Most visitors picture Tokyo, but Japan is many countries in one: subtropical islands, snowy north, shrinking villages, and regions that are proud of their own words and mascots. This page gathers every regional guide on Japan Makes Sense.
Read them in order if you want the full picture, or jump to the region or issue that interests you. Each link leads to a full article.
Cities and Countryside
- City vs. country in Japan explains two ways of living inside one country.
- Why Hokkaido and Okinawa feel like different countries compares the north and the south, from food to climate.
- The shrinking countryside looks at why rural Japan is emptying out.
- The reality of akiya explains Japan’s abandoned homes and why they stay empty.
Local Identity
- Why Japan has so many dialects explains why regional speech can confuse even learners of Japanese.
- Why every region has a local mascot looks at yuru-kyara such as Kumamon.
- How matsuri bring communities together shows how festivals tie a neighborhood together.
- What furusato nozei reveals about hometowns explains how donations to a town bring gifts in return.
Island Japan
- Island Japan looks at the isolated communities among the more than 6,800 islands, of which around 420 are permanently inhabited.
What Connects Regional Japan
Regional Japan is shaped by two forces pulling in opposite directions: strong local identity, shown in dialects, mascots, and festivals, and steady population decline in rural areas. Many of the guides above are really about how communities respond to that tension, from tax donations that support hometowns to island and village revival efforts.
Where to Start
Begin with city versus country, then Hokkaido and Okinawa. If you are interested in why places are changing, continue with the shrinking countryside and furusato nozei.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many islands does Japan have?
More than 6,800 by the usual count, of which around 420 are permanently inhabited. See our island guide.
What is furusato nozei?
It is a system in which people donate to a municipality of their choice and receive local gifts in return, while paying essentially the same total in tax. This article explains it.
Why do Japanese regions have such different dialects?
Regional speech has developed separately enough that it can confuse even people who studied standard Japanese. See our dialect guide.
More complete guides: Housing in Japan · Etiquette and unwritten rules · Daily life · Working in Japan · Getting around · Festivals and traditions · Traditional arts and crafts · Martial arts
Related Reading
- City vs. Country in Japan: Two Ways of Living, One Country
- Why Hokkaido and Okinawa Feel Like Different Countries
- The Shrinking Countryside: Why Rural Japan Is Emptying Out
- Island Japan: The Isolated Communities That Refused to Disappear
- Why Does Japan Have So Many Dialects? — The Soul of a Region Lives in Its Words
- Why Every Japanese Region Has Its Own Local Mascot (Yuru-kyara)
- What Furusato Nozei Reveals About Japan’s Relationship With Hometowns
- The Reality of Akiya: Japan’s Millions of Abandoned Homes