Ah, Japan.
This historical, beautiful, and mysterious land attracts millions of tourists every year due to its incredible architecture, rich art scene, and unique traditions.
But that’s not all.
Its explosive (literally) landscape, delicious cuisine, and world-known pop culture also drive millions of intrepid travelers and curious families from around the world to visit the island.
So, if you are planning a family trip there or just want to ignite your children’s interest in this fascinating East Asian country, here are 22 fun facts to share with them.
Some of them might really surprise you!
- The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
- 125.93 million people live in the country.
- Japan has four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
- The entire Japanese archipelago is made up of 6852 islands.
- Honshu sits at the junction of three tectonic plates: the Eurasian, North American, and Philippines plates.
- Japan’s three closest neighbors are Korea, China and Russia.
- The Japanese archipelago is separated from the Asian continent by The Sea of Japan.
- The Japanese currency is the Yen.
- Japan experiences over 1500 earthquakes every year.
- The country is home to 440 volcanoes (we told you they are explosive).
- There are 111 active volcanoes in Japan.
- The first Europeans arrived in Japan by accident in the 1500s.
- Japan is also called the ‘’Land of the Rising Sun’’ because, for Western countries, it lies close to where the sun rises.
- In Japanese, Japan is called Nihon (or Nippon), which means ‘’where the sun rises’’.
- In the Jigokudani Monkey Park, visitors can see local snow monkeys bathing in natural hot springs!
- There are over 32,000 insect species in Japan.
- Growing bonsai (a miniature tree) is a popular hobby across the Japanese archipelago.
- 80% of Japan is covered with mountains.
- Japanese people have the highest life expectancy (87.32 years for women and 81.25 years for men).
- A typical Japanese meal consists of rice, fish, meat or vegetables.
- Some of the most popular types of meats include raw horse meat, whale meat and octopus meat.
- In Japan, people greet each other by bowing.
Really cool facts about Japan, right? Are you ready to book your next flight to visit this awesome country? Well, here are a few suggestions on things you can do in Japan with kids.
What are the best things to do in Japan with kids?
Japan has many fun attractions and activities for families to enjoy during their stay. Here’s a rundown of the five best things to do in the land of the rising sun:
- Universal Studios Osaka
- Nara Park
- Tobu World Square
- Ueno Zoo
- National Museum of Nature and Science
And this concludes our journey to Japan today! We hope that you will enjoy going through these fun facts together as a family and that it will make you want to learn even more about this beautiful country.
Want To Make Learning Fun For Your Kids?
At The Landmark Kids, we’re all about helping children to develop their sense of adventure and curiosity through learning geography and culture the fun way.
That’s why we’ve created fun monthly geography mystery boxes. Each one is designed around a country and filled with fun clues, puzzles, and souvenirs to solve a mystery. And with the holidays coming up, now is the perfect time to place your order!
Whether you want to surprise your children with a fun present or your loved ones with an original gift that will help spark their kids’ curiosity about geography and ignite their sense of adventure, our monthly boxes will be sure to make for a fun experience 😉