General Information
Location
Japan lies in Northeast Asia, between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. It consists of 47 prefectures, which are commonly grouped into eight regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu/Okinawa.
– Hokkaido Island: Located in the far north of Japan.
– Honshu Island: the main island of Japan.
– Shikoku Island: the smallest of Japan Islands
– Kyushu Island: Located in southern Japan
Area
377,829 square kilometers (145,877 square miles).
Population
122.9 million inhabitants (2025 census).
Population Density
333.7 per square kilometer.
Capital
Tokyo
Time
GMT 9.
Currency
The unit of Japanese currency is the yen. Coins are in the following units of 1.5, 10, 50 100, and 500 yen, and paper currency is in the following units 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 yen.
You can buy the yen from accredited Currency Exchange banks or shops. At international airports Currency Exchange shops open doors for business during normal office hours. And exchange rates fluctuate daily depending on the currency market.
Political System
Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The National Diet, which is the highest organ of state power, consists of two houses: the House of Representatives (the lower house) and the House of Councillors (the upper house).
The House of Representatives has 465 members, who are elected for four-year terms, while the House of Councillors has 248 members, with half of its members elected every three years.
Natural Resource
Japan has limited natural resources. Its main resources include fish, forests, and small deposits of minerals such as limestone, coal, copper, gold, and silver, as well as geothermal and water resources.
Exports
Japan’s major exports include automobiles, automotive parts, machinery, electronic equipment, semiconductors, steel, chemicals, ships, and processed foods. Japan is one of the world’s leading exporters of high-value manufactured goods.
Trading Partners
Japan’s major trading partners in 2025 include China (20.3%), the United States (15.1%), South Korea (5.1%), Australia (4.0%), and Thailand (3.6%).