Japan, one of the most homogenous societies on earth, has some of the most varied landscapes imaginable. Since most of its terrain is volcanic, its people tend to be crowded into huge megalopolises. Yet it also has a rich rural life, and a native religion, Shinto, closely tied to nature, along with the Buddhist influences from the Asian mainland. It is both traditional and modernist, making it one of the most fascinating and economically powerful countries in the world.