Geography of Japan
Continent	Asia
Region	East Asia
Coordinates	36°00′N 138°00′E / 36, 138
Area	Ranked 62nd 377,923.14 km² (145,916.9 sq mi) 99.18% land 0.82% water
Borders	0 km
Highest point	Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Lowest point	Hachirō-gata -4 m
Longest river	Shinano River 367 km
Largest lake	Lake Biwa 670 km²

Japan is an island nation in East Asia comprising a large stratovolcanic archipelago extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. Measured from the geographic coordinate system, Japan is 36° north of the equator and 138° east of the Prime Meridian. The country is north-northeast of China and Taiwan (separated by the East China Sea) and slightly east of Korea (separated by the Sea of Japan). The country is south of Siberia in Russia. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... This article is about the geographical region. ... Countries by area. ... Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: )   is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Shinano River (信濃川 Shinanogawa) is a river which flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture in Japan. ... Lake Biwa ), formerly known as ÅŒmi Lake, is the largest fresh water lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. ... An island nation is a country that is wholly confined to an island or islands. ... This article is about the geographical region. ... A cutaway diagram of a stratovolcano Mount St. ... The Mergui Archipelago The Archipelago Sea, situated between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands. ... Pacific redirects here. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... This article is about longitude and latitude; see also UTM coordinate system Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically); large version (pdf) The geographic (earth-mapping) coordinate system expresses every horizontal position on Earth by two of the three coordinates of a spherical coordinate system which... World map showing the equator in red For other uses, see Equator (disambiguation). ... Location of the Prime Meridian Image:Prime Meridian. ... For other uses, see East Sea (Chinese mythology). ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ... The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. ... This article is about Siberia as a whole. ...

The main islands, sometimes called the "Home Islands", are (from north to south) Hokkaidō, Honshū (the "mainland"), Shikoku and Kyūshū. There are also about 3,000 smaller islands, including Okinawa, and islets, some inhabited and others uninhabited. In total, as of 2006, Japan's territory is 377,923.1 km², of which 374,834 km² is land and 3,091 km² water. This makes Japan's total area slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Montana. Japan is bigger than Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and the U.K., and is 1.7 times the size of Korea and 10 times the size of Taiwan.   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the geomorphological/geopolitical term; MAINLAND is also a cheese brand owned by Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy company. ... This article is about the island. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Okinawa Island heads up the Ryukyu islands chain, a part of Japan. ... Mōkōlea Rock in Kailua Bay, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, 2. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. State. ... “UK” redirects here. ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ...

Statistics

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula. The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. ... This article is about the Korean Peninsula. ...

Geographic coordinates: 35°41′N, 139°46′E

Map references: Asia For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ...

Area:

• total: 377,835 km²
• land: 374,744 km²
• water: 3,091 km²
• notes: Includes the Bonin Islands, Daitō-shotō, Marcus Island, Okino-tori-shima, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Volcano Islands. Ownership of the Liancourt Rocks (Japanese:Takeshima, Korean:Dokdo) is in dispute.

Area comparative: slightly smaller than California, USA A map of the Ogasawara Islands south of Japan The Ogasawara Islands ) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical islands some 1,000 km directly south of central Tokyo, Japan. ... Daito Islands (大東諸島 Daitō Shotō) are three eastern islands of Okinawa Islands. ... Minami Torishima (南鳥島) or Marcus Island is a very small isolated island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located at latitude 24°18′ N and longitude 153°58′ E. It is only 1 sq km in size. ... Okino Torishima (沖ノ鳥島), formerly called Parece Vela (Spanish for it looks like a sail) is the southernmost island of Japan, at 22°49′ N 136°07′ E, 1 740 km south of Tokyo. ... Location of Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Islands, in Japanese called the Nansei Islands ) are a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific Ocean at the eastern limit of the East China Sea. ... The Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical islands some 1000 km directly south of central Tokyo, Japan. ... Dokdo redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 29,751 km (18,486 mi)

Maritime claims:

• exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km) (230 mi)
• territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)(14 mi); between 3 and 12 nautical miles (6 and 22 km)(4 and 14 mi) in the international straits—La Perouse or Sōya Strait, Tsugaru Strait, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait.

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. ... La Pérouse Strait (Japanese: Sōya Strait 宗谷海峡) is a strait dividing the southern part of the Russian island of Sakhalin from the northern part of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, and connecting the Sea of Japan on the west with the Sea of Okhotsk on the east. ... La Pérouse Strait (Japanese: Soya Strait) is a strait dividing the southern part of the Russian island of Sakhalin from the northern part of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, and connecting the Sea of Japan on the west with the Sea of Okhotsk on the east. ... Tsugaru Peninsula and Tsugaru Strait Tsugaru Strait (津軽海峡 Tsugaru Kaikyō) is a channel between HonshÅ« and Hokkaidō in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. ... The Tsushima Strait is the eastern channel of the Korea Strait Tsushima Strait (対馬海峡, also known in Western historical reference works as the Tsu Shima Strait or Tsu-Shima Strait) is that part of the Korea Strait located east and south of the Tsushima Islands. ...

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous

Natural resources: negligible coal, oil, iron resources, fish, and mineral resources

Land use:

• arable land: 11%
• permanent crops: 1%
• permanent pastures: 2%
• forests and woodland: 67%
• other: 19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 27,820 km² (1993 est.) 73% of Japan is mountains.

Composition, topography, and drainage

Topographic map

Map of Japan

About 73% of Japan is mountainous, with a mountain range running through each of the main islands. Japan's highest mountain is Mt. Fuji, with an elevation of 3776 m (12,388 ft). Since so very little flat area exists, many hills and mountainsides are cultivated all the way to the top. As Japan is situated in a volcanic zone along the Pacific deeps, frequent low-intensity earth tremors and occasional volcanic activity are felt throughout the islands. Destructive earthquakes occur several times a century. Hot springs are numerous and have been exploited as an economic capital by the leisure industry. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1400x1498, 558 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1400x1498, 558 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Ja-map. ... Image File history File links Ja-map. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... For exotic financial options, see Mountain range (options). ... Mount Fuji (富士山 Fuji-san, IPA: [ɸuʝisaɴ]) is the highest mountain on the island of Honshu and indeed in all of Japan. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... Pacific redirects here. ... This article is about the natural seismic phenomenon. ... Green Dragon Spring at Norris Geyser A hot spring is a place where warm or hot groundwater issues from the ground on a regular basis for at least a predictable part of the year, and is significantly above the ambient ground temperature (which is usually around 55~57 F or... Capital has a number of related meanings in economics, finance and accounting. ...

The mountainous islands of the Japanese Archipelago form a crescent off the eastern coast of Asia. They are separated from the mainland by the Sea of Japan, which historically served as a protective barrier. The country consists of four principal islands: Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū; more than 3,000 adjacent islands and islets, including Oshima in the Nampo Chain; and more than 200 other smaller islands, including those of the Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima chains of the Ryukyu Islands. The national territory also includes the small Bonin or Ogasawara Islands, which include Iwo Jima and the Volcano Islands (Kazan Retto), stretching some 1,100 kilometers from the main islands. A territorial dispute with Russia, dating from the end of World War II, over the two southernmost of the Kuril Islands, Etorofu (Iturup) and Kunashiri, and the smaller Shikotan and Habomai Islands northeast of Hokkaidō remains a sensitive spot in Japanese-Russian relations as of 2005. Excluding disputed territory, the archipelago covers about 377,000 square kilometers. No point in Japan is more than 150 kilometers from the sea. The Japanese Archipelago which forms the country of Japan extends from north to south along the eastern coast of the Eurasian Continent, the western shore of the Pacific Ocean. ... The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the island. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Oshima ( Japanese: 大島) is the name of several places in Japan. ... The Amami Islands amami shotō) are part of the Ryukyu Archipelago. ... Okinawa Island heads up the Ryukyu islands chain, a part of Japan. ... The Sakishima Islands (先島諸島 Sakishima shotō) are an island chain located at the south end of the Japanese Archipelago. ... Location of Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Islands, in Japanese called the Nansei Islands ) are a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific Ocean at the eastern limit of the East China Sea. ... A map of the Ogasawara Islands south of Japan The Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical islands some 1,000 km directly south of central Tokyo, Japan. ... For other uses, see Iwo Jima (disambiguation). ... The Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical islands some 1000 km directly south of central Tokyo, Japan. ... For the political history of the sovereignty conflict, see Kuril Islands dispute. ... Iturup (Russian Итуруп; Ainu エト・オロ・プ; Japanese 択捉島, Etorofu) is the largest island of the Kuriles, located in the Sakhalin Oblast of Russia. ... Kunashir Island (Кунашир (Kunashir) in Russian, 国後島:Kunashiri in Japanese, Black Island in Ainu language) is the southernmost island in the Kuril chain in Russias Sakhalin Oblast. ... Shikotan (色丹島) (Shikotan in Japanese, Шикотан in Russian), one of the bigger islands of the Kuril Islands, located in the Sakhalin Oblast of Russia. ... The Hobomai Rocks (Russian: Хабомай (Khabomai), Japanese: ??? (Habomai)) are a group of islets in the very south end of the Kuril Islands. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... The relations between the modern Russia and Japan are a natural continuation of the Japanese-Soviet relations from the period when Russia was part of the Soviet Union. ...

The four major islands are separated by narrow straits and form a natural entity. The Ryukyu Islands curve 970 kilometers southward from Kyūshū.

The distance between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, the nearest point on the Asian continent, is about 200 kilometers at the Korea Strait. Japan has always been linked with the continent through trade routes, stretching in the north toward Siberia, in the west through the Tsushima Islands to the Korean Peninsula, and in the south to the ports on the south China coast. This article is about the Korean Peninsula. ... The Korea Strait is a sea passage between South Korea and Japan, connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in the northwest Pacific Ocean. ... This article is about Siberia as a whole. ... Tsushima Island (対馬 Tsushima) is an island in Japan, situated in the Tsushima Strait at 34°25N and 129°20E.[1] It is the largest island of the Nagasaki Prefecture. ...

The Japanese islands are the summits of mountain ridges uplifted near the outer edge of the continental shelf. About 73 percent of Japan's area is mountainous, and scattered plains and intermontane basins (in which the population is concentrated) cover only about 25 percent. A long chain of mountains runs down the middle of the archipelago, dividing it into two halves, the "face," fronting on the Pacific Ocean, and the "back," toward the Sea of Japan. On the Pacific side are steep mountains 1,500 to 3,000 meters high, with deep valleys and gorges. Central Japan is marked by the convergence of the three mountain chains—the Hida, Kiso, and Akaishi mountains—that form the Japanese Alps (Nihon Arupusu), several of whose peaks are higher than 3,000 meters. The highest point in the Japanese Alps is Mount Kita at 3,193 meters. The highest point in the country is Mount Fuji (Fujisan, also erroneously called Fujiyama), a volcano dormant since 1707 that rises to 3,776 meters above sea level in Shizuoka Prefecture. On the Sea of Japan side are plateaus and low mountain districts, with altitudes of 500 to 1,500 meters.  Sediment  Rock  Mantle  The global continental shelf, highlighted in cyan The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain, which is covered during interglacial periods such as the current epoch by relatively shallow seas (known as shelf seas) and gulfs. ... Hida Mountains, also called as Northern Alps of Japan, is a mountain range of Japan, extending on the border of Nagano, Toyama and Gifu Prefectures. ... The Kiso Mountains between Nagoya and Naoetsu Kiso Mountains ), or Central Alps ), is a Japanese mountain range in Nagano Prefecture. ... Akaishi Mountains (赤石山脈), also called as the Southern Alps of Japan, is a mountain range of central Honshu, Japan, extending on the border of Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures. ... Shirouma peaks (Hida Mountains) Tateyama peaks (Hida Mountains) Lake Hakuba The Kiso Mountains between Nagoya and Naoetsu The Japanese Alps is a mountain range in Japan that bisects the main island of Honshu. ... Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: )   is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). ... Shizuoka Prefecture ) is located in the ChÅ«bu region on HonshÅ« island, Japan. ...

None of the populated plains or mountain basins are extensive in area. The largest, the Kanto Plain, where Tokyo is situated, covers only 13,000 square kilometers. Other important plains are the Nōbi Plain surrounding Nagoya, the Kinki Plain in the Osaka-Kyoto area, the Sendai Plain around the city of Sendai in northeastern Honshū, and the Ishikari Plain on Hokkaidō. Many of these plains are along the coast, and their areas have been increased by reclamation throughout recorded history. This article or section should be merged with Kanto region The Kanto plain is the relatively flat region of Japan where Tokyo is located. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Nagoya ) is the fourth largest city in Japan. ... For other uses, see Osaka (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Kyoto (disambiguation). ... Sendai ) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku (northeast) region. ...

The small amount of habitable land has prompted significant human modification of the terrain over many centuries. Land was reclaimed from the sea and from river deltas by building dikes and drainage, and rice paddies were built on terraces carved into mountainsides. The process continued in the modern period with extension of shorelines and building of artificial islands for industrial and port development, such as Port Island in Kobe and the new Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay. Hills and even mountains have been razed to provide flat areas for housing. Afsluitdijk, a 32 km dike in the Netherlands. ... KIX redirects here. ...

Rivers are generally steep and swift, and few are suitable for navigation except in their lower reaches. Most rivers are fewer than 300 kilometers in length, but their rapid flow from the mountains provides a valuable, renewable resource: hydroelectric power generation. Japan's hydroelectric power potential has been exploited almost to capacity. Seasonal variations in flow have led to extensive development of flood control measures. Most of the rivers are very short. The longest, the Shinano River, which winds through Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture and flows into the Sea of Japan, is only 367 kilometers long. The largest freshwater lake is Lake Biwa, northeast of Kyoto. Hydroelectricity is electricity produced by hydropower. ... The Shinano River (信濃川 Shinanogawa) is a river which flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture in Japan. ... Nagano Prefecture (長野県; Nagano-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ... Niigata Prefecture ) is located on Honshū island on the coast of the Sea of Japan. ... Lake Biwa ), formerly known as Ōmi Lake, is the largest fresh water lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. ...

Extensive coastal shipping, especially around the Inland Sea (Seto Naikai), compensates for the lack of navigable rivers. The Pacific coastline south of Tokyo is characterized by long, narrow, gradually shallowing inlets produced by sedimentation, which has created many natural harbors. The Pacific coastline north of Tokyo, the coast of Hokkaidō, and the Sea of Japan coast are generally unindented, with few natural harbors. An inland sea is a shallow sea that covers central areas of continents during high stands of sea level that result in marine transgressions. ...

Climate

Satellite image of Hokkaidō in January

Mount Fuji with a Shinkansen and Sakura blossoms in Shizuoka prefecture, in May

Mount Yari, Nagano Prefecture in August

Beach in Minnnajima, Okinawa in September

Japan belongs to the temperate zone with four distinct seasons, but its climate varies from cool temperate in the north to subtropical in the south. The climate is also affected by the seasonal winds that blow from the continent to the ocean in winters and vice versa in summers. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2200x2800, 1781 KB) Satellite image of Hokkaido, Japan in January 2003. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2200x2800, 1781 KB) Satellite image of Hokkaido, Japan in January 2003. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (872x608, 89 KB) Summary self made Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (872x608, 89 KB) Summary self made Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: )   is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). ... For the record label, see Shinkansen Records. ... This article is about cherry blossoms and their cultural significance to the Japanese. ... Shizuoka Prefecture ) is located in the ChÅ«bu region on HonshÅ« island, Japan. ... Nagano Prefecture (長野県; Nagano-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ... This article is about the prefecture. ...

Japan is generally a rainy country with high humidity. Because of its wide range of latitude, Japan has a variety of climates, with a range often compared to that of the east coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Tokyo is at about 35 north latitude, comparable to that of Tehran, Athens, or Las Vegas. The generally humid, temperate climate exhibits marked seasonal variation celebrated in art and literature, as well as regional variations ranging from cool in Hokkaidō to subtropical in Kyūshū. Climate also varies with altitude and with location on the Pacific Ocean or on the Sea of Japan. Northern Japan has warm summers but long, cold winters with heavy snow. Central Japan has hot, humid summers and short winters, and southwestern Japan has long, hot, humid summers and mild winters. North American redirects here. ... Motto: Munit Hae et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Largest metro Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto), French Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Tehran (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Bronze statue of Amida Buddha at Kotokuin in Kamakura (1252 A.D.) Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink painting on silk and paper, and a myriad of other types of works of art. ... Japanese literature spans a period of almost two millennia. ...

Two primary factors influence Japan's climate: a location near the Asian continent and the existence of major oceanic currents. The climate from June to September is marked by hot, wet weather brought by tropical airflows from the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. These airflows are full of moisture and deposit substantial amounts of rain when they reach land. There is a marked rainy season, beginning in early June and continuing for about a month. It is followed by hot, sticky weather. Five or six typhoons pass over or near Japan every year from early August to early September, sometimes resulting in significant damage. Annual precipitation, which averages between 100 and 200 centimeters (39–78 inches), is concentrated in the period between June and September. In fact, 70 to 80 percent of the annual precipitation falls during this period. In winter, a high-pressure area develops over Siberia, and a low-pressure area develops over the northern Pacific Ocean. The result is a flow of cold air eastward across Japan that brings freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls to the central mountain ranges facing the Sea of Japan, but clear skies to areas fronting on the Pacific. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Ocean currents (1911) Ocean currents (1943) An ocean current is any more or less continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one of the Earths oceans. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ...

Two major ocean currents affect this climatic pattern: the warm Kuroshio Current (Black Current; also known as the Japan Current); and the cold Oyashio Current (Parent Current; also known as the Okhotsk Current). The Kuroshio Current flows northward on the Pacific side of Japan and warms areas as far north as Tokyo; a small branch, the Tsushima Current, flows up the Sea of Japan side. The Oyashio Current, which abounds in plankton beneficial to coldwater fish, flows southward along the northern Pacific, cooling adjacent coastal areas. The meeting point of these currents at 36 north latitude is a bountiful fishing ground. The Kuroshio Current is an ocean current found in the western Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Taiwan and flowing northeastward past Japan, where it merges with the easterly drift of the North Pacific Current. ... The Kuroshio Current is an ocean current found in the western Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Taiwan and flowing northeastward past Japan, where it merges with the easterly drift of the North Pacific Current. ... This article is about the real-life under-sea organisms. ...

Late June and early July are a rainy season—except in Hokkaidō—as a seasonal rain front or baiu zensen (梅雨前線, baiu zensen^?) stays above Japan. In summer and early autumn, typhoons, grown from tropical depressions generated near the equator, attack Japan with furious rainstorms. The East Asian rainy season (梅雨), pronounced meiyu in Chinese and tsuyu or (less commonly) baiu in Japanese, refers to the frontal precipitation caused by the mei-yu front, a persistent east-west zone of disturbed weather during spring which is quasi-stationary and stretches from the east China coast, across...

Its varied geographical features divide Japan into six principal climatic zones.

• Hokkaidō (北海道, Hokkaidō^?): Belonging to the cool temperate zone, Hokkaidō has long, cold winters and cool summers. Precipitation is not great.

• Sea of Japan (日本海, Nihonkai^?): The northwest seasonal wind in winter gives heavy snowfalls. In summer it is less hot than in the Pacific area but sometimes experiences extreme high temperatures due to the Föhn wind phenomenon.

• Central Highland (中央高地, Chūō-kōchi^?): A typical inland climate gives large temperature differences between summers and winters and between days and nights. Precipitation is not large throughout the year.

• Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海, Setonaikai^?): The mountains in the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions block the seasonal winds and bring mild climate and many fine days throughout the year.

• Pacific Ocean (太平洋, Taiheiyō^?): Winters are cold, with little snowfall, and summers are hot and humid due to the southeast seasonal wind.

• Southwest Islands (南西諸島, Nansei-shotō^?): This zone has a subtropical climate with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very high, and is especially affected by the rainy season and typhoons.

The warmest winter temperatures are found in the Nampo and Bonin Islands, which enjoy a tropical climate due to the combination of latitude, distance from the Asian mainland, and warming effect of winds from the Kuroshio, as well as the Volcano Islands (at the latitude of the southernmost Ryūkyūs, 24° N.).   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. ... A föhn wind or foehn wind occurs when a deep layer of prevailing wind is forced over a mountain range (Orographic lifting). ... The Central Highland ) (or Koshin Region )) is a region of Japan comprising most of Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefectures, as well as Hida Block and Tōnō Block of Gifu Prefecture. ... An inland sea is a shallow sea that covers central areas of continents during high stands of sea level that result in marine transgressions. ... Location of Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Islands, in Japanese called the Nansei Islands ) are a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific Ocean at the eastern limit of the East China Sea. ...

As an island nation, Japan has a long coastline. A few prefectures are landlocked: Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Nagano, Yamanashi, Gifu, Shiga, and Nara. As Mt. Fuji provides rain shadow effects in Yamanashi it has the least rainfall in Japan, which still excesses 1000 mm annually. The others all have coasts on the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, Seto Inland Sea or have a body of salt water connected to them. Two prefectures—Hokkaidō and Okinawa—are composed entirely of islands. Gunma redirects here. ... Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県 Tochigi-ken) is a located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan. ... Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県; Saitama-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ... Nagano Prefecture (長野県; Nagano-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ... Map of Yamanashi Prefecture. ... Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県 Gifu-ken), is located in the Chubu region of central Japan. ... Shiga Prefecture from outer space. ... Nara Prefecture ) is a prefecture in the Kinki region on HonshÅ« Island, Japan. ... Mount Fuji (富士山 Fuji-san, IPA: [ɸuʝisaɴ]) is the highest mountain on the island of Honshu and indeed in all of Japan. ... Hokkaidō   (北海道, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island and largest prefecture of Japan. ... Okinawa redirects here. ...

The hottest temperature ever measured in Japan—40.9 degrees Celsius—occurred in Tajimi, Gifu on August 16, 2007.^[1] Tajimi (多治見市; -shi) is a city located in Gifu, Japan. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Environmental protection

Main article: Environmental issues in Japan

Environment - current issues: In the 2006 environment annual report,^[2] the Ministry of Environment reported that current major issues are global warming and preservation of the ozone layer, conservation of the atmospheric environment, water and soil, waste management and recycling, measures for chemical substances, conservation of the natural environment and the participation in the international cooperation. Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ... The ozone layer is a layer in Earths atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). ... For the company, see Waste Management, Inc. ... The international recycling symbol. ...

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes (Basel Convention), Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection (Montreal Protocol), Ship Pollution (MARPOL 73/78), Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), Whaling
signed and ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, also known as the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. ... The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earths only continent without a native population. ... The Convention on Biological Diversity, known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international treaty that was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. ... UNFCCC logo. ... The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification opened for signature - December 10, 1976 entered into force - October 5, 1978 objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations parties - (66) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria... The Basel Convention (verbose: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal) is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent dumping of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). ... United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Opened for signature December 10, 1982 in Montego Bay (Jamaica) Entered into force November 16, 1994[1] Conditions for entry into force 60 ratifications Parties 149[2] For maritime law in general see Admiralty law. ... Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping opened for signature - 29 December 1972 entered into force - 30 August 1975 objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention... Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Opened for signature September 10, 1996[1] in New York Entered into force Not yet in force Conditions for entry into force The treaty will enter into force 180 days after it is ratified by all of the following 44 (Annex 2) countries: Algeria, Argentina... The largest Antarctic ozone hole recorded as of September 2006 For other similarly-named agreements, see Montreal Convention (disambiguation). ... Ship Pollution is an abbreviated form of the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973. ... note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83 opened for signature - November 18, 1983 entered into force - April 1, 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force. ... note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature - January 26, 1994 entered into force - January 1, 1997 objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to... The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i. ... The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling is an international agreement (see environmental agreement) signed in 1946 designed to make whaling sustainable. ... The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. ...

Natural hazards

Ten percent of the world's active volcanoes—forty in the early 1990s (another 148 were dormant)—are found in Japan, which lies in a zone of extreme crustal instability. As many as 1,500 earthquakes are recorded yearly, and magnitudes of four to six on the Richter scale are not uncommon. Minor tremors occur almost daily in one part of the country or another, causing slight shaking of buildings. Major earthquakes occur infrequently; the most famous in the twentieth century was the great Kantō earthquake of 1923, in which 130,000 people died. Undersea earthquakes also expose the Japanese coastline to danger from tsunami (津波, tsunami^?), tidal wave. Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska photographed from the International Space Station For other uses, see Volcano (disambiguation). ... This article is about the natural seismic phenomenon. ... The Richter magnitude scale, or more correctly local magnitude ML scale, assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. ... Great Kanto Earthquake The Great Kanto Earthquake (関東大震災 Kantō daishinsai) struck the Kanto plain on the Japanese main island of Honshu at 11:58 on the morning of September 1, 1923. ... For other uses, see Tsunami (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Tsunami (disambiguation). ...

Japan has become a world leader in research on causes and prediction of earthquakes. The development of advanced technology has permitted the construction of skyscrapers even in earthquake-prone areas. Extensive civil defense efforts focus on training in protection against earthquakes, in particular against accompanying fire, which represents the greatest danger. For other uses, see Skyscraper (disambiguation). ...

Another common hazard are typhoons (台風, taifū^?) that reach Japan from the Pacific. This article is about weather phenomena. ...

Regions

Main article: Regions of Japan

Japan is informally divided into eight regions. Each contains several prefectures, except the Hokkaidō region, which covers only Hokkaidō Prefecture. Map of the regions of Japan. ... The prefectures of Japan are the countrys 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one metropolis (都 to), Tokyo; one circuit (道 dō), Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures (府 fu), Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures (県 ken). ... The term prefecture (from the Latin Praefectura) indicates the office, seat, territorial circonscription of a Prefect. ...

The region is not an official administrative unit, but has been traditionally used as the regional division of Japan in a number of contexts: for example, maps and geography textbooks divide Japan into the eight regions, weather reports usually give the weather by region, and many businesses and institutions use their home region as part of their name (Kinki Nippon Railway, Chūgoku Bank, Tohoku University, etc.). While Japan has eight High Courts, their jurisdictions do not correspond to the eight regions. The Kintetsu Corporation (近畿日本鉄道株式会社 Kinki Nippon Tetsudō Kabushiki Gaisha), better known as Kintetsu (近鉄), is Japanese largest private railway company. ... This article is Tohoku University in Japan. ...

Extreme points

Main article: Extreme points of Japan

This is a list of the extreme points of Japan, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Irizaki, Westernmost point This is a list of the extreme points of Japan, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. ...

Japan

• Northernmost point
  • Cape Soya, Wakkanai, Hokkaidō – 45°31'N, 141°56'E
  • Including land currently disputed with Russia: Cape Kamuiwakka (カムイワッカ岬, Kamuiwakka-misaki^?)), Iturup – 45°33'N, 148°45'E
• Southernmost point: Okino Torishima – 20°25'N, 136°04'E
• Westernmost point: Yonaguni – 24°27′N, 122°59′E
• Easternmost point: Minami Torishima – 24°18′N, 153°58′E

Cape Soya, also known as Soya Misaki, is Japans northernmost point. ... The location of Wakkanai in Soya Subprefecture. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... The Kuril Islands with the disputed islands highlighted The Kuril Island conflict is a dispute between Japan and Russia over sovereignty over the southernmost Kuril Islands. ... Iturup (Russian Итуруп; Ainu エト・オロ・プ; Japanese 択捉島, Etorofu) is the largest island of the Kuriles, located in the Sakhalin Oblast of Russia. ... Okino Torishima (沖ノ鳥島), formerly called Parece Vela (Spanish for it looks like a sail) is the southernmost island of Japan, at 22°49′ N 136°07′ E, 1 740 km south of Tokyo, or 534 km Southeast of Oki Daito, the closest Japanese island, or 567 km WSE of Minami I... For the breed of horse, see Yonaguni (horse). ... Aerial photo from 1987 Minamitori-shima (南鳥島) or Marcus Island is an isolated island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located at . ...

Japan (main islands)

• Northernmost point: Cape Soya, Wakkanai, Hokkaidō – 45°31'N, 141°56'E
• Southernmost point: Cape Sata on Osumi Peninsula, Minamiosumi, Kagoshima – 30°59'N, 130°39'E
• Westernmost point: Kōsakibana (神崎鼻, Kōsakibana^?), Sasebo (formerly Kosaza), Nagasaki – 33°13'N, 129°33'E
• Easternmost point: Cape Nosappu (納沙布岬, Nosappu-misaki^?)), Nemuro, Hokkaidō – 43°22'N, 145°49′E

Cape Soya, also known as Soya Misaki, is Japans northernmost point. ... The location of Wakkanai in Soya Subprefecture. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ... Cape Sata (佐多岬, Sata Misaki) is a cape at the southern tip of the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu island, Japan, and is the southernmost point of the island, just south of 31 degrees latitude. ... Satellite image of Osumi Peninsula The Osumi Peninsula (大隅半島, ÅŒsumi Hantō) projects south from the Japanese island of Kyushu and includes the southernmost point on the island, Cape Sata. ... Minamiosumi (南大隅町; -cho) is a town located in Kimotsuki District, Kagoshima, Japan. ... Kagoshima Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« island, Japan. ... Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during the Obon festival. ... Kosaza (小佐々町; -chou) is a town located in Kitamatsūra District, Nagasaki, Japan. ... Oranda-zaka (Dutch Slope) in Nagasaki Castle in Shimabara The island of Hirado boasts a fine castle Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県; Nagasaki-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Nemuro (Japanese: 根室市; -shi, Ainu: Ni mu oro) is a city and port located in Nemuro, Hokkaido. ...   literally North Sea Circuit, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japans second largest island and the largest of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. ...

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Hachirō-gata – -4 m
• Highest point: Mount Fuji – 3,776 m

Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: )   is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). ...

See also

• Japanese addressing system
• List of islands of Japan
• List of lakes in Japan
• List of national parks of Japan
• List of peninsulas of Japan
• List of rivers of Japan
• Ōu Mountains

The Japanese addressing system is used to identify a specific location in Japan. ... The four main islands of Japan are: Hokkaidō Honshū Kyūshū Shikoku Okinawa is the fifth largest island except the disputed northern territories, and is the smallest island which has a prefectural capital. ... List of lakes in Japan, sorted by size (biggest first). ... List of national parks of Japan National Parks Hokkaido (North) Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park Shiretoko National Park Daisetsuzan National Park Akan National Park Shikotsu-Toya National Park Tohoku (Northeast) Towada-Hachimantai National Park Rikuchu Coast National Park Bandai-Asahi National Park Kanto (East) Nikko National Park Chichibu-Tama National... The Ōu Mountains ) are a mountain range in the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan. ...

References

This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain. — http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ Japan. The Country Studies are works published by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress ( USA), freely available for use by researchers. ... The U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789 by a constitutional convention, sets down the basic framework of American government in its seven articles. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

All Geography of Japan information taken from:
The World Fact Book

External links

Weather in Japan Japan Weather Association

Coordinates: 36° N 138° E This is a list of countries spanning more than one continent. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...