East Asian island nation of Japan. The Sea of Japan, which extends from Taiwan and the East China Sea in the south to the Sea of Okhotsk, the Philippine Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk in the north, serves as its western border. It is located in the northwest corner of the Pacific Ocean.
Tokyo, the throbbing metropolis of Japan, blends the old and the new, with historic temples and neon-lit skyscrapers. The majestic Meiji Shinto Shrine stands out for its natural surroundings and towering gate. The Imperial Palace is located in the middle of extensive public gardens. A variety of museums in the city offer exhibits, including classical art (at the Tokyo National Museum) and a reconstructed kabuki stage (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum).
