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Japan

✨ The land of the rising sun

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Korean Peninsula and China. Its territory consists of thousands of islands, with four main ones: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Tokyo is the capital and the country's largest urban area. Japan covers about 378,000 square kilometres and has a landscape dominated by mountains and forests, leaving relatively little flat land for large cities and agriculture.

Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres, is the country's highest mountain and one of its best-known natural landmarks. Japan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates interact, making earthquakes and volcanic activity part of its natural environment. The country also experiences seasonal variations, including a rainy season and, in some regions, heavy snowfall during winter. Japan has about 124 million inhabitants and is one of the world's most urbanized societies.

Tokyo and the surrounding metropolitan area form one of the largest urban concentrations on Earth, while other major cities include Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Fukuoka. Japanese is the main language, and the country has a distinctive cultural heritage shaped by long historical traditions as well as modern influences. Japan has a highly developed economy based on manufacturing, services, technology, transport and international trade.

It is known for industries such as automobiles, electronics, machinery and advanced materials. Because much of its territory is mountainous and the country is exposed to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and typhoons, managing natural hazards is an important part of life and planning. Japan's island geography also makes the surrounding seas important for fishing, transport and trade.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that in Japan, train punctuality is taken very seriously? The high-speed train, the Shinkansen, has an average delay of only 54 seconds... over the whole year! If a train is more than 5 minutes late, the conductor distributes 'delay certificates' to passengers so they can prove to their school or work that it is not their fault. It is one of the most incredible transport networks in the world.

Imagine monkeys who love to do like humans: Japanese macaques (or snow monkeys) are famous for bathing in natural hot springs! In the middle of winter, when there is snow everywhere, they dive into the steaming water to warm up and relax. They even close their eyes with pleasure, exactly like us in a warm bathtub. It is the only place in the world where you can see this amazing sight.

In Japan, politeness is an art. Instead of shaking hands, people bow to greet each other. This is called Ojigi. The inclination changes according to the person you are talking to: the more you respect someone or the more you want to apologize, the lower you must bow! There are even very precise rules for placing your hands and your back. It is a very gentle and respectful way to show that you are paying attention to others.