Fact Finder - Geography

Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The four largest islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku—make up 97% of its land area. Tokyo, the capital, is the world's most populous metropolitan area. Japan's geography is dominated by mountains, covering over 70% of the land, which makes it one of the most densely populated countries in coastal areas. It sits at the junction of four tectonic plates: the Pacific, Philippine, Eurasian, and North American plates. This results in high seismic activity and numerous active volcanoes, including the iconic Mount Fuji. The country's climate ranges from humid continental in the north to subtropical in the south. Japan is also a world leader in disaster prevention technology due to its frequent exposure to earthquakes and tsunamis.