INFO

http://gojapan.about.com/

TRANSPORTATION

Japan has an efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between the large cities. Japanese public transportation is characterized by its punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it.

Motorways are well developped though the best way to travel is by train. Cars drive on left as in Great Britain. In most areas the road signs are in Japanes only.

An international driving license is compulsory. Please ask your local Automobile Association to exactly know which type is required in case more than one are available.

Trains link Tokyo and Narita to these cities but some services need intermediate changes.

The closest towns to the Twin Ring circuit are Mito and Utsunomiya and both offer accommodations. There are also small properties and one hotel just off the circuit compound.

THE CIRCUIT

Twin Ring Motegi opened its doors in 1997, in the town of Motegi in eastern Tochigi prefecture. Set on hills linked to the Hakko mountain chain, Twin Ring Motegi is surrounded by forest, with the pure water of the Nakagawa river, originating on Mt. Nasu, flowing by. “Twin Ring” was coined by joining the English word “twin” and the German word “ring.” The name indicates the two racing courses: Super Speedway, an American-style oval course, and Road Course, a European layout. “Twin” is also intended to imply the merging of two objects, the harmony of man with nature, the meeting and joining of people. Although “ring” in German means a ring or a circle, that meaning was broadened to include a group of people, a circle of excitement and affinity. The intention is to make that circle of affinity and excitement even larger. That’s why this place was called “Twin Ring Motegi”.

HISTORY & GEO

JAPAN

Area
-         Total    377,944 km2 - 145,925 sq mi
-         Water (%)       0.8

Population
-         2009 estimate 127,530,000
-         2004 census     127,333,002
-         Density            337.4/km2 - 873.9/sq mi

GDP (PPP)      2008 estimate
-         Total    $4.356 trillion
-         Per capita        $34,115

GDP (nominal)             2008 estimate
-         Total    $4.910 trillion
-         Per capita        $38,457

Currency          International Symbol ¥ Pronounced (Yen)

Japanese Symbol 円 Pronounced (En) (JPY)

Time zone        JST (UTC+9)

Date formats    yyyy-mm-dd

Drives on the    left

Internet TLD    .jp

Calling code     81

Japan (日本, Nihon or Nippon, officially 日本国 About this sound Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku) is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters which make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for 97% of Japan's land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.

Archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan begins with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century A.D. Influence from the outside world followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan's history. Since adopting its constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament, the Diet.

A major economic power, Japan has the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third largest in purchasing power parity. It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer. It is also the only Asian country in the G8 and is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Although Japan has officially renounced its right to declare war, it maintains a modern and extensive military force which is employed in self-defense and peacekeeping roles. It is a developed country with very high living standards (10th highest HDI). Japan has the highest life expectancy of any country in the world (according to both the UN and WHO estimates) and the third lowest infant mortality rate.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITCS

Main articles: Government of Japan and Politics of Japan

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko

Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected members of the Diet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. The Emperor effectively acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions. Akihito is the current Emperor of Japan. Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, stands as next in line to the throne.

Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament. The Diet consists of a House of Representatives, containing 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved and a House of Councillors of 242 seats, whose popularly elected members serve six-year terms. There is universal suffrage for adults over 20 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elective offices. In 2009, the social liberal Democratic Party of Japan took power after 54 years of the liberal conservative Liberal Democratic Party's rule.

The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. The position is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet (the literal translation of his Japanese title is "Prime Minister of the Cabinet") and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State, a majority of whom must be Diet members. Yukio Hatoyama currently serves as the Prime Minister of Japan.

Historically influenced by Chinese law, the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as Kujikata Osadamegaki. However, since the late nineteenth century, the judicial system has been largely based on the civil law of Europe, notably France and Germany. For example, in 1896, the Japanese government established a civil code based on the German model. With post-World War II modifications, the code remains in effect in present-day Japan. Statutory law originates in Japan's legislature, the National Diet of Japan, with the rubber stamp approval of the Emperor. The current constitution requires that the Emperor promulgates legislation passed by the Diet, without specifically giving him the power to oppose the passing of the legislation. Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers: the Supreme Court and three levels of lower courts. The main body of Japanese statutory law is a collection called the Six Codes.

GEOGRAPHY

Japan is a country of over three thousand islands extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are Hokkaidō, Honshū (the main island), Shikoku and Kyūshū. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, are a chain of islands south of Kyushū. Together they are often known as the Japanese Archipelago.

About 70% to 80% of the country is forested, mountainous, and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This is because of the generally steep elevations, climate and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground and heavy rain. This has resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas. Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in tsunamis, occur several times each century. The 1923 Tokyo earthquake killed over 140,000. The most recent major quakes are the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake and the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Hot springs are numerous and have been developed as resorts.

Shiranesanzan (from left to right: Mount Nōtori, Mount Aino, Mount Kita), view from Mount Kenashi in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate, but varies greatly from north to south. Japan's geographical features divide it into six principal climatic zones:

* Hokkaidō: The northernmost zone has a temperate climate with long, cold winters and cool summers. Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snow banks in the winter.

* Sea of Japan: On Honshū's west coast, the northwest wind in the wintertime brings heavy snowfall. In the summer, the region is cooler than the Pacific area, though it sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures, because of the foehn wind phenomenon.

* Central Highland: A typical inland climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, and between day and night. Precipitation is light.

* Seto Inland Sea: The mountains of the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions shelter the region from the seasonal winds, bringing mild weather throughout the year.

* Pacific Ocean: The east coast experiences cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southeast seasonal wind.

* Ryukyu Islands: The Ryukyu Islands have a subtropical climate, with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season. Typhoons are common.

The highest temperature ever measured in Japan—40.9 °C (105.6 °F)—was recorded on August 16, 2007.

The main rainy season begins in early May in Okinawa, and the stationary rain front responsible for this gradually works its way north until it dissipates in northern Japan before reaching Hokkaidō in late July. In most of Honshū, the rainy season begins before the middle of June and lasts about six weeks. In late summer and early autumn, typhoons often bring heavy rain.

Japan is home to nine forest ecoregions which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from subtropical moist broadleaf forests in the Ryūkyū and Bonin islands, to temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to temperate coniferous forests in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands.

PRICES

Prezzi su richiesta

HOTEL

MITO PLAZA HOTEL *****

LOCATION:
This beautiful hotel is in Mito, north of Tokyo, amidst leafy, peaceful surroundings. It takes about 1 hour from Ueno Station in Tokyo by express train to Mito Station, and then a taxi from Mito Station to the hotel.

ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Connection for laptop
Air conditioning
Statellite TV
Mini bar
Hair dryer
Direct dial phone

RESTAURANTS:
The hotel offers a number of restaurants and bars from a range of Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisines. Café plaza in the courtyard provides a calm atmosphere for guests while enjoying afternoon tea.