A Brief Description Steeped in centuries of Asian culture and history, Japan, an archipelago of 4 major and over 4,000 smaller islands, is a mostly mountainous country with only 15% of its land cultivable. As a result of that shortage of land, its largest cities ring the coastline. The mammoth metropolis of Tokyo, and the other huge cities along the Pacific Ocean are home to most of its people. After the atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and its obvious eventual defeat in World War II, Emperor Hirohito surrendered in 1945. Japan recovered within two decades; becoming a staunch ally of the US, and completely revised their postwar consitution. They went so far as to limit the power of their emperor, making it, as it is today, a ceremonial position. Japan, within the blink-of-an-eye, (it seems) became one of the world's major economic forces; its high-quality automobiles and electronics cover the planet. Visitors enjoy the fast-paced culture and excitment of Tokyo and Osaka, the rural coastal villages and wilderness areas, the winter wonderland of Sapporo, and most of all...the courteous and respectful Japanese people. Learn more about Japan and its history here Mt Fuji, Japan Travel the World through Poster Art! Facts and Figures Name Japan (long form) none Population 127,417,200 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Tokyo (8.3 mil ) metro (31.8 mil) Currency Yen (JPY) Currency Converter here Languages Japanese Flag here National Day December 23 Religions Buddist and Shinto (85%), others Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 35º 45' N, 139º 30' E Relative Location Japan is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Positioned off the eastern coast of Asia, east of the Korean Peninsula, this island country is bordered by the Philippine Sea, East China Sea, Sea of Japan (East Sea), Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific Ocean. Land Statistics Coastline 18,486 miles (29,751 km) Land Areas (land) 144,689 sq miles (374,744 sq km) (water) 1,194 sq miles (3,091 sq km) (TOTAL) 145,883 sq miles (377,835 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms A long ridge of rugged mountains run through the heart of Japan, punctuated by steep tree-lined slopes, and deep valleys on the Pacific Ocean side, and lowers hills and mountains along the Sea of Japan side. The main interior mountain ranges include the Akaishi, Hido and Kiso, where elevations exceed 9,800 ft. (3,000 m). The country's highest point, Mt Fuji, southwest of Tokyo, is a dormant volcano. The islands of Japan are located on the Ring of Fire, and as a result suffer from frequent, violent earthquakes and some serious volcanic activity. A small series of plains are situated along the coastal areas. A notable number of (very short) rivers flow briskly down the mountains into the coastal areas. The largest river in Japan is the Shinano. Highest Point Mt Fuji - 12,388 ft. (3,776m) Lowest Point Lake Hachirogata - (-13 ft.) (-4 m) below sea level Land Divisions 47 prefectures; including: Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi and Yamanashi.

Maps Japan (large color) Map here Japan Outline Map here Japan CIA version here Japan Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Japan (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Japan Times (news) here! Japan Tourism here! Japan Guide here! Japan Info Network here! Japan Photos at TrekEarth.com here Japan Regions here! Hiroshima Peace Site here! Tokyo Tourism here! Tokyo street at night Travel the World through Poster Art! Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +9) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Climate The weather in Japan varies dramatically north to south, and many travelers feel the idea months to visit are March through May. In the northern reaches of the country the summers are warm and comfortable, while winters are long and cold. In the central regions, summers are hot and humid, and winters short. In the southwestern areas, summer weather can be very hot and humid, with mild winters. The islands of Japan receive copious amounts of rain, with the highest amounts of percipitation occuring in summer through early fall. Traveler Info Attractions The non-stop, pulsating city of Tokyo, the clear skies and cherry blossoms of spring, the photogenic city of Kyoto, the stunning Noto-Hanto Peninsula, a Mt. Fuji area tour, the winter sport's venues on Hokkaido, a ride on the Shinkansen bullet train, any of the countless Buddhist temples and shrines, and the beautiful (and spotless) national parks - to name but a few. Country Dialing Code 81 Electricity Japan uses 100 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here

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Banknote reference numbers obtained from the Standard Catalogs of World Paper Money published by Krause Publications

Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage
This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/japan.html