The Geographical Landscape of Japan

The country of Japan is consists of over three thousand islands found along the Pacific Coast of Asia. The four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, all of which run from north to south. In addition to this, there is a group of isles, called the Ryukyu Islands that include Okinawa. Together, these places comprise the Japanese archipelago.

The location of this country is right within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which exposes Japan to frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Hot springs are also numerous in the locality and dot the countryside; some of them have been developed into resorts.

Furthermore, about 70 to 80 percent of the country is composed of forested and mountainous areas. This has resulted in a high population density in the habitable areas of Japan, which are mostly located in coastal areas. This has also made Japan’s cities as some of the most densely populated cities in the world.