| City Population |
| Japan |
| Japan has forty-seven administrative divisions called prefectures. Prefectures are similar to states in the United States or provinces and territories in Canada. The prefecture borders in Japan have largely been drawn along historical and physical boundaries. Hokkaido, in the north, is both an island and the largest prefecture. Okinawa, comprised of 160 islands to the south, is part of the Ryukyu Archipelago. |
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| This site is designed to educate people around the world about the geography of Japan. Geography includes a range of subtopics including, but not limited to, physical, political, economic, regional, cultural geography, and even geography of our place in the solar system. Information changes constantly and it needs to be updated regularly- a fact that gives Internet websites an advantage over printed books. Thus, this site will be updated frequently in an effort to keep the information relevant and fresh. Enjoy Japan! |
| PREFECTURE LINKS |
| MAJOR CITIES OF JAPAN |
| Bird of the Week - Ruddy Turnstone In Flight Over Tokyo Bay - Kanagawa Prefecture |
| www.ourgeojapan.net © Copyright 2008-2012 DNDJR Since November 1, 2008 This is not a government website. |
| OVERVIEW |
| BIRDS OF JAPAN |
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| Japan has wide variety of bird species. Through the years they have faced an uphill battle for survival. Their beautiful feathers and graceful flight have made them both objects of wonder and victims of their plumage. But over the past few decades serious efforts have been made to reverse this trend and improve habitat for resident and migratory birds. Even with these efforts, the country has a long way to go to reverse habitat loss. |
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| PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OVERVIEW |
| Japan is an island country located to the northeast of the Asian continent. Its most prominent physical characteristics are islands and mountains. Japan lies along a volcanically active area that borders the Pacific Ocean known as the "Ring of Fire." Japan currently has 108 active volcanoes (the Japanese government defines an active volcano as one that has erupted in the last 10,000 years). Twenty-six volcanoes are continuously monitored for signs of activity. Japan’s four major islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. While Hokkaido is the largest, most of the population is located in central and southern Honshu. In fact, most large cities are located along the Pacific Ocean coast or the Inland Sea. This is not by accident. People tend to settle in places where they can farm or raise livestock. Plains and basins tend to be ideal for these purposes. Most of the largest cities of Japan are located on plains. |
| Physical Geography Statistics Land Area - 375,000 sq. Kilometers (approx.) Land Border - None Coastline - 29,751 Kilometers Maximum Elevation - 3,776 Meters - Mt. Fuji Minimum Elevation - 4 Meters - Akita Prefecture Deepest Bay - Suruga Bay - Shizuoka Pref. Deepest Lake - Tazawako (Tazawa Lake) Akita Pref. Longest Rivers Shinano River (Chikuma River) - 367 Kilometers Tone River - 322 Kilometers Ishikari River - 268 Kilometers Largest Lakes Lake Biwa - 670 Sq. Kilometers - Shiga Pref. Lake Kasumigaura - 168 Sq. Kilometers Ibaraki Pref. Lake Saroma - 152 Sq. Kilometers - Hokkaido Pref. |