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Japan is a pavilion located within World Showcase in [[Epcot]]. It is located between the [[The American Adventure]] and [[Morocco]].
==Pavilion History and Layout==
Although a Japan pavilion had always been planned for World Showcase, the pavilion went through many changes before its creation. As early as 1978, Imagineers had planned an omnimover attraction for the Japan pavilion. At this time, Disney still planned on having each World Showcase pavilion inside an identical semi-circular building. Inside however, guests would have boarded their ride vehicles and taken guests on a tour of a wide variety of Japan's landscapes and landmarks.
Once it was decided that each World Showcase pavilion would have architecture and theming unique to each individual country, Imagineering initially chose building designs for the Japan pavilion were based on the traditional Pagoda, which had actually originated in China. Once this error was recognized, the whole pavilion had to be re-imagined <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=90 </ref>. The final version of the Japan pavilion was inspired by various structures from all of Japan's different regions. Imagineers and consultants from Mitsukoshi designed the pavilion to give guests a representative sampling of a a variety of traditional structures, which would also serve practical needs. For example. the pavilion's Torii was modeled after one found near Hiroshima Bay. The Goju No To pagoda on the other hand was based on a similar structure in Nara.
The Japan pavilion eventually opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982. At this time, the pavilion included three restaurants (Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge, and the Teppanyaki Dining Room), the Mitshukishi department store and the Bijutsu-kan (a museum). The icon of the Japan pavilion is the Goju No To five-story pagoda, a building that is most associated with Buddhism. The five tiers of the pagoda each represent an element which Buddhists believe the universe was created from. Guests can often see live entertainment near the pagoda.
===Meet The World===
When the Japan was initially built, a massive show building was constructed behind the fortress <ref name= "Book"> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>. The building was going to be home an attraction known as "Meet the World"- a "carousel theater" type show which was being developed for [[EPCOT Center]] and Tokyo Disneyland simultaneously <ref name= "Martin"/>. Unlike [[The Carousel of Progress]] which used stationary sets with a rotating theater, Meet the World was going to have a stationary theater with rotating sets <ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/02/epcots_japan_pavilion_part_one.html </ref>. The theater would have featured six, 600 seat theaters, giving the ride an hourly capacity of 3,600 guests <ref name= "Martin"/>.
Since Meet the World was never built, other ideas have been suggested for the empty show building. One idea, called for a Circlevision-360 film aboard a bullet train <ref name= "Jack"/>, while in the early 1990s, Imagineers pitched an indoor roller coaster, which was to be housed inside a replica of Mount Fuji <ref name= "Martin"/>. Adding the potential of this proposal, Fuji Film offered to cover the cost of the coaster’s construction and operation in return for sponsorship <ref name= "Martin"/>. The deal stalled, however, due to Kodak’s (who sponsored [[Journey Into Imagination]] among other things in Walt Disney World) unhappiness with Fuji Film moving into Walt Disney World. Eventually, plans for the coaster fell through <ref name= "Martin"/> and the show building still remains unused.
===History Since Opening Day===
Throughout its history the Japan pavilion has seen a number of changes. In 1991, the Yakitori House was expanded <ref name= "Martin"/>.
