December 23rd marks the 83rd birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. We wish the continued good health

and happiness of His Majesty, as well as the peace and prosperity of our two countries.

I realise every day that the Japan-India relationship has greatly flourished and has entered a new era. Japan and India share fundamental values, such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We also have many things in common, historically and culturally, which form the foundation of our friendship. On these bases, we have also developed our economic and investment ties dramatically.

The relationship of trust between Prime Minister Shinzoō Abe of Japan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is extremely solid. They have held eight summit meetings until now, including three annual summit meetings. They always discuss issues, including strategic agenda, in a very candid and constructive manner.

During PM Modi’s visit to Japan from November 10 to 12, Japan and India successfully demonstrated the steady deepening of their bilateral relationship, with tangible outcomes. The most striking achievements included the signing of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, and the announcement of roadmaps regarding the

construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail. I have always believed that it is essential to have a diplomacy that bears concrete results. Now, I feel that my belief is translating into reality.

The relationship between Japan and India is described as “Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” which surpasses ordinary bilateral relationships. India has been Japan’s essential partner for tackling together volatile regional as well as world situations amid massive ongoing changes. Thanks to the echoing of PM Abe’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” and PM Modi’s “Act East Policy,” the sharing of our strategic visions – regional connectivity and the importance of the rule of law on the maritime domain – is advancing steadily. Discussions on our bilateral

cooperation in third countries in Southwest Asia and Africa are also progressing well. Japan and India agree with one another on their common responsibility of playing more important roles in the international community, and are closely cooperating with each other in the field of United Nations Security Council Reform.

Nevertheless, there is still plenty of room for strengthening our relationship. Especially, we have much to do to enhance people-to-people exchanges. Japan would like to galvanise these exchanges by relaxing the requirement of visas for Indian citizens, and by promoting the major attractions of Japan. From this perspective, the two Prime Ministers decided to mark the year 2017 as the year of Japan-India friendly exchanges in the fields of

culture and tourism. In India, we will hold various events to promote, among others, tourism, youth exchange, educational collaboration, and cultural exchange. Through nurturing of mutual understanding between the people of Japan and India, we would like them to become more aware of the “proximity” between our two nations.

The ever growing relationship between Japan and India is beautifully symbolised by the magnificent Bodhi tree on the premises of our Embassy in New Delhi, planted in 1960 by Their Imperial Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, now Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress. The two countries’ relationship remains firmly rooted in a long history of cultural ties, mutual respect and goodwill and we need to work

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The fact is economic relations between India and Japan have vast potential for growth, given the obvious

complementarities that exist between the two Asian economies. Japan’s interest in India is increasing due to a variety of reasons including India’s huge and growing market and its resources, especially human resources. The signing of the historic India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and its implementation from August

2011 has accelerated economic and commercial relations between the two countries. During the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Japan in September 2014, PM Shinzo Abe pledged $35 billion in investment in India’s public and private sectors over the next five years. The two countries also set a target of doubling Japanese FDI and the number of Japanese firms in India by 2019.

Bilateral trade between the two countries more than doubled between 2006-07 and 2012-13. However, total trade

has come down to $ 14.51 billion in 2015-16 from a peak of $ 18.5 billion in 2012-13. In 2015-16, India’s exports to Japan were $ 4.66 billion while imports were $ 9.85 billion. The negative or slow growth in trade with Japan is a matter of concern for India in view of the fact that there is high potential for faster progress on goods and services trade. The share of India-Japan bilateral trade in Japan’s total trade has been hovering around 1 per cent but it is in the range of 2.2 to 2.5 per cent of India’s total trade.

India’s primary exports to

Japan have been petroleum products, chemical elements/compounds, fish and fish preparation, non-metallic mineral ware, metalliferous ores & scrap, clothing and accessories, iron & steel products, textile yarn/fabrics, machinery, feeding-stuff for animals, etc. India’s primary imports from Japan are machinery, iron & steel products, electrical machinery, transport equipment, chemical elements/compound, plastic materials, manufactures of metals, precision instruments, rubber manufactured, coal/coke and briquettes, etc.

Japan’s Investment In IndiaRegarding investment,

India has been ranked as the most attractive investment destination in the latest survey of Japanese manufacturing companies, conducted by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japanese FDI in India has increased in recent years but it still remains small compare to Japan’s total outward FDI. In terms of cumulative FDI inflows into India, Japan is India’s fourth largest source of FDI. Japanese FDI in India grew exponentially from US$ 139 million in 2004 to all time high of $5,551 million in 2008 due to mega deals particularly acquisition of Ranbaxy by Daichi Sankyo. In the last two years, Japanese FDI into India increased from $ 1.7 billion in 2013-14 to $2.61 billion in 2015-16. The amount of Japan’s cumulative investment in India since April 2000 to March 2016 has been US$ 20.966 billion, which is nearly 7 per cent of India’s overall FDI during this period. Japanese FDI into India has mainly been in automobile, electrical equipment, telecommunications, chemical

and pharmaceutical sectors.However, the number of

Japanese affiliated companies in India has grown significantly in recent years. As of March 2016, there were 1,209 Japanese companies that are registered in India, an increase of 137 companies (13%) compared to 2013. These companies had 3,961 business establishments that are operating in India, which is an increase of 1,419 establishments (56%) compared to 2013.

So, just like our Prime Minister, you’re ‘looking East’, thinking of starting a business in Japan? Here are 10 good reasons why you ought to.

FaSt FactS

Japan is an island nation 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 that make up Japan’s name mean ‘sun-origin’, which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, together accounting for 97 per cent of Japan’s land area. Japan has the world’s tenth-largest population, with over 127 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.

Local Name: Nippon-koku or Nihon-kokuCapital (& Largest City): TokyoOther Main Cities: Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyōto, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, NagasakiEthnic Groups: Japanese (98.4%), Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Brazilian, VietnameseDemonym: JapaneseNational Language: JapaneseGovernment: Unitary Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional MonarchyEmperor: AkihitoPrime Minister: Shinzō AbeDeputy Prime Minister: Tarō AsōNational Day: February 11Anthem: Kimigayo (His Imperial Majesty’s Reign)Area: 377,972 sq km (145,935 sq mi )Population: 127,110,047 (2015 census)GDP (PPP) (2016 estimate)Total: USD 4.901 trillion (4th) Per capita: US$ 38,731 (29th)Currency: Yen (¥) (JPY)1.00 JPY = 0.58 INR1.00 JPY = 0.0085 USDAgriculture Products: Rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fishMain Industries: Japan is among the world’s largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods.National Animals: Green Pheasant, Koi, Raccoon Dog, Red-Crowned CraneNational Flower: Cherry Blossom (Sakura)Time Zone: GMT+9Driving: On the leftInternet TLD: .jpCalling Code: +81

1Huge potential marketsJapan may be a developed

country, but that doesn’t mean it has stopped developing. From retail to healthcare, this country offers endless opportunity for foreign companies.

2Supportive economic policies The Japanese government

is aware of the importance of overseas investments and goes to great lengths to develop it. Government policies are very friendly toward foreign investors

and while maintaining a social framework they are capitalistic by nature.

3Top companies Japan is home to many prominent brand

names and enterprises. The high levels of technology development and

manufactured goods has made Japan into an appealing option for many international companies that both use the country's advantages and seek to enhance their business relations with successful Japanese enterprises.

4Business-friendly infrastructureJapan's industrial

structure is similar to that of US and Europe which offers much convenience for overseas companies. The country has excellent transportation and while being a large energy consumer it aims at diversified sources.

5Innovative products Japan is known worldwide for its new

and advanced technologies and goods. It is not just a world trendmaker and gadget superpower, but it is also one of the most popular countries for experiments and testing of new products.

6Research and development Few countries in the

world are better involved in research and development than Japan. The Japanese universities, government and the business sector all

cooperate in many relevant projects and policies.

7Gateway to Asia Japan has always been sitting in the ‘In Between’

ground, belonging to both the westernised world and the Far East. In recent decades the growing economical power of other Asian countries has placed Japan in a central role - forming a gateway to Asia for many foreign investors.

8Purchasing powerThe purchasing power of the average

Japanese consumer is enormous. This remains true in many sectors such as clothing, gadgets, technology and the luxury segment.

9Skilled workforceThe Japanese workforce is extremely skilled,

hardworking and committed. Japan's culture supports highlevels of loyalty to the workplace and encourages life-long ties to one single enterprise, which in turn contributes to workers' experience and skill.

10Safe and comfortable living

environmentJapan manages to obtain many positive western culture habits and has avoided many of the negative aspects. Visitors to Japan can enjoy luxurious, pleasurable lifestyle with all the trimmings, and at the same time marvel at the clean urban environments, effective social system and crime-free environment. Even the big cities in Japan are extremely safe - day and night, and have some of the lower crime-rates in the world.

10 good reasons to invest in Japan

Specific Projects and Industrial Corridorsl The DMIC - a flagship project of Indo-

Japanese cooperation. Implementation of the project is in progress. Indian Government, through the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Project, is in the process of initiating a new era of industrial infrastructure development with the creation of new generation smart cities across six Indian states.

l In addition to new manufacturing hubs, DMIC will envisage development of infrastructure linkages like power plants, assured water supply, high capacity urban transportation and logistics facilities as well as important interventions like skill development programme for providing employment opportunities of youth.

l The master planning of the DMIC new industrial cities has been carried out by the world class international consultants. Engineering, Procurement & Construction

(EPC) contracts for approximately Rs. 3200 crore have been awarded in Dholera in Gujarat, Shendra in Maharashtra, Vikram Udyogpuri in Madhya Pradesh and Integrated Industrial Township Project at Greater Noida.

l In Dholera, the roads and services work has been awarded to M/s Larsen & Tubro while the similar work for Shendra and Integrated Industrial Township Project at Greater Noida have been awarded to M/s Shapoorji & Pallonji. Construction has started at all the project sites namely at Vikram Udyogpuri in Madhya Pradesh, Shendra in Maharashtra, Dholera in Gujarat and Integrated Industrial Township at Greater Noida.

l Shareholders’ Agreement (SHA) has been executed with the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Accordingly,

SPVs for the Integrated Industrial Township Project at Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh; Vikram Udyogpuri near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Phase-I of Shendra Bidkin Industrial Park in Maharashtra and Dholera Special Investment region in Gujarat have been incorporated. The equity of the State Government and DMIC Trust has been released/transferred to the SPVs.

l Earlier environmental clearance has been obtained and Digital master planning/ Information and Communication Technology Master Planning work is completed for almost all the projects. The cities are being benchmarked against the world class standards of sustainability and eco-friendly developments.

l DMICDC has also commissioned a 5MW Model Solar Power Project at Neemrana, Rajasthan with latest cutting edge Japanese technology and the power is

being supplied to the grid.l DMICDC is also implementing a smart

solution for Logistic sector by creating a Logistics Databank for near to real time tracking of the movement of the containers so as to bring in efficiency in logistics value chain in partnership with NEC Corporation of Japan. The regulatory and statutory approvals have been obtained and the trial operations will start shortly.

l DMICDC has prepared the DPRs for MRTS projects for Ahmedabad-Dholera in Gujarat and Manesar- Bawal in Haryana, awaiting approval from State Govts. States to start Land acquisition process for taking the projects forward.

l In-principle-approval has been obtained for Greenfield International Airport at Dholera (Gujarat) and site clearance has been obtained for the Greenfield Airport at Kotkasim (Rajasthan).

IndIa-Japan EconomIc RElatIons

Year Japanese FDI in India (million US$)

% Change

2001 150 (-) 14.32002 146 (-) 2.7

2003 124 (-) 15.12004 139 12.12005 266 91.42006 512 92.52007 1506 194.12008 5551 268.62009 3664 (-) 34.02010-11

2864 (-) 21.8

2011-12

2326 (-) 18.8

2012-13

2786 19.8

2013-14

1718 (-) 38.36

2014-15

2084 21.3

2015-16

2614 25.4

Economic relations between India and Japan have vast potential for growth, given the obvious complementarities that exist between the two Asian economies.

A robust, reliable and resilient data centre

Seeking new possibilities in innovation is crucial

In a year’s time, Netmagic, the world’s largest data centre provider, has already made its presence felt in Mumbai, and already has on board a slew of marquee customers.

Just ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to India last December, Netmagic, an NTT Communications

Group Company, launched its 9th data centre in the country (and 5th in Mumbai). One of the largest in India, this massive 300,000 sq. ft. (27,000 sq. mt.) high density data centre with 2,700 racks has been built to the exacting global design standards of NTT Communications, using the experience and expertise from building and successfully running over 140 data centres worldwide.

Extending the promise of world-class data centre facilities to Indian customers, this is yet

another ‘Nexcenter’ branded data centre in the country. It aims to deliver Netmagic’s entire suite of services including Managed Co-location, Dedicated Hosting, Cloud Computing, IT Infrastructure Monitoring & Management, Managed Security, Disaster Recovery and Managed App Hosting. The data centre already has some marquee anchored customers on-board.

Says Tetsuya Shoji, President & CEO of NTT Communications: “The Mumbai data centre facilitates Indian and multi-national enterprises in experiencing the state-of-the-art data centres that NTT Communications operates across the world. The added advantage

of Netmagic’s operational excellence in Managed Services gives it the capability of becoming the new benchmark for data centres in India. This facility is part of our Nexcenter brand of global data centre services providing seamless ICT solutions including networks, cloud computing, data centres security and applications, thereby capitalising on the trend of enterprises’ migrating their on-premise systems to the cloud.”

Adds Sharad Sanghi, MD & CEO, Netmagic: “Today’s businesses require a robust, reliable and resilient IT Infrastructure backbone that is easily scalable and responsive. With our data centre, the city has a promising state of the art destination for its IT Infrastructure requirements, and one that can abundantly address concerns of scalability, high availability and resilience

in performance of hosted assets with an unprecedented ease. Given Mumbai’s business importance, Netmagic’s Data Centre 5 is poised to soon become the very heart of India’s IT Infrastructure needs, offering the right platform for enterprises and start-ups alike, to grow, scale and innovate in order to take business to the next level.”

Netmagic also offers services (Virtual Private Cloud, Virtual Load Balancer as a Service & Next-Gen Backup and Archival) and a refined network fabric, stemming from Spine Leaf Architecture. It now has 9 data centres across India and over 600,000 sq.ft. (55,000 sq. mt.) of floor space. Some of the key highlights of this facility include 4 diverse fibre paths to ensure reliability at network levels, 28 MVA of facility power and Dual Power feed through PDU with isolation transformer.

During Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to India, Japan External Trade

Organization (JETRO) organised an ‘innovation’ seminar in New Delhi. It was jointly hosted in tandem with Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO), attracting approximately 450 business people from Japan and India.

JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi stated that business cooperation taking advantage of the strengths of both

countries, expansion of two-way trade and investment and collaboration in third countries or wider areas beyond the framework of the two countries would be essential to improve our economic relations to the next stage. To that end, he emphasised that the seeking for new possibilities from the perspective of innovation would be crucial.

Several speakers, including executives of major Japanese companies and representatives from Japanese ministries, institutions and universities as well as

the Indian Government, made presentations at the seminar, on their initiatives toward enhancing economic relations of both countries.

Prime Minister Abe, who was welcomed by the representatives from Indian economic associations like CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM, expressed the importance of relations between the two countries in Japan’s Growth Strategy as well as the significance of high quality infrastructure partnerships and cooperation in science and technology. “Come, invest in Japan,” he made a direct appeal to the gathering.

Clockwise from top: JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi; Japan PM Shinzo Abe addresses the seminar; Representatives of Indian business meet the Japan PM; Conference in progress

About NetmAgic Netmagic, an NTT Communications company, is India’s leading Managed Hosting and Cloud Service Provider, with 9 carrier-neutral, state-of-the-art data centres and serving more than 1,500 enterprises globally. A pioneer in the Indian IT Infrastructure services space - it was the first to launch services such as Cloud Computing, Managed Security, Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service and Software-Defined Storage. Netmagic, also delivers Remote Infrastructure Management services to NTT Communications’ customers across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Recipient of several industry accolades, Netmagic was recently chosen by Frost & Sullivan for both ‘Third Party Data Centre Service Provider of the Year’ and ‘Infrastructure as a Service Provider of the Year’ at India ICT Awards 2015. Netmagic is the first cloud service provider in India and in the world, to receive the CSA STAR certification for Cloud Capability Maturity Model (CCM) version 3.0.1, an industry benchmark for the specific security requirements of multi-tenant service providers. Besides this, Netmagic is also empanelled as an IT Security Auditing Organization with CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team).

A taste of Japan

Something oldsomething new

One of Japan’s unique charms is its dynamic blend of ancient and modern. In a holiday to Japan you can experience ancient temples, gardens and

cultural traditions while enjoying some of the world’s most futuristic and technologically advanced cities

TOKYOTokyo is Japan’s economic and cultural centre. Vibrant neighbourhoods and fantastic cuisine are around every corner. This Mecca of Japanese pop culture fused with traditional ideals is one of the world’s most entertaining cities.

There’s no livelier introduction to Tokyo’s neighbourhoods than Asakusa, with its old atmosphere and the city’s oldest temple. After wending your way along Nakamise Dori, a pedestrian lane lined with stalls selling rice crackers, fans, umbrellas, T-shirts, cotton kimono and other souvenirs, you’ll reach Sensoji

Temple, founded in the 7th century. Shibuya is an immensely popular commuter hub, packed with department stores, specialty shops, bars and restaurants. Shibuya Crossing is Japan’s most photographed intersection. Akihabara is quirky Tokyo at its best, a shopping paradise where Japanese animation and manga (comics) fans mingle with those searching for the latest in cameras and electrical appliances. Long known as Japan’s largest electronics district, Akihabara is also packed with shops selling character figurines, games and more.

MT. FUJIMt. Fuji, a 12,355-foot cone of almost perfect symmetry, is Japan’s tallest and most sacred mountain. It’s officially open for climbing in July and August, but the best views are from scenic Hakone.

Easily accessible from Tokyo, Hakone is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and hot-spring spas with indoor and outdoor baths. Because it was on the old Tokaido trading route between Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo) during the

days of the shogun, Hakone has many historic sites, including a 1.5-mile remnant of the Tokaido footpath and centuries-old Japanese inns with hot-spring baths. One of the most delightful ways to see Hakone is on a circular route travelling by mountain railway, cable car, a suspended ropeway and a boat that cruises across Lake Ashi. There are many things to do en route, including hiking, relaxing in hot springs, and exploring museums like the Hakone Open-Air Museum with its gardens, 400-some sculptures and one of the world’s largest Picasso collections.

KYOTOHome to Japan’s Imperial court for over 1,000 years Kyoto is the country’s most historically significant city. It boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, hundreds of shrines and temples, is home to traditional kaiseki cuisine, has many skilled artisans, and craft stores.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto’s most famous temple is an engineering wonder built to withstand earthquakes. It extends over a cliff supported by 18 massive pillars. It spreads along a wooded slope of Mount Otowa and offers stunning view of spring cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and the city of Kyoto. Ryoanji Temple is Japan’s most famous Zen rock garden which consists of 15 rocks rising up from carefully raked white pebbles, suggesting mountains above the clouds or islands in the sea. Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine is one of Kyoto’s most visually spectacular shrines, with thousands of vermillion-coloured torii gates straddling trails that lead up sacred Mt. Inari. The top of Mt. Inari has beautiful views of Kyoto.

OSAKAThis former merchant’s town is one of Japan’s largest cities famous for Osaka Castle, street cuisine, shopping arcades, comedy and a recent modern architectural renaissance that including Japan’s tallest building.

Osaka Castle was the largest in Japan when completed in the 16th century, though it was destroyed twice during fierce battles between shogun loyalists and dissenters. It was rebuilt and expanded in the 10th century. The faithful reproduction stands as the symbol of Osaka, with an eight-story tower that contains a modern museum describing the history of the castle and its occupants. The surrounding park is also famous for cherry blossoms in the spring. Osaka is a gastronomists’ town, and nowhere is this more evident than the exuberant nightlife district of Dotonbori. Flanking Dotonbori Canal in the heart of the city, this pedestrian promenade has been Osaka’s premier entertainment destination for 400 years, with throngs of people soaking in the neon-coloured atmosphere as they visit restaurants, bars, f ood stalls, movie theatres and nearby bunraku puppet theatre.

HIROSHIMAHiroshima is a modern city with a long history, evident at landmarks like Hiroshima Castle and Shukkei-en Garden. It's also famous for its oysters and as a gateway to nearby Miyajima.

Miyajima, a gem of an island is considered one of Japan's top scenic places. It's been held sacred since

ancient times prompting worshipers to build Itsukushima Shrine, now a World Heritage Site. The shrine is a strikingly beautiful icon with its vermillion-coloured buildings and torii gate rising from the sea. Mount Misen, reached via trails or ropeway, offers splendid views of the Seto Inland Sea, while the island’s beaches attract sun worshippers.

Connoisseurs of fine cuisine will revel in Japan's varied styles of cooking, from tempura, sushi and teppanyaki to the feast of

all feasts, kaiseki. Many visitors to Japan will have already sampled the pleasures of raw fish or batter-fried shrimp. Shojin ryori and macrobiotic restaurants are great for vegetarians visiting Japan. Primarily eaten by Buddhist monks, shojin ryori prohibits the inclusion of meat, fish, onions, leeks, and garlic. But few first-time visitors to Japan are prepared for the variety and sumptuousness of Japanese food, as it is traditionally prepared.

Nonetheless, food, of all types and from every country under the sun, is one of the great pleasures of life in Japan. Not only has Japan developed one of the world's great cuisines, which offers palate-tickling sensations that range from the subtle joys of sashimi to the hearty basics of its noodles, but also some of the best world-class chefs have come to Japan to cook for its discriminating gourmets. Tokyo especially, as befits its status as holder of more Michelin stars than any other city in the world, is host to a lip-smacking cornucopia of food flavours and textures.

To begin scratching the surface of Japan's vast selection of culinary

variety, take a walk in the vicinity of any subway or train station.

The eating and drinking establishments that

congregate here are sure to represent a plethora of domestic cooking, with prices generally quite reasonable.

Drinkers would do well to try Japanese sake (rice wine), which goes extremely well with a variety of

Japanese dishes. Brewed with rice and water,

sake has been a Japanese alcoholic beverage since

ancient times. Because it can be drunk warmed up in winter

it warms the body. When drunk chilled, good sake has a taste similar to fine-quality wine. There are local sake breweries in every region across the country, which make their respective characteristic tastes based on the quality of rice and

water as well as differences in brewing processes.In Japan, you say ‘itadakimasu’

(‘I gratefully receive’) before eating, and ‘gochisosama (deshita)’ (‘Thank you for the meal’) after finishing the meal. If you’re out drinking with a group, do not begin until everyone is served. Glasses are raised in the traditional salute as everyone shouts Kampai! (Cheers!).

Eating in Japan is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered fondly for the rest of your life.

3 amazing activities

There are a plethora of activities you can do on your next visit to Japan. Here are

three that top the list.

Enjoy the nightlifeCome dusk and Tokyo and Osaka blossom into a profusion of giant neon lights and paper lanterns, and its streets fill with overworked locals set out to have a good time. Entertainment districts are as crowded at 3 am as they are at 10 pm, and many places stay open until the first subways start running after 5 am. Whether it's jazz, reggae, gay bars, dance clubs, rustic or chic bars Tokyo and Osaka have them all.

Cruise Tokyo Bay on the Himiko/JicooCruise Tokyo Bay in the futuristic Himiko boat designed by famous manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. At night Himiko turns into Jicoo - The Floating Bar, which shuttles back and forth between Hinode Pier and Odaiba every half an hour. You will be able to view the panoramic evening skyline and enjoy entertainment by artists. Jicoo is one of Tokyo’s most unique locations for evening cocktails. You can also choose to cruise on the Hotaluna.

Ride the ShinkansenCan’t wait until you ride the bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad? Never mind. Take the Shinkansen, or bullet train, a network of high speed railway lines in Japan. The Shinkansen can reach speeds up to 300 kmph (186 mph) making it fantastic and speedy way to travel in Japan. The Shinkansen network currently reaches from Kagoshima at the bottom of Kyushu all the way up to Aomori at the top of Japan’s main island of Honshu.