Administratively, Japan is divided into 47 prefectures Geography Japan is an archipelago of more than 3,000 islands. Located in Eastern Asia, the island chain lies between the North Paciic Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula. The official language is Japanese, which is continuously changing due to the infusion of new words and phrases, and an ongoing improvisational use of foreign words and meanings. English is taught in schools from the 7th grade on, and is widely spoken by people associated with the tourist trade. However, it's not normally understood by taxi drivers or by staff of many Japanese restaurants.
Freedom of worship is guaranteed by law.
The Japanese have long held a tolerance for varieties of religion. It is not unusual for a family to celebrate birth with Shinto rites, have a Christian marriage, and pay last respects with a Buddhist ceremony. All rights reserved.