Japan is an island nation in East Asia, situated in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of the Asian mainland. It is known for its rich blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology, from centuries-old temples to bullet trains. The country consists of four main islands — Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku — along with thousands of smaller ones.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Eastern Asia
- Area
- 377,930 km²
- Coordinates
- 36° N, 138° E
Country facts
- Japan has the world's oldest continuous monarchy, with the imperial family tracing its lineage back over 1,500 years.
- The Japanese writing system uses three scripts — hiragana, katakana, and kanji — often combined in a single sentence.
- Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,776 metres, is an active stratovolcano and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes each year due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- The traditional art of origami, the folding of paper into decorative shapes, originated in Japan and remains widely practiced today.
Capital facts
- Tokyo was originally a small fishing village called Edo before it became Japan's political center in the 17th century.
- The city officially became the imperial capital in 1869, when Emperor Meiji relocated the court there from Kyoto.
- Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing is one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world, with thousands of people crossing at once.
- The Tokyo Skytree, standing at 634 metres, is a broadcasting tower and one of the tallest structures in the world.
- Tokyo's extensive metro network is renowned for its punctuality, carrying millions of passengers efficiently every day.