Key Facts About Japan

Japan Latest News

Recently, a major earthquake rocked Japan’s northern coast and also the country’s meteorological agency recorded several tsunami waves.

About Japan

• Location: It is an island nation in East Asia, situated in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Maritime borders: It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean (East), Sea of Okhotsk (North), Sea of Japan (West East) and East China Sea (Southwest).
• Political Structure: Parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy.
• Capital City: Tokyo, located in east-central Honshu.

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Geographical Features of Japan

• It comprises a chain of islands stretching ~1,500 miles in a northeast–southwest arc.
• Main Islands (north to south): Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
• Terrain: Over 80% mountainous, with rugged terrain.
• Volcanic activity: It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a major zone of earthquakes and active volcanoes.
• Highest peak: Mount Fuji (3,776 m), which is a stratovolcano.
• Major mountain ranges: Japanese Alps.
• Major rivers: Shinano River (longest), Tone River, Kiso River.
• Climate: It ranges from subarctic in the north to humid subtropical in the south.
• It is often disturbed by earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions due to tectonic activity.

Source: TH