Fun Facts
How fast does the Shinkansen (bullet train) go?
200 mph or 320 km/h
What is the largest mountain in Japan?
Mt. Fuji
What is the ancient form of Japanese poetry called?
Haiku
How do you say "Thank you" in Japanese?
ありがとう/ありがとうございます：arigatou/arigatou gozaimasu
Matcha originated in Japan.
False - matcha originated in China and developed in Japan.
What is the time difference between Japan and Washington?
+ 16 hours
What is the name of Japan's largest and most populated island?
Honshu
What is Japan's national sport that requires immense strength, skill, and agility?
Sumo wrestling
What is "Japan" in Japanese?
日本：nihon or nippon
When eating in Japan, slurping your noodles is rude.
False
Why is Japan called "Land of the Rising Sun"?
This is because from China it appears that the sun rises from the direction of Japan. Over time, Japan adopted this nickname as its own.
What is the name of the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, located in Tokyo?
Shibuya Crossing
What are the two predominant religions in Japan?
Shintoism and Buddhism
What do you say when leaving the house in Japanese?
行ってきます：ittekimasu
About 1500 earthquakes strike Japan every year.
True
What is the difference between kimono and yukata?
Kimono typically have several layers and are best for cold weather, where as yukata are one layer and made out of lighter fabric light cotton or linen and are suited best for hotter weather.
What are the four main islands of Japan?
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu
What is the Japanese art of flower arrangement called?
Ikebana
What greeting is used when meeting someone for the first time?
初めまして：hajimemashite
True - There are 14,125 islands that make up Japan, but only 430 are inhabited.
Which famous Japanese character was appointed one-day police chief?
Godzilla - On March 18th, 2024, Godzilla marched around Ikebukuro helping to promote traffic safety.
Is Japan as big as the 13 colonies?
Yes, it is roughly the same size, specifically being 1.03x larger.
How many shrines are there in Japan?
Approximately 80,000
How do you say "Hello" on the phone in Japanese?
もしもし：moshi moshi
The first geisha in Japan were men.
True