Map of Japan: regions, islands and prefectures
A map of Japan shows a long, curved archipelago stretching about 3,000 kilometres from the cold north of Hokkaido to the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Four main islands hold most of the population, surrounded by more than 14,000 smaller islands.
The main islands
| Island | Main cities | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Honshu | Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima | Largest island, home to most of the population |
| Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa | Northern, snowy winters, wide nature |
| Kyushu | Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima | Southwest, volcanoes and hot springs |
| Shikoku | Matsuyama, Takamatsu, Kochi | Smallest main island, pilgrimage route |
| Okinawa | Naha | Subtropical island chain in the far south |
The eight regions and their prefectures
| Region | Prefectures |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Hokkaido |
| Tohoku | Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima |
| Kanto | Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma |
| Chubu | Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi |
| Kansai (Kinki) | Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Shiga, Wakayama, Mie |
| Chugoku | Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, Tottori, Shimane |
| Shikoku | Ehime, Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi |
| Kyushu and Okinawa | Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa |
That makes 47 prefectures in total: Tokyo is a metropolis (to), Hokkaido a circuit (do), Osaka and Kyoto urban prefectures (fu), and the other 43 prefectures (ken).
Distances between major cities
| Route | Distance by rail | Fastest train |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo to Kyoto | About 510 km | About 2 h 15 |
| Tokyo to Osaka | About 550 km | About 2 h 30 |
| Tokyo to Hiroshima | About 890 km | About 4 h |
| Tokyo to Sapporo | About 1,150 km | About 8 h by train, 1 h 30 by plane |
| Osaka to Fukuoka | About 620 km | About 2 h 30 |
Reading a map of Japan for trip planning
Most first trips stay on Honshu along the Pacific corridor from Tokyo to Hiroshima, served by the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. Kanazawa and the Japan Alps lie on the Japan Sea side, reached by the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Hokkaido and Okinawa are usually reached by plane. Interactive maps from the Japan National Tourism Organization help zoom into each region.
Japanese addresses
Japanese addresses usually go from the largest unit to the smallest: prefecture, city, ward, district and block numbers, and most streets have no names. Using map apps with the full address or the building name is the easiest way to find a place on a map of Japan.
Main transport corridors
- Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen: Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
- Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen: Tokyo to Sendai, Aomori and Hakodate.
- Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo to Nagano, Kanazawa and Tsuruga.
- Kyushu Shinkansen: Fukuoka to Kumamoto and Kagoshima.
Using maps on the ground
Map apps work very well in Japan, with walking directions, station exits and train connections. Large stations have numbered exits; checking the right exit before leaving the platform saves long walks underground.
Time zones and distances
The whole country shares a single time zone, despite its length. Sunrise in Hokkaido comes about an hour earlier than in the southwest, which explains early sunsets in the north in winter.
Prefecture capitals
Most prefectures are named after their capital city, such as Hiroshima, Fukuoka or Nagasaki, but a few differ, including Sendai in Miyagi, Kanazawa in Ishikawa and Matsuyama in Ehime, which can confuse first-time travelers reading timetables.
Official source: Japan National Tourism Organization
Frequently asked questions
How many prefectures are on the map of Japan?
There are 47 prefectures, grouped into eight regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa.
What are the four main islands of Japan?
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Okinawa is the main island of a separate southern chain.
How far is Tokyo from Kyoto?
About 510 kilometres by rail, or roughly two hours and fifteen minutes on the fastest bullet train.