Japan’s Geography

• Japan is located in Eastern Asia.

• But Japan is an island so it is in the North Pacific Ocean.

• It is also located east of the Korean peninsula.

Four Main Islands

• Japan has more than 1000 islands, but there are 4 main islands.

• Honshu is the largest island in Japan.

• It holds 80 percent of the population.

Japan’s Geography

• The island also has the capital of Japan, Tokyo.

• Tokyo is also the largest city in Japan.

• Honshu also has the famous peak, Mount Fuji.

Japan’s Geography

• Hokkaido is the northernmost island in Japan.

• It holds 5 percent of the population.

• This island has the coldest weather since it is in the north.

Japan’s Geography

• The island also has the lowest land in Japan called the Ishikari Plain.

• Hokkaido is known for its rolling hills.

Japan’s Geography

• Kyushu is the southern most island in Japan.

• Even though it is a small island it is heavily populated.

Japan’s Geography

• It holds 11 percent of the population.

• Kyushu is the most rugged island in Japan.

• Kyushu also has many volcanoes.

Japan’s Geography

• Shikoku is the smallest island in Japan.

• It holds 1 percent of the population.

Japan’s Geography

• The island is best for its farming regions.

• It has many woodlands and beautiful bodies of water.

Size

• These islands are slightly smaller than the size of California.

• The coastline is about 17,000 sq miles.

Japan’s Geography

• The total area of Japan is 160,000 sq mi.

• The land area of Japan 150,000 sq mi.

• The land area of California is 170,000 sq mi.

Mount Fuji

• It is the biggest peak in Japan.

• One thousand people visit it everyday.

• It is located in the town Fuji, which is near Tokyo.

Mount Fuji

• Mount Fuji is 12,388 feet high.

• It is a inactive volcano.

• The last time it erupted was a very long time ago.

Water

• Japan has many lakes, but small rivers.

• Having lots of lakes make the country more beautiful.

• Japan is surround by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan

Japanese Alps

• The Japanese Alps are the highest mountain range in Japan.

• It is located on the island Honshu.

• Forests surround the mountains.

Japanese Alps

• There is some forests up in the mountains too.

• A lot of Japanese people climb on the mountains each year.

Ishikari Plain

• The Ishikari plain is the lowest land in Japan.

• Surrounded by rolling hills, Ishikari is the best farming region in Japan.

• It is located on Hokkaido.

Ishikari Plain

• The Ishikari River goes through the plain.

• The river brings water for the crops.

Climate

• The Climate of Japan varies

• In the south it feels like the tropics.

• In the north it feels cold and breezy.

Earthquakes

• There are a lot of earthquakes that occur in Japan.

• Japan lies on an unstable part of the crust.

Earthquakes

• Japan is located in an area where 4 tectonic plates are connected to each other.

• The land sits on two plates, the north American plate and the Eurasian plate.

Earthquakes

• The boundary between the two plates is in the middle of Honshu Island.

• This is one of the reasons why Japan experiences so many earthquakes.

Earthquakes

• When the crust moves it causes an earthquake.

• About 1000 earthquakes occur each year.

• Earthquakes also cause tsunamis.

• A tsunami is a huge kind of a tidal wave.

Earthquakes

• Typhoons are also a big factor in Japan.

• Since Japan is an island a lot of typhoons and hurricanes occur.

• They both occur in the summer.

• The heavy rains and winds usually destroy the crops

Mountains

• There are many mountains in Japan.

• Seventy percent of Japan is mountains.

• Most of the mountains are volcanoes.

• Tectonic movement created many of the mountains.

• Located in the "ring of fire",

• Japan is mainly volcanic mountains.

• About three-fourths of the land is mountains.

• Long mountain ranges form the backbone of the Islands.

• The dramatic Japan Alps, studded with 9,000 ft. peaks.

• They cross the central portion of Honshu, the main island.

• Japan has around 200 volcanoes

• More than 60 of

which are active. • Earthquakes and

volcanic eruptions are common.

• Japan's area is comparable to

that of Germany or California.

Climate:

• Due to the large North South extension of the country, the climate varies strongly in different regions

• Japan's northernmost islands are located on a similar geographical latitude as Milan, Italy

(45 N, 9 E ).• Or Portland, Maine

(43 N, 70 W)

• While her southernmost islands are on a similar latitude as the Bahamas.

• (36 N, 78W )• San Diego is

(32N, 117W)

• The climate in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, is temperate to sub-tropic

• Consists of four seasons.

• The winter is usually mild

• The summer is hot and humid.

• There is a rainy season in early summer.

• Typhoons hit parts of the country every year during late summer.