Nagoya
Aichi · 4th-largest
35.1815, 136.9066
Reference map
Map of Japan
Japan's major cities by region — Kanto (Tokyo area), Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto), Kyushu, and Hokkaido.
Chubu
4 locationsHamamatsu
Shizuoka
34.7108, 137.7261
Niigata
Niigata Prefecture · Sea of Japan
37.9026, 139.0233
Shizuoka
Shizuoka · Mt. Fuji views
34.9756, 138.3828
Chugoku
2 locationsHiroshima
Chugoku · Peace Park
34.3853, 132.4553
Okayama
Chugoku
34.6551, 133.9195
Hokkaido
1 locationSapporo
Hokkaido · capital · snow festival
43.0618, 141.3545
Kansai
4 locationsOsaka
Kansai · 2nd-largest metro
34.6937, 135.5023
Kyoto
Kansai · former capital · 1,000 temples
35.0116, 135.7681
Kobe
Hyogo · port city · famous beef
34.6901, 135.1955
Nara
Kansai · ancient capital · deer park
34.6851, 135.8048
Kanto
6 locationsTokyo
Capital · Honshu · 14M people
35.6762, 139.6503
Yokohama
Kanagawa · port city
35.4437, 139.6380
Saitama
Saitama Prefecture
35.8617, 139.6455
Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
35.6074, 140.1065
Kawasaki
Kanagawa
35.5308, 139.7029
Sagamihara
Kanagawa
35.5713, 139.3733
Kyushu
5 locationsFukuoka
Kyushu · gateway to Asia
33.5904, 130.4017
Kita-Kyushu
Kyushu
33.8835, 130.8751
Kumamoto
Kyushu · famous castle
32.7898, 130.7417
Kagoshima
Kyushu · active volcano
31.5969, 130.5571
Nagasaki
Kyushu · port city
32.7503, 129.8779
Okinawa
1 locationNaha
Okinawa · subtropical
26.2125, 127.6809
Tohoku
1 locationSendai
Miyagi · Tohoku region capital
38.2682, 140.8694
Japan's 8 regions + 47 prefectures
Japan is divided into 8 regions and 47 prefectures across 4 main islands.
- Honshu: largest island, home of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto
- Hokkaido: northern island, famous for snow + skiing
- Kyushu: southern, gateway to Asia, famous food
- Shikoku: smallest of the four main islands
- Okinawa: subtropical chain south of Kyushu
Major economic + cultural hubs
Where to find Japan's biggest cities by region.
- Kanto (Tokyo): Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Saitama, Chiba
- Kansai (Osaka): Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara
- Chubu: Nagoya, Hamamatsu, Niigata
- Kyushu: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki
- Hokkaido: Sapporo
Travel tips
Japan rewards careful trip planning.
- Shinkansen (bullet train) connects all major Honshu cities
- Get a JR Pass before arrival if you'll be hopping cities
- Cherry blossom season (late March–early April) books out a year ahead
- Avoid Golden Week (early May) — domestic travel is chaos
Frequently asked questions
How many prefectures in Japan?
47 — including 1 metropolis (Tokyo), 1 'do' (Hokkaido), 2 urban prefectures, and 43 regular ones.
Largest Japanese city?
Tokyo metro area: ~37 million — the world's largest urban agglomeration.
Best base for first-timer?
Tokyo or Kyoto — depending on whether you prefer modern megacity or temples + traditional culture.
Active volcanoes in Japan?
About 110 active volcanoes, including Mount Fuji.
Can I embed this map?
Build a customized version in MapsMaker and embed it.
Is this tool free?
Yes — viewing and using this map is free.
Build a custom version of this map
Add your own pins, colors, and content. Embed it anywhere.