|
Japan is made up of about 4000 islands that lie off the east coast of Asia. The four main islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Honshu, on which the capital city is located, is the largest of the four. About 70% of Japan consists of mountains. Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest and most famous mountain, is located in central Honshu. The mountains developed as a result of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions about 1.6 million years ago. Japan still experiences about 1000 land tremors a year. Japan’s rivers are short and tend to have fast, strong currents. Most lakes in Japan are located in the northeast, with the exception of Lake Biwa in central Honshu, Japan’s biggest lake. |
Daisetsuzan mountains | 
Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido, northern Japan | 
Snow-covered mountains in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido |
Japan mountains | 
Sounkyo gorge on Hokkaido island, northern Japan | 
Ezo Fuji Mount Yotei-san on Hokkaido |
Ezo Fuji Mount Yotei-san seen from Niseko, Hokkaido | 
Shakotan National Park on Hokkaido | 
Shakotan National Park on Hokkaido in northern Japan |
