What is Japan?

In short

A country of islands

In 2023 the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan counted the islands of Japan on its detailed digital map. The answer was 14,125 islands.

Before that, the number most people used was 6,852 (Japan Coast Guard, 1987). The new number is bigger mainly because today’s maps are much more detailed.

The prefecture with the most islands is Nagasaki, with 1,479. Hokkaido has 1,473.

Land and people

The land area of Japan is 377,974.87 square kilometers (as of April 1, 2026).

The 2025 Population Census counted 123,049,524 people on October 1, 2025 (preliminary counts).

Capital and prefectures

For the whole Edo period, the Emperor lived in Kyoto, the formal capital. In 1868 the Tokugawa Shogunate ended, the Emperor moved to Edo, and Edo was renamed Tokyo. That is how Tokyo became the capital of Japan.

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures: 1 “to” (Tokyo), 1 “do” (Hokkaido), 2 “fu” (Osaka and Kyoto) and 43 “ken”.

Flag and the United Nations

A law of 1999 says that the national flag is the Nisshoki, a crimson circle on a white field, and that the national anthem is Kimigayo.

Japan joined the United Nations on December 18, 1956.

Think about it

• Q1Japan has 14,125 islands. Why do you think the number of islands changed when the maps became more detailed?
• Q2Find Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto on a map. Which one is farthest east?
• Q3Choose one fact on this page and compare it with your own country.

There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.