday in Chateau d'Oex, 7 nights half board Genevafrom 503 Flora Hotel Luzern / Lucerne 3* Skiing Holiday in Engelberg, 7 nights from 545 Area Info Small, mountainous and wealthy, with a population of just seven million, Switzerland is renowned for its enviable quality of life in a country that ticks along like clockwork. Its products are sought after the world over, from dangerously delicious cheese and chocolate to luxurious watches whose timekeeping is as sharp as a Swiss army knife, another popular export from this clever little nation in the Alps. Switzerlands famed political neutrality and isolated location, ring-fenced by mountains, have enabled it to play a safe but central role in European affairs. These factors also gave rise to the coveted Swiss bank account, whose anonymity, along with tax relief and what may be the safest banks in the world, have made Zürich one of Europes major financial hubs. The conveniently central location in the middle of Europe has also made Switzerland a favourite meeting place for conventions and international conferences Geneva, for instance, is home to the United Nations. Switzerland is not only a place for professionals, though. As a stylish tourist destination it offers top ski resorts like Zermatt and celebrity-studded St Moritz, while the white peaks of mountains set against blue skies make a wonderful backdrop for summertime hiking. The ancient capital of Berne provides opportunities for sightseeing and elegant shopping, while nightlife can prove to be a lot of fun, too, since the Swiss like their food and folk music even in discotheques and nightclubs. Engadin Tourist Office Address: Chesa Cumuenela, 7504 Pontresina, Switzerland Phone: +41 (0) 81 842 6573 Attractions Rhine Falls A stunning natural wonder, the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen are the largest waterfalls in Europe, cascading down cataracts which are 450 feet wide and 75 feet high. Augusta Raurica In its heyday, 1800 years ago, 20,000 people lived in the Roman town of Augusta Raurica, 15km from Basle. Many of the traces left behind by the native Celtic inhabitants and the Roman conquerors have now been excavated and are accessible to the public in the largest open-air archaeological museum in north-west Switzerland. Engelberg-Titlis Less than two hours from Zürich lies the scenic ski resort of Engelberg, a beautiful mountainous haven notable for its fine snow conditions and off-piste skiing. The official ski season here lasts from November until April, although skiing is possible throughout the summer on the glacier that saddles the impressive 3200-metre high Titlis mountain. Zrich Zoo Perched on the beautiful green slopes of Zürichberg hill, Zürich Zoo offers panoramic views of the city and Lake Zürich. This conservation-conscious animal park is set in extensive grounds that are home to 250 different wild species, many of which are endangered. Goldau Nature and Animal Park Discover the wonders of nature and the animal kingdom at Switzerland's premier animal park, situated in the beautiful boulder-strewn wilderness of Goldau. Many of the animals here are free-roaming and can be petted and fed - with care of course! Grossmnster Church Grossmünster Church with its imposing towers, soaring spires and fascinating history, features among Zurich's principal landmarks and offers panoramic views over the city centre. Schipfe The "Schipfe" is one of Zurich's oldest districts, whose name originates from the nautical term " schupfen " (push), used by the fishermen to describe how they pushed their boats to the river bank and back. Opera House Zurich's Opera House is not only a cultural centre of great distinction but also one of the city's most beautiful buildings. Swiss National Museum With fairy-tale turrets that glisten in the sunshine, the tower of the Swiss National Museum in Zurich has become a recognised symbol of the city. The museum building (which dates from 1898) houses the largest collection of cultural and historical artefacts in Switzerland. Bad Zurzach Effervescent crystal waters bubble, gush and flow from every crevice at Bad Zurzach, one of Switzerland's leading thermal baths, offering four steaming outdoor pools, jacuzzis, rapids, a gym and a spa complete with saunas and steam rooms. Situated close to the German border and approximately half-an-hour's drive from Zurich and Basel, this Swiss spa oozes minerals renowned for their therapeutic properties. Events International Lauberhorn Ski World Cup 11 - 15 Jan 2006 (annual) Wengen NOKIAN-X-TREME Snowbike Festival 13 - 15 Jan 2006 (annual) Bergün International Christmas Tree Festival 1 Dec 2005 - 8 Jan 2006 (annual) Geneva International Ice Climbing Festival 6 - 8 Jan 2006 (annual) Kandersteg Speed Race Dec 2005 (annual) Titlis Glacier ; Part of the lastminute.com group. lastminute.com , travel4less.com , travelselect.com , holidayautos.co.uk , medhotels.com , holidayhotels.com , onlinetravel.com , ifyouski.com , exhilaration.co.uk , gotofrance.com Holidays Hotels Citybreaks Gifts Experiences Entertainment Flights Site map Search site Skip navigation links Home Travel World Europe In Switzerland... Aargau 3 Hotels 2 Car rentals Basel 20 Hotels Flights 2 Car rentals Short breaks Bern 49 Hotels 16 Holidays Flights 4 Car rentals Geneva 46 Hotels 69 Holidays Flights 4 Car rentals Short breaks Graubuenden 8 Hotels 7 Holidays 3 Car rentals Luzern / Lucerne 35 Hotels 2 Holidays 2 Car rentals Schwyz 1 Hotels Solothurn 1 Car rentals St. Gallen 1 Hotels Ticino 14 Hotels Flights 6 Car rentals Valais 7 Hotels 59 Holidays Flights 5 Car rentals Vaud 17 Hotels 3 Holidays 6 Car rentals Zurich 65 Hotels 5 Holidays Flights 6 Car rentals Short breaks Popular areas Zurich Lugano Lausanne Interlaken Bern Sion Hotels in... St. Gallen Luzern / Lucerne Zurich Aargau Valais More Switzerland Hotels Holidays in... Luzern / Lucerne Zurich Valais Bern Vaud More Switzerland Holidays --

family vacations in Florida.

Club Med: the All-Inclusive Vacation Resorts Adventure Travel Packages, All Inclusive Resorts : Club Med, the Family and Single Vacations specialist. You need to have Javascript enabled to enter on the website. Clic here to enter Club Med Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. ClubMed Columbus Isle , Bahamas - San Salvador Archipelago Club Med Sandpiper : the best tennis and golf club for family vacations in Florida. Spring Break Vacation : Sandpiper in Florida ClubMed Phuket , Thailand - Kata Bay, in the heart of the Kingdom of Siam Vittel Ermitage , France - Vosges Club Med Cancun boasts a vibrant social atmosphere and lively evening entertaiment. Ibiza , Spain, The Balearics: Relaxation, sports or fiesta? Ski Vacations : on the Club Med Website, you will find the best vacations destinations, France and Switzerland, where you can practise your favourite snow sports . Ski Resort : the most beautiful ski resorts are found on the Club Med Website Club Med GM : short for gentils membres or gracious members. Club Med News : Club Med actuality and events are on the website. Air Inclusive Vacation : with more than 120 destinations all around the world, Club Med offers Air and vacation packages. Inclusive Adult Resorts : Inclusive Adult Resorts with Club Med. Crested Butte Ski : one of the first destination for skiing, Crested Butte in Colorado. Active Vacation : with more than 40 activities, you will enjoy the Active Vacation. Cancun Vacation : one of the most popular destination in the world. Florida Vacations : Experience American style holiday with Club Med Florida Village Family Resorts : Club Med, the Family Resorts specialist. Spring Break Vacations : Club Med equal Spring Break Vacations too. Club Med France Club Med UK Club Med Switzerland Club Med BE Club Med Italia Club Med Nederland

Air Travel

CNN.com - TSA unveils new security procedures - Dec 2, 2005 International Edition | Member Center: Sign In | Register Home Page World U.S. Weather Business Sports Politics Law Technology Science & Space Health Entertainment Travel Education Special Reports Video Autos CNN Pipeline E-mail Newsletters Your E-mail Alerts Podcasts RSS CNNtoGO Contact Us TSA unveils new security procedures Small tools allowed; more random searches planned TSA chief Kip Hawley announced changes Friday that will take effect December 22. WATCH Browse/Search Security screening changes (1:30) ~~ ~~ TSA alters screening procedures (1:38) ~~ -- RELATED Interactive: What you can't take with you • Transportation Security Administration YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Transportation Security Administration Acts of terror or Create Your Own Manage Alerts | What Is This? WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Transportation Security Administration on Friday announced changes in screening procedures at the nation's commercial airports, allowing passengers to take small scissors on planes but increasing random passenger checks. "I am convinced, that the time now spent searching bags for small scissors and tools can be better utilized to focus on the far more dangerous threat of explosives," said TSA Director Kip Hawley. The changes will go into effect on December 22, during the holiday travel season. Before the official announcement, TSA officials briefed managers of the nation's airports on the changes Thursday in a conference call. Under the new procedures, which are designed to give screeners more time to focus on detecting explosives, scissors less than 4 inches long and tools less than 7 inches long will be allowed on aircraft. "Tools with cutting edges, bludgeons, crowbars, hammers, saws and drills will continue to be prohibited along with any tool that is more than seven inches long," Hawley said. About 18,000 airport screeners have received more training in explosive detection, according to the TSA. In addition, pat-down procedures at checkpoints will be refined. Currently, screeners pat down passengers' backs and abdomens. Under the new system, screeners also will pat down arms and legs below the mid-thigh, although they will be given discretion to forgo those searches in cases where bare skin or tight clothing make it obvious nothing is being concealed. The level of random screening will be increased, with procedures varying from airport to airport to keep any would-be terrorists off guard. Passengers won't be selected for random searches based on their race, age, religion or nationality, according to the TSA. However, screeners will be given some discretion to forgo searches based on age and gender, so that passengers aren't being patted down by screeners of the opposite sex. TSA officials told the managers they are assessing data from three pilot studies on the impact the new procedures might have on airport operations, but they do not anticipate any increase in waiting times. Some members of Congress are expressing reservations about the changes. ( Watch why some people are unahppy with the changes -- 1:30 ) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, said allowing sharp-pointed scissors and similar objects on planes "could undermine the progress we have made in securing our skies since the 9/11 attacks." "The change in policy would do little to alleviate screening delays, since screeners would need to stop the conveyor belt to check whether the scissors in question fell within the new limits," she said in a letter to Hawley, urging him to drop the idea. Noting that the September 11 hijackers used box cutters to commandeer aircraft, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, said the TSA "should not make it easier for future Mohamed Attas to arm themselves with razor-sharp objects and bring down a passenger plane." "Flight attendants and passengers should not be put in a situation where ... a sharp scissors can be taken apart and used as a weapon at the throat of flight attendants and passengers," Markey said. CNN's Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report Story Tools Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! 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