Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. It is made up of almost 7,000 islands! The biggest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Japan is known for its beautiful temples, delicious food, and amazing technology.

Land and People

About 125 million people live in Japan. The capital city is Tokyo, one of the biggest cities in the world. Japan has tall mountains, including Mount Fuji, and beautiful cherry blossom trees that bloom every spring.

Old Japanese art showing a legendary emperor with a bow.
Old Japanese art showing a legendary emperor with a bow. (Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年): 1839-1892 / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Japanese people eat sushi, ramen, and rice with many meals. Japan invented many things we love, like video games and anime cartoons. The bullet train can go over 200 miles per hour. People in Japan are known for being very polite and respectful.

Fun Facts

  • Japan has more than 6,800 islands.
  • There are vending machines everywhere in Japan that sell everything from drinks to umbrellas.
  • Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport and it is over 1,500 years old.

Did You Know?

In Japan, it is polite to bow when you greet someone. The deeper you bow, the more respect you are showing. Japanese children learn to bow from a very young age.