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Special
Interests |
Golf is a very popular
sport in Japan although it is not a cheap game to play. Public driving
ranges are, however, available throughout the country. At these
driving ranges, golf lovers will be able to practice at a much lower
price than membership fees. The driving ranges are big constructions
that are wrapped in huge green nets. These constructions can be
seen almost everywhere, even in the city itself.
The professional soccer
league in Japan is called the J-League, whose first season was held
in 1993. Many European and South American football stars are employed
to play for Japanese teams.
Although amateur soccer
leagues do exist and are quite popular, it was the J-League that
made soccer a popular sport in Japan.
Japan had participated
in its first soccer world cup in France 1998, and the World Cup
2002 will be hosted by Japan and Korea.
As Japan is a densely
populated and mountainous country, there are actually not many opportunities
to enjoy kayaking or canoeing. In fact, most Japanese rivers are
quite small and not very suitable for this sport.
However, kayaking and
canoeing have started accumulating a group of enthusiasts. Japanese
paddlers have begun visiting whiter water areas every weekend to
enjoy the sport. During kayaking season, which is usually from April
to June and October to December, enthusiasts would go almost every
week.
There are four main white
water areas, which can make quite good places to kayak. The Nagara
River in central Japan, the Yura River, northwest of Honshu, the
Kitayama River, and the Yoshino River, which happens to be the biggest
dam in West Japan are examples of places where enthusiasts can go.
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