Japan

General Info

Japan is an archipelago country in Asia that is surrounded by the North Pacific Ocean. The main language is Japanese, and the population is around 122.8 million people. The capital city is Tokyo, with a population of 37 million people.

The Japanese government is a constitutional monarchy, meaning that the country is run by the prime minister, the emperor only having ceremonial powers.

Physical Features

The country is volcanic, which means that there are many volcanic mountain ranges on every one of the islands of Japan, the largest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, reaches a height of 3,776.24 m. At lower elevations, many hills can be found making up the lowland.

In total, there are three major plains in Japan, the Kantō Plain, the Nōbi Plain, and the Osaka Plain.

Most rivers in Japan are swift and steep and thus provide hydroelectric power to the people of Japan.

In total, the entire length of the coastline of Japan stretches 29,751 km, that's longer than Africa!

National Foundation Day on February 11 (Kenkoku Kinenbi) is a holiday in Japan that celebrates the crowning of the first emperor in the year 660 BC.

Crops that are grown in Japan include rice, wheat and barley, soybeans, Japanese radish, cabbage, eggplant, daikon, strawberries, peaches, grapes, and melons.

Some foods made in Japan include sushi (rice and fish), tempura (seafood, fresh vegetables and other ingredients dipped in a flour and egg batter and fried in oil), ramen noodle soup, etc…

A few animals that live in Japan are the Tanuki (a cross between dogs and raccoons), wild boars, squirrels, Tsushima leopards, sables, and red foxes.

The climate in Japan is tropical in the south, continental in the north, and in mountainous areas, Subarctic or Alpine Tundra

Some of the most stunning places to visit in Japan include:

• Himeji castle in Himeji (originally built in the 1300s) is one of the most well-preserved castles in Japan. It has gained the nickname of the “White Heron” because of its stunning white outward appearance.

• Kyiomizu-Dera in Kyoto is a very impressive temple built on a hill. Its water is fabled to grant some wishes.

• Kenrokuen Garden, Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of the most famous gardens in Japan. It is one of the so called “Three Great Gardens of Japan.”