Countries of the East. Japan ... It sounds bewitching. The history, the beauty of nature, the isolation of the country and the courage of people cannot leave indifferent even the most indifferent person. More than one and a half thousand years of history, saturated with feudal wars, aggressive foreign policy and a strong connection with the Celestial Empire in certain periods of development. The only empire in the world. Here is such a multifaceted country. Japan is the embodiment of technological modernity and a mysterious past.
The geographical position of the country
Japan is an exotic destination in tourism, however, is in certain demand among tourists. Therefore, the question of which continent Japan is located on is not uncommon. Tourists not only want to know more about the chosen direction, but are also concerned about the increasing frequency of earthquakes and the danger of tsunamis.
So where is the map of Japan? Nippon (one of the ancient names of the country) is an island state located east of the coastline of Asia and occupying the territory of the Japanese islands, Nampo and Ryukyu. The total area of the island state is 378 thousand square kilometers and consists of several thousand islands (6852) in the Pacific Ocean. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Honshu and Shikoku are the largest Japanese islands. In terms of area, Japan is a small country and is only slightly superior to such a country in Europe as Finland. And yet, despite the small territory, tourists come from all over the world, as evidenced by the frequent question of what continent Japan is located on. The land of the rising sun has always amazed and will amaze people with its greatness.
Japan: continent, coastal borders of the country
As you can see, Japan does not have a direct connection with the continent, which, however, did not prevent it from gaining its place in world trade. This, by the way, is the answer to the question of what continent Japan is on. Another advantage of the island situation is self-isolation, which allowed to preserve their traditions and culture. Japan has a very rugged coastline. Proof of this is a greater extent than the length of the shores of the African continent.
A huge number of natural bays and bays helped the state to create large ports, three of which are the largest in the world. This greatly helps Japan in the implementation of trade.
Country relief
The relief of Japan consists of plains and mountains. The plains are located along the coastline and mountain slopes. The largest plains are located along the Ishikari River (Hokkaido Island), along the Gulf of Tokyo is the Kanto Plain. The bulk of Japan is occupied by mountains that stretch from north to south. Hokkaido is known for a mountain range of volcanic origin, which begins on the territory of the Russian Federation. The mountains of Japan are not inferior in beauty to the Alps, so they are called the Japanese Alps.
Mount Fuji, whose height reaches 3,776 meters, is the highest point of the country. In Japan, there are approximately 188 volcanoes, of which 40 are active. Residents of the country adapt to life in relative danger due to the possibility of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or tsunamis. Therefore, houses are equipped with minimal amenities and a set of furniture. The whole design is simple and light. An unspoken rule is the location of things in the house: nothing heavy should be placed above a person’s head in order to avoid injuries during seismic activity.
The largest cities of the Land of the Rising Sun are Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya. These cities are very popular among tourists, so they often have a question: "Tokyo, which continent is located?". Japan attracts a huge number of tourists every year, despite the danger of earthquakes and tsunamis.
Geological features of the country
The Pacific seismic belt is known for its constant geological activity. It is in this belt that Japan is located. Therefore, it is not surprising that about 3,000 earthquakes occur in Japan annually. Often, these earthquakes are practically not felt, but there are also those that cause catastrophic destruction and can cause a tsunami, which is especially dangerous.
Tsunamis are giant waves, the height of which can reach several tens of meters. These waves gain tremendous speed precisely near the coast, in the open ocean they reach only a few meters. The main reason for their occurrence is the seismic activity of the sea shelf. By the way, the word "tsunami", which is widely used, is Japanese.
The impact of tropical typhoons on the country
Tropical typhoon is a sea hurricane that occurs in the Pacific Ocean and is accompanied by strong winds and precipitation. The "track" of tropical typhoons crosses Japan, which is often accompanied by severe floods. Around 10 such typhoons flies through the country annually.
Relations with neighbors
The geographical position cannot but affect relations with neighbors, and Japan’s isolation from the continent made it even more complicated. One cannot ignore the past of Japan. For a long time, the Land of the Rising Sun fought for leadership in the east of Asia, not shying away from military means. The main rivals of Japan in the past were the USSR and China. During World War II, Japan seized part of Chinese territory and carried out harsh repressions against the Chinese people. The memory of those atrocities affects current Sino-Japanese relations. After the end of World War II, the dispute between Japan and the Russian Federation regarding the South Kuril ridge, which includes four islands, remained unresolved. Other countries in Southeast Asia are also in no hurry to establish relations with Japan.