Estonia is a small country facing the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, with an area almost the same as that of Switzerland or Denmark, or in Japan, that of Kyushu. Bordered by Russia, Finland and Latvia, Estonia has a population of 1,360,000.
Back during the age of the Vikings, Estonia made a large leap as a port town for the Hanseatic League under Denmark and Sweden. After being part of the Russian Empire, independence was declared in 1918, and then independence was restored once more in 1991, bringing us to the present day. Estonian is linguistically related to Finnish, which helps play a factor in Estonia’s continuing economic growth as one of the Nordic countries. In recent years, joining the EU and then introducing the euro in 2011 are examples of working to make the country a significant part of Europe. The degree of growth is among the top class in the EU, making Estonia a country with a bright future.

The Lahemaa Natural Park located to the north was the first national park created during the old Soviet Union period. The fertile natural environment is preserved to this day. In particular, the long coastal line and plentiful islands strengthen the human bond with nature, and bird watching, horse riding and hiking are all common in the forests. In the small towns and villages, traditional culture is preserved such as leatherworking, pottery, linen weaving and hand-knit sweaters. Fashion designs featuring snowflakes and flower patterns have become internationally known.

Estonia’s economy is located in the center of the Baltic Economic Region, consisting of Scandinavia, Eastern and Western Europe, and Russia, with an economic population of around 90,000,000. Using this beneficial geographic position, it has become one of the fastest growing countries in the EU in recent years. Their IT strategy has helped support this growth. Famous as the birthplace of Skype, this strategy is effective because Estonia is a small country, with excellent internet and long-distance communications infrastructure. The various breaks that are available as part of the tax system are also an attractive feature.

The capital city of Tallinn is Estonia’s most famous tourist attraction. The Old Town, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1997, still retains much of its appearance from the Middle Ages. Narrow stone roads, castle walls and the red-roofed towers along them, and several old churches all charm their visitors.
There are also plentiful cultural facilities producing refined works such as an opera house, concert halls and art galleries. Estonian cuisine is similar to German, with pork and potatoes being principal ingredients. Cakes and dark breads are also delicious, with ham, sausage and smoked salmon also frequently eaten.