What is the capital of Japan?

Tokyo is the capital and largest city of Japan. It has been the seat of the Japanese government since 1869 and is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.

What is the official language of Japan?

Japanese (Nihongo) is the official and de facto national language of Japan. It is spoken by virtually the entire population of approximately 125 million people.

What type of government does Japan have?

Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. Emperor Naruhito is the head of state, while the Prime Minister leads the government. The National Diet (parliament) consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.

What is Japan's currency?

The Japanese yen (JPY, symbol ¥) is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the US dollar and the euro.

How many prefectures does Japan have?

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, organized into eight traditional regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki (Kansai), Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu-Okinawa.

What is Japan's population?

As of 2024, Japan's population is approximately 125 million people. Japan has been experiencing population decline since 2011 due to a low birth rate and limited immigration.

Japan Country Facts

Name: Japan Country Facts
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

A structured, fast-loading reference card covering Japan's geography, government, economy, and culture — all key facts in one place.

Basic Facts

Official Name Japan (Nihon-koku / Nippon-koku)

Capital City Tokyo

Largest City Tokyo

Population (2024) ~125 million

Official Language Japanese (Nihongo)

Currency Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥)

Country Code JP / JPN

Calling Code +81

Internet TLD .jp

National Day February 11 (National Foundation Day)

Time Zone JST (UTC+9) — no daylight saving

Drives On Left side

Geography

Total Area 377,975 km²

Land Area 364,485 km²

Water Area 13,430 km²

World Rank by Area 62nd largest country

Number of Islands 14,125 islands

Coastline 29,751 km

Highest Point Mt. Fuji (3,776 m)

Lowest Point Hachiro-gata reclaimed land (−4 m)

Largest Island Honshu (227,960 km²)

Longest River Shinano River (367 km)

Largest Lake Lake Biwa (670 km²)

Climate Zones Humid subtropical, subarctic, oceanic, highland

8 Traditional Regions (47 Prefectures)

Hokkaido

1 prefecture Northernmost region

Tohoku

6 prefectures Northeast Honshu

Kanto

7 prefectures Tokyo metropolitan area

Chubu

9 prefectures Central Honshu

Kinki (Kansai)

7 prefectures Osaka, Kyoto, Nara

Chugoku

5 prefectures Western Honshu

Shikoku

4 prefectures Shikoku island

Kyushu & Okinawa

8 prefectures Southernmost region

Government

Government Type Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government

Head of State Emperor Naruhito (since May 1, 2019)

Head of Government Prime Minister

Parliament (Diet) Bicameral: House of Councillors (248) + House of Representatives (465)

Constitution Constitution of Japan (promulgated Nov 3, 1946; in force May 3, 1947)

Imperial Era Reiwa era (since May 1, 2019)

Legal System Civil law system based on German model

Voting Age 18 years

Major Parties Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Constitutional Democratic Party, Komeito

Administrative Units 47 prefectures, 1 metropolis (Tokyo), 2 urban prefectures, 1 circuit (Hokkaido)

Economy

GDP (nominal, 2024) ~$4.1 trillion USD

GDP per Capita ~$33,100 USD

World GDP Rank 4th largest economy

Inflation Rate ~2.5% (2024)

Unemployment Rate ~2.5% (2024)

Major Exports Motor vehicles, machinery, electronic equipment, chemicals

Top Trade Partners China, USA, South Korea, Australia

Major Industries Motor vehicles, electronics, machinery, steel, chemicals, semiconductors

Natural Resources Negligible minerals; relies heavily on imports for energy and raw materials

Stock Exchange Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE / JPX)

Central Bank Bank of Japan (Nihon Ginko)

Trade Agreements CPTPP, EPA with EU, RCEP, WTO

Fun Facts

Japan has more than 1,500 active and dormant volcanoes, including the iconic Mt. Fuji, which last erupted in 1707.

Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes per year — more than any other country — due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Japanese writing system uses three scripts simultaneously: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji (Chinese-origin characters), often mixed in a single sentence.

Japan has the world's oldest continuously operating company: Kongo Gumi, a construction firm founded in 578 CE that operated for over 1,400 years.

Japan has more vending machines per capita than any other country — approximately one machine for every 23 people, selling everything from hot meals to umbrellas.

The Shinkansen (bullet train) network, launched in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympics, has carried over 10 billion passengers with a safety record of zero passenger fatalities.

Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world at around 84 years, and Okinawa Prefecture is renowned for its concentration of centenarians.

The manga and anime industry generates over $24 billion annually, making Japan the world's largest producer and exporter of comics and animation.

Data sourced from Statistics Bureau of Japan, World Bank, CIA World Factbook, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Figures are approximate and reflect 2024 estimates.

Summary

A structured, fast-loading reference card covering Japan's geography, government, economy, and culture — all key facts in one place.

How it works

Browse the cards arranged by topic: Basic Facts, Geography, Government, Economy, and Fun Facts.
Each card presents concise data points drawn from authoritative sources (Statistics Bureau of Japan, World Bank, CIA World Factbook).
Use the section navigation at the top to jump directly to the category you need.
All figures are static reference data — no input required.

Use cases

Students preparing for geography or social studies assignments.
Travelers wanting a quick overview before visiting Japan.
Quiz enthusiasts looking for verified Japanese trivia.
Journalists or writers needing a fast fact-check on Japanese statistics.
Educators creating classroom materials about East Asia.
Business professionals researching the Japanese market.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: 2026-05-29 · Reviewed by Nham Vu