Japan is known worldwide for its economic prowess and such iconic symbols as geisha, karaoke, manga, Mt. Fuji, ninja, feudal-age samurai warriors and huge sumo wrestlers. What is not so well-known are its amazing historical artifacts [shrines, temples, castles, the world's largest and oldest wooden buildings, arts and crafts, hundreds of annual festivals that go back nearly two thousand years], the incredible scenic beauty of its mountains, gorges, rivers, one of the longest and most gorgeous coastlines in the world, and a combined modern and traditional lifestyle that is so fascinating and seductive that exposure to it for just a few days is a mind-altering experience. The author identifies and describes a choice selection of things that make Japan one of the world's most unusual, most intriguing, and most enjoyable travel destinations...things that explain why so many foreigners take up permanent residence there once they have experienced life in this amazing country.