==Pavilion History and Layout==
Although a Japan pavilion had always been planned for World Showcase, the pavilion went through many changes before its creation. Original WED 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. When the pavilion finally opened, it included three restaurants (Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge, and the Teppanyaki Dining Room), a large store, and the Bijutsu-kan (a museum). The icon of the Japan pavilion is a 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.
There are two main buildings in the Japan pavilion; the first is large imposing building modeled after the Gosho Imperial Palace in Kyoto. Known as the Hall Of Ceremonies, this building holds the Mitshukishi department store on the first story as well as Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo on the second. The back of the pavilion is themed to look like a fortress and was modeled after the Himeju Castle. The fortress is surrounded by a moat, and it currently houses a Kidcot station, a museum and a portion of the Mitsukoshi department store. The pavilion also holds a garden which is centered around a koi pond.
Throughout its history the Japan pavilion has seen a relatively few number of changes. In 2007, the Japan’s Teppanyak Dining Room Restaurant was completely redesigned and expanded. The restaurant was divided into two restaurants, the Teppan Edo & Tokyo Dining. The two other restaurants in Japan Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge also closed. Later that year, the refurbishment on the pavilion’s fortress was also complete. In 2011, the Katsura Grill, a new restaurant opened. Bijutsu-kan is currently displaying, "Spirited Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars" which shows how mythological creatures are being Incorporated into Japanese pop-culture.
===Meet the World===
The Meet the World attraction would have followed a young boy, a young girl and a magical crane, as they led the audience through Japan’s history. The show would have consisted of four acts which would use in theater effects, projections, and Audio Animatronics, to tell the story. Act I of the show was going to show the origin of Japan’s islands and their volcanic beginnings. In this scene, the audience would have been introduced to their hosts, as they traveled back to island’s early history. Act II, would have then featured Japan reaching out to the world, and the world coming to it. This scene would have ended with the country in self-imposed isolationism. Picking up here, Act III was going to show the battle between the proponents of isolationism and the proponents of expansionism. Finally, Act IV would have shown Japan just after the 1940s, now a modern nation, and once again reaching out to the world. A final scene would then have featured the hosts saying goodbye.
Although the show was designed and ready to go, Meet the World never made its debut in the Japan pavilion. The reason for this may have been that during construction errors were found in the show building. It was decided that a new show building would need to be created, and this put the future of the attraction in jeopardy. With EPCOT Center already over budget, the attraction was eventually pushed to Phase II of the park, with the expectation that the attraction would open in late 1983. Unfortunately, Phase II of Epcot never came to fruition. Funds that were originally earmarked for World Showcase were instead diverted to the construction of Horizons, [[The Living Seas]] and the [[Journey Into Imagination]] attraction. Another reason the attraction was not built may have been because the show glossed over Japan's involvement in World War II. No matter the reason behind the decision, Meet the World was never installed in the pavilion. Since the attraction 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, while in the early 1990s, Imagineers pitched an indoor rollercoasterroller coaster, which was to be housed inside a replica of Mount Fuji. Adding the validity of this proposal Fuji Film offered to cover the coast of the coaster’s construction and operation in return for sponsorship. 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 Disney World. Eventually, plans for the coaster fell through and the show building still remains unused.
==Attractions==