Special Sub-Topic: Japan Geography 101 Click Here To Play: Japan Geography 101

Which of the following is not an island of Japan?

Fukushima. 'Shima' means 'island' in Japanese, but Fukushima is not an island. It is a prefecture on the main island of Honshu. Hokkaido is the northern-most island, and Shikoku and Okinawa are in the south. Okinawa is a popular tourist destination, like Hawaii.

From which of the following cities are you most likely to see Mt. Fuji?

Kamakura. Kamakura, a former capital, is located south of Tokyo and makes an excellent day trip from the current capital. Sapporo is on the island of Hokkaido. Mt. Fuji is on the island of Honshu. Aomori can be found at the northern tip of Honshu, and Hiroshima is near the southern end of the same island. Both are too far away from the famous mountain for it to be visible.

The 1998 Olympic Winter Games were held in which area of Japan?

Nagano. If you ever want to go skiing in Japan, Nagano is the place to go. The area is known as the Japanese Alps and boasts some really nice hot springs as well. Of the other three choices, Hokkaido is the only other reasonable choice. Nikko's main attraction is ancient temples, and Fukuoka is on the southern island of Kyushu.

In 2002, what Japanese river was the home of a famous Arctic bearded seal?

Tama River. The seal is known throughout Japan as Tama-chan. The cute little seal has won the hearts of the Japanese, but has had struggles in life in the Tama River, including an embedded fish hook.

Where would you find the international airport of Narita?

Chiba. It takes approximately anywhere from one to two hours to get to Tokyo from Narita via train. Newcomers to Japan can get a wonderful view of the Japanese countryside before entering the largest metropolis in the world.

On January 17, 1995, which Japanese city suffered from a major natural disaster?

Kobe. According to the city web site, the city of Kobe was hit by a 7.2 earthquake, by the Richter scale measure. 4,571 people died and 14,678 people were injured.

What island chain is the focus of a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia?

Kurile Islands. This dispute dates back to World War II, when Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Powers. While Russia had never before ruled over these islands prior to World War II, they are currently under Russian administration. Yamagata and Tottori are both prefectures found on the island of Honshu. Adachi is a ward of Tokyo.

What do Nara and Kyoto have in common?

All of these (They were capitals., They are on the island of Honshu., They have sites designated as World Heritage Sites.). Nara became the first permanent capital around 710, but for only 75 years. It was succeeded by Kyoto, which was the capital until 1868. It was finally moved to Tokyo with the Meiji restoration, and it has been there ever since.

Where would you find the domestic airport, Haneda?

Tokyo Bay. This is of course a rather unusual place for an airport, but Tokyo is crowded.

From what city, does the Shinano River empty into the Sea of Japan?

Niigata. The Shinano River is the longest river in Japan. It starts in the Nagano prefecture, bearing the name, Chikuma River. In the Niigata prefecture, it is known as the Shinano River.