Country profile: Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Tokyo. The country consists of four main islands—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu—and many smaller islands. Mountains cover much of Japan, and several volcanoes are active. Japan also experiences earthquakes and, at times, tsunamis. Its varied climate ranges from cold, snowy winters in the north to subtropical conditions in the south. Most people live in coastal plains and urban areas, where transport, jobs and services are concentrated.