Japan is an island nation located in East Asia, consisting of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. There are also many smaller islands, such as the Ryukyu Islands, which include Okinawa. Japan has 47 prefectures. The total land area of Japan is approximately 378,000 square kilometers. The country is very mountainous, with many active volcanoes and hot springs. The highest point is Mount Fuji, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Japan has a diverse climate, ranging from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south. The country is also known for its heavy rainfall, particularly in the west. The capital, and largest city, is Tokyo. Japan is divided into eight major regions (plus Okinawa), each with its own unique culture, history, and geography. These regions are as follows:
Hokkaido: The northernmost of the four main islands, Hokkaido is known for its natural beauty, including mountains, forests, and lakes. It is also a main center of agriculture and fishing in Japan. Hokkaido is the most sparsely populated region in Japan, and also the coldest prefecture in Japan. It is a popular vacation getaway for campers, cyclists, motorcyclists and hikers in the summer months, and for skiers and snowboarders in the colder months.
Tohoku: This region includes the northern part of Honshu and is known for its rugged and mountainous terrain, as well as its many high-quality hot springs. Tohoku experiences very cold winters. The Japan Sea western side receives more snow than the Pacific Ocean side. This Pacific coast was devastated by the 2011 earthquake and resulting tsunami, however most of the towns on the east coast have now largely been rebuilt since the earthquake. This region has a strong tradition of agriculture and fishing.
Kanto: This region includes the Tokyo metropolitan area and is the most populous region in Japan. 30% of Japan’s population lives in Greater Tokyo, which is essentially the whole of the Kanto plain. The Kanto region is a major center of industry, transportation, and culture, and is the biggest driver of Japan’s GDP.
Chubu: This region includes the central part of Honshu and is known for its varied geography, including mountains, lakes, rivers and coastal areas. The northern and southern Japan Alps are located in this region. Most of Japan’s best ski resorts are located here (besides the ski areas of Hokkaido). Being the region lodged between the two main population centers of Kanto and Kansai, this region is steeped in history.
Kansai: This region includes the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe and is well-known for its rich history and culture, including traditional architecture and gardens.
Chugoku: This region includes the south-western part of Honshu and is known for its beautiful coastlines and mountainous terrain. The southern side of the Chugoku region, on the Seto Inland Sea, is protected by the mountains of central Chugoku region, and thus has a drier and more Mediterranean-like climate. The Pacific coast side is more sparsely populated and receives much more rainfall, and much more snow in the winter months. The Seto Inland Sea coastal region is home to a lot of industry. The shinakansen bullet train passes through the southern part of this region, servicing the majority of Chugoku’s population.
Shikoku: This region is the smallest of the four main islands and is known for its natural beauty, as well as its historic temples and shrines. Shikoku is home to the 88-temple pilgrimage, which many Japanese try to accomplish once at least in a lifetime. The aim is to visit by foot, bicycle or even by bus each of the 88 sacred temples of Shikoku. When visiting this region, you will likely see by the roadside, many pilgrims wearing woven bamboo hats called ‘kasa’ and carrying walking sticks. Three bridges now connect Shikoku with the main island of Honshu. A number of ferry routes also connect Shikoku to Honshu, and also Kyushu to the southwest.
Kyushu: This region includes the southernmost of the four main islands and is known for its warm climate and beautiful beaches and bays. It is also a center of industry, transportation, and agriculture. The city of Nagasaki is located here, and was the first port to open and trade with the West. Kyushu was home to Japan’s Christian community, up until Japan’s isolationist Edo period. Kyushu is also home to most of Japan’s active volcanoes and as a result is also one of Japan’s best places for experiencing a true onsen ‘hot spring’ experience.
Major cities
Below are the top twelve cities in Japan, by population size…
- Tokyo: 8.34 million
- Yokohama: 3.57 million
- Osaka: 2.75 million
- Nagoya: 2.19 million
- Sapporo: 1.88 million
- Kobe: 1.53 million
- Kyoto: 1.46 million
- Fukuoka: 1.39 million
- Kawasaki: 1.31 million
- Saitama: 1.19 million
- Hiroshima: 1.14 million
- Sendai: 1.1 million
Lakes
Japan has many lakes, some of which are well-known and popular tourist destinations.
- Lake Kawaguchi: Located at the base of Mount Fuji, this lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan and offers beautiful views of the mountain.
- Lake Ashi: Located in the Hakone region of Kanagawa, this lake is known for its beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, as well as its hot springs and onsen resorts.
- Lake Biwa: The largest lake in Japan, located in the Kansai region, it is a popular destination for boating and fishing.
- Lake Toya: Located in Hokkaido, this lake is surrounded by beautiful mountainous terrain and is known for its hot springs and onsen resorts.
- Lake Tazawa: Located in Akita prefecture in the Tohoku region, it is the deepest lake in Japan and is known for its crystal clear waters.
- Lake Shikotsu: Located in Hokkaido, it is a caldera lake, and due to its depth does not freeze, unlike most of Hokkaido’s lakes.
Rivers
Due to the fact that Japan is such a mountainous country, and nowhere is more than 150km from the ocean, it goes without saying that Japan’s rivers are relatively short, and most are very fast-flowing. Almost all of Japan’s rivers have been dammed, for both water storage and electricity generation. Japan’s three largest rivers are the Shinano-gawa (running through Nagano and Niigata, and is Japan’s longest river), the Tone-gawa (running through northern Kanto), and Ishikari-gawa (the longest river in Hokkaido).
Mountains, volcanoes, and onsen
73% of Japan’s geography is considered mountainous, which is one of the major reasons why Japan is so crowded. 125 million people are all trying to live on the 27% of Japan landmass that is relatively flat and hospitable. This is also why Japan is an importer of most of its food. There simply isn’t enough flat arable land to sustain its population.
One upside to all these mountains however, is that Japan has some of the best hiking trails and some of the best ski runs in the world. The Japan Alps, as mentioned above, is a popular place for hiking and skiing, and Hokkaido’s Niseko, Furano, and Daisetzan National Park are some other favorites up north.
Japan has 34 official national parks; 5 of which are officially UNESCO heritage-listed:
- Yakushima island (1993): an island south of Kyushu
- Shirakami-Sanchi (1993): beech forest on northern Honshu
- Shiretoko Peninsula (2005): north-eastern Hokkaido
- Ogasawara Island (2011): 1000km south of Tokyo
- Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern Okinawa, and Iriomote Island (2021): all of these are islands south of Kyushu
*In addition to these 34, there are hundreds of other quasi-national parks.
Natural disasters in Japan
Japan is notorious for its natural disasters. Even though considered one of the safest places on the planet for a vacation, due to the hospitality of its people, and its low rate of crime, it regularly comes up as the most dangerous place on the planet to live. This is due to its unfortunate geographic location.
Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its high volcanic and seismic activity. The island nation is situated on the boundary of several tectonic plates, including the Pacific, Philippine, and Eurasian plates. The meeting of all these plates is the reason for the formation of Japan’s many volcanoes, as well as its frequent earthquakes. Japan is in fact home to 13% of all of the world’s active volcanoes.
Whenever you have earthquakes, you have the likelihood of tsunamis as well. Japan has been devastated many times over the centuries by tsunamis which have rolled across the Pacific, particularly, and struck Japan. Minor earthquakes in Japan are almost a daily occurrence, however the last major earthquake to hit Japan was on March 11th, 2011. This was one of the first natural disasters to be broadcast live across the planet. 45 minutes after the earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima, a huge tsunami hit the north-easterly coastline of Tohoku. Towns were devastated, and reconstruction is still ongoing.
Typhoons, and the flooding and landslides that typhoons bring with them, are another major issue for Japan. Typhoon season starts in early summer and finishes in late October. These typhoons build strength over the warm waters of the Pacific ocean, and then generally hit the regions of Okinawa and Kyushu, bringing strong winds and large amounts of rainfall. These typhoons generally move slowly over the southern Japan regions, dropping huge amounts of water and causing havoc for Kyushu in particular, in the form of floods and landslides. As summer gives way to fall, the typhoons tend to make their way further north, often hitting the main island of Honshu. By the time these typhoons reach Hokkaido, they are generally downgraded to strong storms.
