Japan: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean east of the Asian mainland. Its main islands are mountainous and dotted with volcanoes, hot springs and forests. It is known for bullet trains, anime, sushi and beautiful cherry blossoms.

About Tokyo

Tokyo lies at the head of Tokyo Bay on the island of Honshu and was called Edo until 1868. It is home to the Imperial Palace and the 634-metre Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest towers in the world.

Fun facts about Japan

1. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres, is Japan's highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Japan's first Shinkansen bullet train line opened in 1964, just before the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
3. Japanese macaques, nicknamed snow monkeys, are the northernmost-living monkeys, and some bathe in hot springs in winter.
4. Each spring, people follow the 'cherry blossom front' forecast to plan hanami, or flower-viewing, picnics.
5. Japan is made up of 14,125 islands, including the big islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.
6. Hokusai's prints 'Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji' helped make the mountain famous around the world.