I.  The Land
Japan is an archipelago  consisting of more than 3,900 islands located in the North Pacific east of the Korean Peninsula.  The islands stretch approximately 1,860 miles from eastern Siberia down almost to Taiwan.  It is about 5,500 miles form the West Coast of the United States.  Japan is about the same size as California.

Most Japanese live on four main islands:

• Honshu:   Is the largest island and is considered to be the "mainland"

•  Kyushu:  Is the island closest to the Asian mainland:  it is just 125 miles east from Korea.  Kysuhu enjoys a mild climate.  Nagasaki is located on the western side of the island.
• Shikoku: is the smallest of Japan's main islands and lies south across the Inland Sea from Honshu.  Shikoku remains rural and sparsely populated.  The island's economy is based on primary activities such as farming and fishing.
• Hokkaido:  Is the second largest island and is regarded by the Japanese as their frontier.  This island represents almost 1/2 of the Japanese landmass but holds on 5% of the population.  The island is the home of wildlife and beautiful landscapes comprising of forests, mountains, lakes, hot springs, and volcanoes.  Sapporo is the largest city on the island and the fifth largest city in Japan.

The Japanese islands have been formed from mountains jutting out of the sea. The highest point is Mount Fuji, which is 12,388 feet high.  Much of Japan consists of high mountains with a narrow valley in between.  68% of Japan is mountainous and only about 11%  of the land is arable.

Japan  is part of the Pacific Rim of Fire.  Many active and  inactive volcanoes are found in Japan.  Earthquakes are fairly common as about 1,500 shocks and tremors are recorded each year.  Although most of them are fairly slight, periodically, Japan experiences a major earthquake.  Erupting volcanoes and earthquakes on the floor can cause a tsunami that can cause tremendous damage to the coastal areas of Japan.

The Hakone Mountains on the island of Honshu
 
 

Japan's  rivers are generally short, shallow, and fast-flowing winding down steep mountain valleys to the ocean.  Flooding, once a major problem, has been largely controlled through construction of dikes. Japan's longest river, the Shinano, arises in the mountains of central Honshu and flows for 228 miles to empty into the Sea of Japan. Other major rivers are the Tone River in the northern Kanto Plain and the Ishikari River in Hokkaido

II.  The Climate

The climate of Japan ranges from subarctic to subtropic.  In the north the summers are cool and the winters are harsh and snowy.  In the south the summers are hot with mild winters.  The annual mean temperature in Okinawa is 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit and in Hokkaido the annual mean is 43.5 degrees fahrenheit.  Most of Japan, however, does experience four seasons.  Rainfall is abundant throughout Japan, ranging from 40 to 100 inches per year.  Japan is sometimes struck by violent typhoons in the late summer and fall.
October in Machida City (outside of Tokyo)

III.  Plants and Animals

Forests cover 67 percent of Japan's land area. Forests are concentrated on mountain slopes, where trees are important in soil and water conservation. Tree types vary with latitude and elevation. In Hokkaido, spruce, larch, and northern fir are most common, along with alder, poplar, and beech trees. Central Honshu's more temperate climate supports beech, willows, and chestnuts. In Shikoku, Kyushu, and the warmer parts of Honshu, subtropical trees such as camphors and banyans thrive. The southern areas also have thick stands of bamboo. Japanese cedars and cypresses are found throughout wide areas of the country and are prized for their wood. Cultivated tree species include fruit trees bearing peaches, plums, pears, oranges, and cherries; mulberry trees for silk production; and lacquer trees, from which the resins used to produce lacquer are derived. Potted miniaturized trees called bonsai are popular among hobbyist gardeners in Japan.

Animals native to Japan include the brown bear, wolf, wild boar, deer, racoon, fox, weasel, antelope, and monkey.  Common birds include the pheasant , crane, stork, warbler, seagull, hawk, swallow, sparrow, and duck.
 

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