Japan is an archipelago country located in the eastern part of Asia. It consists of four large islands (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido) and about 6,800 small islands. The total area of Japan is 377,915 square kilometers.
The population of Japan is 127 million people (as of 2019), which makes it the tenth most populous country in the world. The capital and largest city is Tokyo, with a population of over 9 million people. Japanese is the official language spoken in Japan.
The climate in Japan varies depending on the location, but generally speaking, it has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November) and winter (December-February).
Japan has a long history dating back to prehistoric times. Some of the earliest known artifacts are pottery shards from around 10,500 BC. The first written records date back to around 300 BC when Chinese envoys visited what was then known as “Wa” – one of the old names for Japan.
Over the centuries, various kingdoms and empires rose and fell in Japan until 1868 when the Meiji Restoration occurred which led to a period of modernization for the country. In 1937, Japan invaded China which began a 15 year conflict that eventually led to its involvement in World War II where it was defeated by Allied forces in 1945. Following WWII, Japan underwent another period of rapid economic growth known as the “Japanese economic miracle” culminating in it becoming one of the world’s leading economies by 1990.
A view of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko | Credit: Pixabay/Creative Commons CC0
Today, Japan is known for its high-tech industries, unique culture and cuisine as well as its beautiful scenery including Mt Fuji – one of its most popular tourist destinations.”