Honshu Island

Honshu Island, Japan’s largest island, is prone to earthquakes. Know its location, geography, population, major cities, and features like Mount Fuji and Lake Biwa.

Honshu Island
Table of Contents

Honshu Island Latest News

An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.2 struck off the east coast of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, recently.

About Honshu Island

  • Honshu, historically known as Akitsushima, is the largest of the four main islands of Japan.
  • It lies between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west). 
  • It forms a northeast–southwest arc extending about 1,287 km and varies greatly in width. 
  • It has an area of 227,898 sq.km. It is the world’s seventh-largest island. 
  • It has a population of around 104 million, accounting for more than 80% of the total population of Japan.  
  • It is the second-most populous island in the world after the Indonesian island of Java.
  • It contains the main cities of Japan, including the capital Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Yokohama. 
  • The island is dominated by the Central Trough, a central mountainous spine that contains the majority of Japan’s highest peaks. 
  • It contains Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji (an active stratovolcano), and its largest lake, Lake Biwa.
  • Earthquakes often occur, as there are several tectonic plates located on this island.

Source: FP

Update Icon
Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Date IconLast updated on March, 2026

UPSC Final Result 2025 is now out.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

Anuj Agnihotri secured AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.

UPSC Marksheet 2025 is now out.

UPSC Notification 2026 & UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 is now out on the official website at upsconline.nic.in.

UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.

→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.

→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

Shakti Dubey secures AIR 1 in UPSC CSE Exam 2024.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Honshu Island FAQs

Q1. Which country does Honshu Island belong to?+

Q2. Between which two water bodies is Honshu located?+

Q3. What percentage of Japan’s population lives on Honshu?+

Q4. Which is the highest mountain in Japan located on Honshu?+

Tags: honshu island prelims pointers upsc prelims current affairs

Vajiram Prelims Team
Vajiram Prelims Team
At Vajiram & Ravi, our team includes subject experts who have appeared for the UPSC Mains and the Interview stage. With their deep understanding of the exam, they create content that is clear, to the point, reliable, and helpful for aspirants.Their aim is to make even difficult topics easy to understand and directly useful for your UPSC preparation—whether it’s for Current Affairs, General Studies, or Optional subjects. Every note, article, or test is designed to save your time and boost your performance.
UPSC GS Course 2026
UPSC GS Course 2026
₹1,75,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹85000
Enroll Now
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
₹19000
Enroll Now
Prelims Powerup Test Series
Prelims Powerup Test Series
₹8500
Enroll Now
Enquire Now