Map of Japan

Where is Japan? • Japanese Travel and Tourism

Japan is an island archipelago nation located in eastern Asia. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan and South Korea to the west, by Russia to the north, by the North Pacific Ocean to the east, and by the Philippine Sea to the south. Japan's total area is 145,883 square miles, and its total coastline in 18,486 miles. Its largest islands include Hokkaido in the north, Honshu in the center, and Shikoku and Kyushu in the south. Thousands of small islands, the Ryukyu island chain among them, make up the rest of the country. Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, is located on the principal island of Honshu.

Japan Map > Relief Map of Japan • Japan Travel Destinations

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Geography of Japan

Japan's topography has been made very interesting by complex folding and faulting patterns. Because of this, you can find small basins and coastal lowlands alternating with mountains and treed hills. The landform patterns have also been affected by volcanic cones and calderas. Today, Japan has about 150 volcanoes, 60 of which are still active. Fuji-san, the highest mountain in Japan, is a dormant volcano that hasn't erupted since 1707. Most people in Japan live on the coastal plains, and the mountainous regions are sparsely populated.

In addition to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and small tsunamis are common because Japan sits atop continental plates that are constantly shifting and moving. The complex land patterns also affect Japan's wind and weather patterns, which can be turbulent and unpredictable.

Japan's Climate

Japan's latitude stretches from 25 degrees North to 45 degrees North, so the climate varies widely in Japan. The north has cold, snowy winters, with temperatures sometimes falling close to zero degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are warm, with temperatures commonly reaching almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. While rain falls in all seasons, Tokyo has more rainfall and higher temperatures than the southern islands.

Leading Japanese Cities

The energetic city of Tokyo bustles with a fast-paced consumer culture, contrasted by traditional quiet and calm themes. Osaka, a down-to-earth industrial city situated on the southwest coast of Honshu island, features an active and important port, hearty cuisine, and a variety of tourist attractions. Kyoto, located in southwestern Honshu, was the imperial capital for over 1,000 years, and it is the cultural center of Japan.

Japan Travel Information

Tokyo is the world's largest city, with a 2005 estimated population of 35,327,000. The Tokyo National Museum displays Japanese art, and on Hokkaido island, visitors enjoy the rugged Daisetsuzan National Park. Japan is home to the sobering historical sites of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where atomic bombs exploded during World War II. At 12,388 feet high, Japan's tallest elevation is the volcanic Mount Fuji, which many Japanese people view as a sacred place. For more extensive information about Japan, visit Web Japan.

Japanese Tourism

Japan National Tourist Organization - Japanese government site providing information for online budget hotel reservations, regional guides, convention locations, museums and important starting information.

Japan Resources

CIA - The World Factbook - Japan - US Government almanac offers maps, geography and statistics for Japan.
Japan in the Yahoo! Directory - Features government, tourist, art and other sites from Japan.
Wikipedia - Japan - This free online encyclopedia includes information about Japanese history and the regions and geography of Japan.

Japan News

Japan envoy wins UN nuclear post
Japanese envoy Yukiya Amano is elected the next director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, diplomats say.
BBC News. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:23:08 GMT.
North Korea Launches Test Missiles
Each missile flew about 60 miles before splashing into the sea between North Korea and Japan.
U. S. News & World Report. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:09:00 -0400.
Japan's Amano is IAEA pick
VIENNA - JAPANESE candidate Yukiya Amano said on Thursday he was 'very pleased' after he won the race to head the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Straits Times. 2 Jul 2009 15:02 GMT.
Asia Awaits U.S. Jobs Data
Tokyo shares traded flat in the morning. Hitachi gained on production plans; Toyota slid on U.S. sales.
Forbes. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:38:57 GMT.
Japanese official chosen to head UN atomic watchdog
A Japanese diplomat with a lengthy record of working on disarmament and non-proliferation issues will be the next chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog after winning a secret ballot today against two other candidates.
UN News Centre. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST.

Related Asia Map Sites

Map of China - Chinese travel information.
Map of Russia - Russian travel information.