Honshu
Largest and most populous island of Japan.
Honshu is the largest of Japan's four main islands, historically known as Akitsushima or Hondo. As the historical center of Japanese cultural and political power, Honshu includes several past capitals, such as Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura, and contains Japan's highest mountain, Mount Fuji, and its largest lake, Lake Biwa.
- Longest river
- Shinano River
- Largest lake
- Lake Biwa
- Number of active volcanoes
- 40
Lore & Background
The Jōmon period (c.
Reader's Guide
Honshu is the core of Japan's historical, cultural, and economic life. It generates around US$3.5 trillion, more than 80% of Japan's GDP, and most of Japan's industry is located in a belt along its southern coast from Tokyo to Hiroshima. The island is linked to Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku by bridges and tunnels, including the Seikan Tunnel and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The island's climate varies from four seasons in the north to long, hot summers and mild winters in the south, with heavy snowfall in central regions like Niigata and Nagano. Its population is concentrated in coastal areas, with about 30% in the Greater Tokyo Area on the Kantō Plain.
Did You Know?
- Honshu is the seventh-largest island in the world and the second-most populous after Java.
- The island has 40 active volcanoes and is seismically active, being on the Ring of Fire.
- Honshu's land area has been increasing due to land reclamation and coastal uplift from plate tectonics.
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