Some key facts about Japan

Japan is home to over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas such as Japan's capital city, Tokyo. In fact, the population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs, and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.

Language

Japanese is the only official language spoken in Japan. Even so, many Japanese understand English to a certain extent. This is because English is the one foreign language that everyone is required to study as part of compulsory education.

You can still enjoy traveling in Japan even if you don't understand Japanese. However, knowing a few everyday Japanese phrases will make your trip even more enjoyable and memorable. Learning a few words can make a big difference.

Geography

The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers. This is just about equivalent to Switzerland and Germany combined or a little smaller than California. Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the Sea of Japan and the North Pacific. Japan consists of four major islands, which are, in turn, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.

Shown below are the four major islands, their locations and sizes.
Hokkaido (northern island) 83,000 square kilometers
Honshu (main island) 231,000 square kilometers
Shikoku (smallest island) 19,000 square kilometers
Kyushu (southern island) 42,000 square kilometers

Request FREE travel information and specials for Japan!