• Where is Japan located?
• How big is Japan?
• What are the main islands of Japan?
• What is Japan's population?
• What is the capital city?
• Who is Japan's Prime Minister, and to which political party does he belong?
• What is the role of the Imperial family in modern Japan?
• How many National Holidays are there in Japan?
• What is "Nihon Sankei"?
• What are the seasons like in Japan?

 

Where is Japan located?

The Japanese archipelago lies in the north-west corner of the Pacific Ocean. It stretches 3000 kms from northeast to southwest and includes more than 1000 islands. Japan's nearest neighbours are Russia to the north, Korea to the west, and Taiwan and China to the south-west.

How big is Japan?

The approximate area of Japan is 378 000 km. (Western Australia is about 7 times larger than Japan, with an area of approximately 2 525 500 km.)

What are the main islands of Japan?

The four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.

What is Japan's population?

Approximately 125 million people live in Japan. The population density is around 330 people/km. Eleven cities in Japan have populations in excess of 1 million people. They are: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, Hiroshima and Kita-Kyushu.

One of these cities is the capital of Hyogo prefecture. Do you know which one?

What is the capital city?

Tokyo (meaning "Eastern Capital") became the capital city of Japan in 1868, at the beginning of the Meiji Period. Previously, the capital city was Kyoto. Tokyo is located in the north-eastern part of Japan in what is known as the "Kanto" region. One in three Japanese people live in this region. Tokyo itself has a population of 8 million within it's city boundaries, and a further 3.6 million in the surrounding suburbs!

Only 29 kilometres from Tokyo is Yokohama, with a population of 3.2 million. In between the two is Kawasaki, with a population of 1.2 million. Together with Tokyo, these three cities form the world's largest megalopolis.

Who is Japan's Prime Minister, and to which political party does he belong?

The Prime Minister is Mr Junichiro Koizumi. He is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

What is the role of the Imperial family in modern Japan?

The present day Imperial Family consists of Emperor Akihito, who is the 125th sovereign in the traditional count and Empress Michiko. They have three children: Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and Princess Sayako. Crown Prince Naruhito married Princess Masako on June 9, 1993.

The role of the Emperor was transformed in 1946 and he now undertakes various activities including marking the appointment of the Prime Minister and Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, the opening and closing of Diet sessions and harmonising relations between Japan and other countries. The Emperor is "the symbol of the Japanese state'.

How many National Holidays are there in Japan?

• There are 13 National Holidays:
• Ganjitsu: New Years Day, January 1
• Seijin no Hi: Coming of Age Day, January 15
• Kenkoku Kinen no Hi: National Foundation Day, February 11
• Shumbun no Hi: Vernal Equinox Day, March 21
• Midori no Hi: Green Day, April 29
• Kempo Kinembi: Constitution Memorial Day, May 3
• Kodomo no Hi: Children's Day, May 5
• Keiro no Hi: Respect for the Aged Day, September 15
• Shubun no Hi: Autumnal Equinox Day, September 23
• Taiiku no Hi: Sports Day, Second Monday in October
• Bunka no Hi: Culture Day, November 3
• Kinro Kansha no Hi: Labour Thanksgiving Day, November 23
• Tenno Tanjobi: Emperor's Birthday, December 23
  

What is "Nihon Sankei"?

This term means "three views of Japan", and refers to three famous scenic spots in Japan.

Matsushima: A group of islands in Miyagi prefecture

Amanohashidate: This "Bridge of Heaven" is a pine tree covered sandbar in Kyoto prefecture

Itsukushima: An island in Hiroshima prefecture.
Make sure these three spots are on the itinerary for your next trip to Japan!

What are the seasons like in Japan?

Spring: March - May. Spring is well known as cherry blossom time in Japan. The Japanese celebrate the blooming of these trees with Hanami parties - cherry blossom parties, which involve lots of food and karaoke! April and May are fairly warm and stable weather wise, so they are good times for travel.

Summer: June - August. Summer begins with the rainy season in Japan, and continues with high humidity, warm to hot temperatures and occasional showers throughout the season.

Autumn: September - November. Although autumn begins with occasional showers, it is another fairly stable season, with blue skies and relatively warm temperatures. Autumn, like spring, is a sentimental favourite on the seasonal calendar because of the changing colour of the leaves on trees in various gardens and wilderness areas of Japan. A highly scenic season!

Winter: December - February. Cold westerly winds from Siberia mark the start of winter. In the internal parts of Japan, snowfall is heavy, making the area a paradise for snow lovers. On the Pacific coast of Japan, temperatures are mild and rarely fall below freezing. However, don't forget to take a warm jacket!