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Archipelago

    Japan

    37°58′N 137°13′E

    four main islands of Japan

    Part of Japanese archipelago

    At Shiretoko Goko Lakes in Shari, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan.
    At Shiretoko Goko Lakes in Shari, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan.

    663highland / CC BY 2.5

    Chart

    4 landforms

    Major islands

    4
    • Honshu

      Honshu

      Area
      227,970 km²
      High point
      3,776 m

      Honshu, historically known as Akitsushima (秋津島; lit. 'dragonfly island') or Hondo (本土; lit. 'mainland'), is the largest of Japan's four main islands. It lies between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west).

    • Hokkaido

      Hokkaido

      Area
      77,983 km²
      High point
      2,291 m

      Hokkaido is the second-largest and northernmost of Japan's four main islands. Together with its surrounding islands, it comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The two islands are connected by railway via the Seikan Tunnel.

    • Kyushu

      Kyushu

      Area
      36,770 km²
      High point
      1,791 m

      Kyushu is the third-largest and most southerly of Japan's four main islands. In the past, it has been known as Kyūkoku (九国, "Nine Countries"), Chinzei (鎮西, "West of the Pacified Area") and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島, "Island of Tsukushi"). The historical regional name Saikaidō (西海道; lit.

    • Shikoku

      Shikoku

      Area
      18,284 km²
      High point
      1,982 m

      Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is 225 kilometres (140 miles) long and between 50 and 150 kilometres (30 and 95 miles) wide. 4 million, the least of Japan's four main islands. It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level1,000 m2,000 m3,000 m4,000 m3,776 mHonshu2,291 mHokkaido1,982 mShikoku1,791 mKyushu
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    10,000100,0001,000,000Honshu: 227,970 km²HonshuHokkaido: 77,983 km²HokkaidoKyushu: 36,770 km²KyushuShikoku: 18,284 km²Shikoku
    km², log scale
    Honshu227,970 km²
    Hokkaido77,983 km²
    Kyushu36,770 km²
    Shikoku18,284 km²

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata

    Photographs