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Country

Japan

Also Known As Nippon

Eastern Asia

An archipelago nation off the eastern coast of the Asian mainland, comprising four main islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, and thousands of smaller ones. Its Heian period (794 to 1185), centered on the imperial capital at Heian-kyo, present-day Kyoto, produced a highly refined aristocratic court culture that gave rise to some of the earliest and most fully realized works of Japanese prose literature. Minted here as the home setting Murasaki Shikibu and The Tale of Genji are described against in LiteratureAtlas's own founding wave (ruling 632, mint-on-mention).

Facts

Capital

Tokyo 2

Formerly Edo; became the imperial capital in 1868, replacing Kyoto.

Population

122,587,000 2

Britannica 2026 estimate. The atlas own earlier region-era figure, 123,900,000, is not overwritten; this population-year fact dates THIS value specifically.

Population Estimate Year

2026 2

Area (sq km)

377,975 2

Total land area across the four main islands and thousands of smaller ones.

Classification

Sovereignty Status

UN Member State 1

Japan

Cities

Abiko, Chiba

Akashi, Hyogo

Akita (city)

Amagasaki

Aomori

Asahikawa

Asuka, Nara

Chiba

Edo

Fuji, Shizuoka

Fujisawa, Kanagawa

Fujiwara-kyo

Fukuhara-kyō

Fukui (city)

Fukuoka

Fukushima (city)

Fukuyama, Hiroshima

Funabashi

Gifu

Hachioji

Hakodate

Hamamatsu

Heian-kyō

Heijo-kyo

Higashiōsaka

Himeji

Hirakata

Hiroshima

Hitachi Kokufu

Ichinomiya, Aichi

Isesaki

Iwaki, Fukushima

Kagoshima

Kanazawa

Kashiwa

Kasugai, Aichi

Kasukabe, Saitama

Kawagoe, Saitama

Kawaguchi, Saitama

Kawasaki

Kitakyushu

Kobe

Kochi

Kofu

Kumagaya

Kumamoto

Kuni-kyō

Kurashiki

Kure, Hiroshima

Kurume

Kyoto

Kōriyama

Maebashi

Matsubara

Matsue

Matsumoto, Nagano

Matsuyama, Ehime

Mito, Ibaraki

Miyazaki (city)

Morioka

Musashi Kokufu

Nagano (city)

Nagano, Nagano

Nagaoka-kyo

Nagasaki

Nagoya

Naha

Naniwa-kyō

Nara (city)

Neyagawa, Osaka

Niigata (city)

Nishinomiya

Numazu

Oita

Okayama

Okazaki, Aichi

Osaka

Otsu

Saga (city)

Sagamihara

Saitama

Sakai

Sapporo

Sasebo

Sendai

Shimonoseki

Shizuoka (city)

Suita

Takamatsu, Kagawa

Takasaki

Tokushima (city)

Tokyo

Tokyo City

Tottori (city)

Toyama (city)

Toyama, Toyama

Toyohashi

Toyonaka

Toyota, Aichi

Tsu, Mie

Tsukuba

Urayasu

Utsunomiya

Wakayama (city)

Wakayama, Wakayama

Yamagata (city)

Yamaguchi

Yamato, Kanagawa

Yokkaichi

Yokohama

Yokosuka

Connections

Associated With

Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Aichi Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Chiba Prefecture

Source Fukuoka (Wikipedia)

Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Fukuoka Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Gifu Prefecture

Source Hiroshima (Wikipedia)

Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hiroshima Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Hokkaido is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hokkaido (Wikipedia)

Hyogo Prefecture

Hyogo Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hyogo Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Ibaraki Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Kanagawa Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Source Kawasaki (Wikipedia)

Source Kobe (Wikipedia)

Kumamoto Prefecture

This source names Japan directly: "basin in the Kansai region of Honshu, Japan, ringed by mountains that historically limited its growth and gave the city its grid-planned layout, modeled on the Chinese capital Chang'an when it was..."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

This source names Kyoto directly: "capital at Heian-kyo, present-day Kyoto, produced a highly refined aristocratic court culture that gave rise to some of the earliest and most fully realized works of Japanese prose literature."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Kyoto Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Miyagi Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Nagoya is a city in Japan.

Source Nagoya (Wikipedia)

Niigata Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture

Osaka is a city in Japan.

Source Osaka (Wikipedia)

Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Osaka Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Sagamihara is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Source Sagamihara (Wikipedia)

Source Saitama (Wikipedia)

Saitama Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Saitama Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Source Sapporo (Wikipedia)

Shizuoka Prefecture

Japan lies to the northeast.

Source Taiwan (Wikipedia)

Tokyo is Japan's capital.

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Yokohama is a city in Japan.

Source Yokohama (Wikipedia)

Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Source Yokosuka (Wikipedia)

Bordered By Water

La Perouse Strait

Has Capital

Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

The Sea That Opened Behind It

In the Other Atlases

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: Masanobu Fukuoka, nationals include there.
Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan), found there there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Fuji Television Building, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Fushimi Inari-taisha, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Himeji Castle, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Hotel Okura Tokyo, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Ise Shrine, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Itsukushima Shrine, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Japan Institute of Architects, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Kenzo Tange, nationals include there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Kinkaku-ji, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Kyoto Station, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Matsumoto Castle, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Meiji Shrine, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Nagoya Castle, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Nakagin Capsule Tower, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: National Diet Building, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Nijo Castle, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Osaka Castle, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Ryoan-ji, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Tadao Ando, nationals include there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: The Nara Document on Authenticity Adopted, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Todai-ji, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Tokyo Skytree, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Tokyo Station, part of this there.
Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Tokyo Tower, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Akira Kurosawa, nationals include there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Genji Monogatari Emaki, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Great Daruma, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Hokusai, nationals include there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Imperial Hotel (Tokyo, Wright building), part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Katsura Imperial Villa, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Kinkaku-ji, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Kitagawa Utamaro, nationals include there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Suzuki Harunobu, nationals include there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Tokyo Skytree, part of this there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Toshusai Sharaku, nationals include there.
Also in Arts and Music Atlas: Utagawa Hiroshige, nationals include there.
Also in Business Atlas: Akio Morita, nationals include there.
Also in Business Atlas: Asahi Breweries, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Astellas Pharma Inc., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Canon Inc., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Daiei Film, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Fujitsu Limited, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Inpex Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Kaoru Ishikawa, nationals include there.
Also in Business Atlas: KDDI Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Konosuke Matsushita, nationals include there.
Also in Business Atlas: Mazda Motor Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Mitsubishi Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Nissan Group, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Panasonic, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Sapporo Breweries, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: SoftBank Corp., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Sony, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Subaru Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Suzuki Motor Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Taiichi Ohno, nationals include there.
Also in Business Atlas: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Toshiba, part of this there.
Also in Business Atlas: Toyota, part of this there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Akira Nakashima, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Fujio Masuoka, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Ken Sakamura, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Kunihiko Fukushima, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Makoto Nagao, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Nobuo Yoneda, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Tetsuo Asano, nationals include there.
Also in Computing Atlas: Yukihiro Matsumoto, nationals include there.
Also in Divinity Atlas: Shinto, is where this subject originated.
Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, found there there.
Also in Economics Atlas: Bank of Japan, part of this there.
Also in Economics Atlas: Group of Eight (G8), has member there.
Also in Energy Atlas: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, part of this there.
Also in Energy Atlas: Futtsu Power Station, part of this there.
Also in Film and Media Atlas: Akira Kurosawa, nationals include there.
Also in Film and Media Atlas: Shigeru Miyamoto, nationals include there.
Also in Film and Media Atlas: Toru Iwatani, nationals include there.
Also in Film and Media Atlas: Yasujiro Ozu, nationals include there.
Also in Home, Crafts and Hobbies Atlas: Akira Yoshizawa, nationals include there.
Also in Home, Crafts and Hobbies Atlas: International Go Federation, part of this there.
Also in Home, Crafts and Hobbies Atlas: Shoji Hamada, nationals include there.
Also in Home, Crafts and Hobbies Atlas: Yanagi Soetsu, nationals include there.
Also in Literature Atlas: Akahon, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Boys' Love, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Class S, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Ero Guro, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Gesaku, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Gokan, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Harem, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Iyashikei, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Josei, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Kaiju, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Kanshi, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Kibyoshi, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Kokkeibon, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Kusazoshi, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Light Novel, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Magical Girl, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Ninjobon, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Poetic Diary, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Renga, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Sharebon, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Shishosetsu, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Tokusatsu, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Waka, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Yuri, is where this subject originated.
Also in Literature Atlas: Zuihitsu, is where this subject originated.
Also in Mathematics Atlas: Shinichi Mochizuki, nationals include there.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Kazuki Fujitaka, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Keiji Nishitani, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Kim Jaegwon, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Kiyoshi Miki, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Nishida Kitaro, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: R.M. Hare, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Watsuji Tetsuro, is where this subject originated.
Also in Philosophy Atlas: Yuriko Saito, is where this subject originated.
Also in Science Atlas: Akira Suzuki, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Chika Kuroda, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Ei-ichi Negishi, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Fusakichi Omori, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Hantaro Nagaoka, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Hiroo Kanamori, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Ikuo Kushiro, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Kono Yasui, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Michiyo Tsujimura, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Shibasaburo Kitasato, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Shinya Yamanaka, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Susumu Tonegawa, nationals include there.
Also in Science Atlas: Ukichiro Nakaya, nationals include there.
Also in Society and Culture Atlas: Chie Nakane, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Akihiko Hoshide, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: ArkEdge Space, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Astroscale, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Axelspace, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Chiaki Mukai, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: ElevationSpace, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Hakuto, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: IHI Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Infostellar, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Interstellar Technologies, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: IQPS, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: ispace (Japanese company), part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: JAXA, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Koichi Wakata, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Mamoru Mohri, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Naoko Yamazaki, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Pale Blue, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: PD AeroSpace, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Satoshi Furukawa, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: SKY Perfect JSAT, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Soichi Noguchi, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Space BD, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Space NTK, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Space One, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Space Walker, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Synspective, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Toyohiro Akiyama, nationals include there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Warpspace, part of this there.
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: Yusaku Maezawa, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Akiko Yazawa, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: All Japan Judo Federation, part of this there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Fujisawa Hideyuki, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Hiroshi Inoue, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Honinbo Shusaku, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Ichiriki Ryo, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Japan Football Association (JFA), part of this there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Japan Sumo Association, part of this there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), part of this there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Kaori Icho, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Kato Masao, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Koichi Kobayashi, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Kosuke Hagino, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Masayuki Mochizuki, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Miho Macleod, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Naomi Osaka, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Otake Hideo, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Sakata Eio, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Sawao Kato, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Shibano Toramaru, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Shohei Ohtani, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Takemiya Masaki, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yasuhiro Yamashita, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yoda Norimoto, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yoshiharu Habu, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yoshinobu Miyake, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yusuke Takanashi, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yuta Iyama, nationals include there.
Also in Sport and Games Atlas: Yutaka Take, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Akira Yoshino, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Furuichi Koi, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Norio Taniguchi, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Sumio Iijima, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Taiichi Ohno, nationals include there.
Also in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Yamao Yozo, nationals include there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Hideo Shima, nationals include there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Honda, part of this there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Japanese National Railways, part of this there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Kiichiro Toyoda, nationals include there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Nissan, part of this there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Soichiro Honda, nationals include there.
Also in Transport Atlas: Toyota Motor Corporation, part of this there.

Sources

1. Member States of the United Nations (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction

Quote, Introduction

The United Nations comprise 193 sovereign states and the world's largest intergovernmental organization.

View the Source

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.JapanView the Source

Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia Foundation

Associated With: Tokyo
Associated With: Tokyo, Infobox
Country: Japan
Has Capital: Tokyo, Lead section, capital fact
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan.

View the Source

Fukuoka (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Fukuoka, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Fukuoka, Infobox, Country

Japan

View the Source

Sapporo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Sapporo, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Sapporo, Infobox, Country

Japan

View the Source

Kobe (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Kobe, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Kobe, Infobox, Country

Japan

View the Source

Hiroshima (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Hiroshima, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Hiroshima, Infobox, Country

japan

View the Source

Saitama (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Saitama, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Saitama, Infobox, Country

japan

View the Source

Kawasaki (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Kawasaki, Infobox, Country

Quote, Associated With: Kawasaki, Infobox, Country

japan

View the Source

Yokosuka (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Yokosuka, Lead section

Quote, Associated With: Yokosuka, Lead section

Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

View the Source

Sagamihara (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Sagamihara, Lead section

Quote, Associated With: Sagamihara, Lead section

Sagamihara is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

View the Source

Take a Related Quiz

Countries of the World: BeginnerIncludes a question about Japan.

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