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Japan Geography & Regions Guide
Understand the layout of Japan: The 4 Main Islands and 8 Distinct Regions.
Last Updated: December 12, 2024
The 4 Main Islands
Japan is an archipelago consisting of 4 primary islands: Honshu (Mainland), Hokkaido (North, Snowy), Kyushu (South, Tropical), and Shikoku (Smallest, Spiritual).
The 8 Regions
From the snowy plains of Hokkaido to the tropical islands of Okinawa, Japan is divided into 8 regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto (Tokyo), Chubu (Alps), Kansai/Kinki (Kyoto/Osaka), Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu-Okinawa.