Japan
is
situated
in
northeastern
Asia
between
the
North
Pacific
and
the
Sea
of
Japan.
The
area
of
Japan
is
377,873
square
kilometers,
nearly
equivalent
to
Germany
and
Switzerland
combined
or
slightly
smaller
than
California.
Japan
consists
of
four
major
islands,
surrounded
by
more
than
4,000
smaller
islands.
Many
foreign
visitors
mistakenly
believe
that
it
is
very
expensive
in
Tokyo
but
this
is
not
really
true.
Many
visitors
know
about
"100-yen
Shops"
and
enjoy
shopping
at
these
and
other
discount
shops,
while
dining
out
is
also
becoming
more
affordable
for
them.
Some
would
go
to
soba
(Buckwheat
noodles)
shops
to
have
tempura
(Deep-fried
in
vegetable
oil,
fish
and
vegetables)
soba
noodles,
rather
than
going
to
tempura
shops
only
to
order
tempura.
Also,
they
go
in a
group
to
enjoy
sharing
nabe
(pan
menu).
It
seems
that
they
really
know
how
to
enjoy
their
stay
in
Japan
in
an
affordable
way,"
says
Mr.
Katsuo
Tobita,
the
owner
of
Ryoken
"Shigetsu"
in
Asakusa,
Tokyo.
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