Living in Japan

Japan is located in East Asia and stretches across the Pacific as a long, narrow island nation; around 126.5 million people live there. Four main islands, smaller islands, densely forested mountains and active volcanoes shape the landscape. In the north, winters are cold and snowy, while the south is subtropical and warm in many places; in summer, rainy seasons and typhoons bring varying amounts of precipitation depending on the region. Many people live in cities in relatively small apartments and use trains, buses or bicycles, especially in metropolitan areas. People often work in offices, factories, shops or schools, while leisure time is spent visiting family, playing sports, eating and attending local festivals. In rural regions, cars are more important, and everyday life is often quieter than in Tokyo or Osaka.