Discovering Japan on Geography Trips

A country's geography drastically affects its development, system and just how its world and cultures adapt and develop. The topography of the country and its own weather systems generally determine where people live, that they earn a living and if they can depend on agriculture or not. Industry and structural development of a country are also affected by the landscape of a country and, in this respect; Japan is not any different from any other place on earth.

Rural

There may be little doubt Japan has more than their reasonable share of troubles to cope with regarding their agriculture. Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, off of the Asian mainland, Japan is part of an exceptionally physically lively archipelago. Earthquakes are commonplace here and, although some are never noticed, it's estimated that every three days and nights one of measurable level hits Tokyo.

The mountains of Japan's interior reflect the influence of plate tectonics, and students on geography tours with a Japan travel tour guide here will get an idea of how the local people have to adapt and evolve to be able to keep up their agricultural industry. Waterways criss-cross the forested areas and remain impossible to navigate.

Japan's beauty is apparent, but as the islands cover 10% of the world's active volcanoes, that beauty comes at a price. The people are philosophical, however, and also have become familiar to living with the risk of natural calamity. They may emphasize more on the sensational beauty of these islands instead of its hazards, which is reflected in the normal Japanese paintings and structures that is so commonly associated with the island. Mount Fuji is the most well-known volcano in Japan, but luckily it remains dormant today.

Urban

Tokyo is a complete contrast to the interior of Japan and is one of the most creative and modern towns on earth. Here students will hold the chance to review the urban side of their subject, at the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation - here they can explore how this city has improved and developed at the speed it has.

The bullet train to Kyoto will take the students into a totally different world, and here they have the opportunity to observe how the land also affects the culture and the history of a country during their Japan tours.
by Xinhua writers Xu Liyu, Chen Junxia, Ding Yi, Jin Zheng

NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- After a ride on Kenya's newly-launched Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Nairobi Railway Museum guide Daniel Shikoli felt an urge to tell visitors what it meant for the country to run a new, modern rail link after a century-long hiatus in rail projects.

Like Shikoli, Kenyans have good reason -- and ample opportunities -- to be excited. A trip by the Chinese-built SGR linking the port city of Mombasa and the capital Nairobi takes less than five hours for an otherwise tedious journey either by road or by a colonial-era railway.

Kenya Railways currently operates one daily service from Nairobi to Mombasa and another from Mombasa to Nairobi and is looking into the possibility of increasing the frequency of trains.

"It's so nice. The trip took only more than four hours," said Shikoli, who was among the first Kenyans to ride on the modern train.

Shikoli's one-off experience with the SGR came about thanks to a reward ticket from Kenya Railways which runs the Nairobi Railway Museum. But soon, his encounter with the new railway will become long running -- the museum has dedicated a room to the SGR and is in preparations to put the SGR section on show.

He said many newly-weds in Nairobi would visit the museum to avail themselves of the ages-old locomotives on display as a setting for their pre-wedding photograph. And a large number of school children patronize the museum for extended learning of history.

"They'll have more to see and learn how this railway changed our life," he said.

A GAME CHANGER

The SGR runs largely parallel to the meter-gauge railway that was originally built by British colonialists in the 19th century. The Nairobi Terminus is not only the end point of the SGR -- it is where it meets the old railway to facilitate onward journeys.

Mostly bankrolled by China and built by a Chinese company, the 480-km railway is Kenya's biggest infrastructure project since independence and is expected to help boost the East African nation's GDP by 1.5 percent annually.

The Kenyan government estimated that the new railway would cut the costs of freight service in East Africa by 79 percent and the time for delivery by half. The cost of doing business, as a result, would drop as much as 40 percent.

For many Kenyans, the SGR is tantamount to comfort and speed, and as such, the tourism industry stands to benefit from it.

Mombasa, a seaside resort town, traditionally sees a low season in tourist arrivals in June, but after the SGR had been in place, holidaymakers were flocking to the city.

Kenyan officials said in late July that the new railway had transported over 150,000 passengers between Mombasa and Nairobi in nearly two months since it was commissioned on May. Cheap Air Max Colorways   Cheap Air Max Light Bone   Cheap Air Max Hot Punch   Cheap Air Max 270   Cheap Air Max 270 Dusty Cactus   Cheap Air Max 270 Shoes   Cheap Asics Womens Shoes   Cheap Asics Mens Shoes   Cheap Asics Shoes   Cheap Asics Shoes White Online