Japan
JapanA Guide to
The Four Major Islands of JapanHokkaido
Honshu
Shikoku
Kyushu
Hokkaido is the northern most island of Japan and represents
roughly 20% of the total land mass and about 5% of the population.
The island is home to some of the most brilliant natural beauties
in Japan and is a hot spot for tourists due to its more agreeable
climate and distinct seasons. Many people flock there in the summer
for its cooler temperatures and during the winter enjoy skiing at
some of Japans world-class ski resorts.HokkaidoHonshu is the
largest island of Japan, consisting of over 60% of its total land
mass. It is also home to more than 100 million Japanese people and
the largest and busiest cities. It also includes all of Japans top
ranking companies, most of which are located in the largest and
most populated city, Tokyo. Honshu is also home to the largest
mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji. The climate between the north and
south of the island also has a stark contrast ranging from
temperate to subtropical.HonshuShikoku is the smallest and least
populated of the four major islands of Japan. Commercially its
economy mostly consists of agriculture, focused mainly on rice, and
also mining. It is the only of the major islands to have no
volcanoes. It is also famous for its 88-temple pilgrimage, a
tradition in which priests visit the 88 temples located on Shikoku.
ShikokuKyushu is the third largest of the islands of Japan. It is
the most mountainous of any of them and contains several active
volcanoes and is home to the most active of all, Mount Aso. It also
has some of the most densely populated cities of any of the islands
and is home to the oldest port city of Japan. There area also
several major universities and colleges located on the
island.KyushuTransportation in Japan
Railways
Airports
Roads
The Bullet TrainThe Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train,
is a series of railway networks connecting the major islands of
Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan. They employ the use of high speed
electric trains that can attain speeds of up to 186 miles per hour.
These trains are among the most popular forms of transportation in
Japan and make traveling between islands much faster. In fact, it
was estimated that when they switched from normal to high speed
networks, the trains saved over 400 million hours of travel for
passengers per year, or an estimated $5 billion per year.
Roads and HighwaysRoads and highways span the entire length of
the four major islands, though theyve only been around for about a
half a century. Paved construction is difficult in Japan because of
the highly mountainous terrain. Never the less, travel by car is
still a highly used form of transportation in Japan and Japan has
become of the worlds leaders in automobile manufacturing. They are
also leading the way to innovative new forms of cars like hybrids
to help reduce traffic and pollution.
Airfare
With Tourism being a booming industry in Japan its not a
surprise that some the largest international airports are located
there. There are over 100 different airports located in Japan, with
4 being major links to other countries around the world. Much of
the Japanese airlines is handled by the government, but more
recently corporations in the private sector have began playing a
larger role in running terminals and airways.Japanese Culture
FoodSportsReligionHolidays
Japanese CuisineJapanese meals are mainly comprised of a few
staple foods, like rice or noodles, combined with some form of
meats or vegetables. Its typical to see a dish with a mix of fish,
meat, rice, and vegetables together. Most meals are either served
as soups or as a stir fry. In many cases they also combine sauces
like miso or soy to add flavor to the dish. Most Japanese meals are
low in fat and high in sodium.
Baseball & SumoFor over a century Baseball has been by far
the most popular sport in all of Japan. It was first introduced in
the late 19th century and has grown since. Japan has two
professional leagues and there are several teams at the college and
high school level. Its the equivalent to American Football. Sumo
wrestling is a Japanese sport that originated in Japan and is only
professionally practiced there. The sport has been around for
several centuries and has adapted and changed over the years. It
also incorporates a large amount of religious traditions and strict
rules. Sumo wrestlers live a very structured life and high ranking
wrestlers are regarded as celebrities in their society.
Buddhism and ShintoBuddhism was brought to Japan some time in
the 6th century. It was originally brought by monks who traveled
from China to the mainland but over the centuries has changed and
adapted to society. Today most Japanese people follow a mix of both
Buddhism and Shinto. It is a religion based on attaining nirvana
and peace with all things.Shinto is the original religion of Japan
and is almost exclusively practiced there. It is a religion based
on building harmony and respect for nature. Its a polytheistic
religion in which there are several deities, known as kami in
Japan, who are associated with their particular form of nature.
Today Buddhism and Shinto have become blended and are practiced in
unison by most Japanese people.Japanese HolidaysThere are Japanese
holidays for nearly every month of the year. Perhaps the most
important and highly regarded of these is the Japanese new years,
known as Oshogatsu. With the start of each year Japanese families
thoroughly clean their houses in order to start the year cleansed
and renewed. They also serve special dishes and pass out new years
cards. Other important holidays include Green Day, Childrens Day,
and Coming-of-Age Day. There are also many Holidays that have been
introduced from the West like Christmas and Thanks Giving.
Thank You!
