Prefectures of Japan map + quiz

Interactive map for learning the names and locations of the 47 prefectures of Japan. After learning the prefectures play the Japanese geography quiz.

Geography of Japan

Japan is made up of eight regions, three of which correspond to the area of three of Japan's largest islands and their surrounding islands, and five which are division of Honshu, Japan's largest island. Japan is divided into these regions for traditional and geographical purposes rather than for governance. These traditional regions are divided into prefectures, which have local governments.

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and the least densely populated of Japan's main islands. The center of the island of Hokkaido is volcanic plateau and mountainous. With outlying islands included, Hokkaido is considered one of Japan's eight geographical regions, and is the country's largest prefecture.

Honshu is the largest of the Japanese islands, and the world's seventh largest island. Over four fifths of the Japanese population live on Honshu, and Honshu is the second most populated island in the world after Java in Indonesia. Much of Honshu is rugged and mountainous, and Honshū is home to Mt Fuji (3,776), which is an active volcano and Japan's highest mountain. 30% of the population of Honshu live in or around Tokyo.

Kyushu lies to the southwest of Japan, and is the country's third largest island. Kyushu is mountainous, and the island is famous for having Japan's most active volcano, Mt Aso, and for its many natural hot springs. Kyushu as a region includes numerous islands, including Okinawa. There are eight prefectures in the Kyushu region.

Okinawa is the name of both the fifth largest island of Japan and the group of islands of which the island of Okinawa belongs to. The group of islands make up the Okinawa Prefecture. The Okinawa Islands are part of the Ryukyu Islands that form a chain from Kyushu to Taiwan. Okinawa is the homeland of the Ryukyuan people, who today number around 2.2 million people.

Shikoku is the second smallest of Japan's five main islands. Shikoku is divided by mountains running east to west. Much of the northern part of the island is used for agriculture, while the southern part of the island is more mountainous. As a region or chihō, Shikoku includes nearby islands, and is divided into four prefectures.

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