I visited Japan in 1991 and found it was a country of paradoxes – the latest in high tech devices sold a block away from a centuries-old temple, and brides dressed in traditional red or gold robes changing into white wedding dresses mid-ceremony. It was great fun researching facts about Japan for this book. Here are five fast facts you might not know:
Exploring Countries: Japan is a non-fiction resource for readers in Grades 5 – 7.
- About 84% of Japanese are Shinto and 71% are Buddhist. Yes, that totals more than 100% – many Japanese follow both religions.
- Japan’s literacy rate is amazing: 99% of Japanese age 15 or older can read.
- Only about 10% of land in Japan can be farmed.
- About 3 million people go through Shinjuku Station in Tokyo every day, making it the world’s busiest train station.
- Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707.
A few facts I discovered on my trip, but couldn’t include in this book: if you’re over 6 feet tall, the hotel bed won’t be big enough and western-style washrooms can be tough to find.
