Which Countries Border Japan?

Japan is an island nation separated from Asian mainland by the Sea of Japan.

Japan is an island nation located in East Asia. The country occupies a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Korean Peninsula. These islands stretch from the East China Sea in the south to the Sea of Okhotsk in the north.

Japan's territory includes more than 6,000 islands that cover a total area of approximately 377,900 km², which is slightly smaller than the US state of California, but larger than Germany. The main islands of Japan are Kyūshū, Shikoku, Hokkaidō, and Honshū.

Japanese is the country's official language, Tokyo is the national capital, and the country had a population of nearly 127 million in 2017. Japan is a highly industrialized nation and is famous for its major airports, roads, expressways, and cities.

Although Japan does share a land border with any countries, it shares maritime borders with the following nations: Taiwan (Republic of China), the Northern Mariana Islands (US territory), the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, China, and North Korea. Some of these maritime borders are highlighted below.

Maritime Borders of Japan

China

Japan is separated from the People's Republic of China by the East China Sea. Given this proximity, Chinese language, culture, and religion have greatly influenced Japan.

North Korea

The Sea of Japan (East Sea) separates Japan from the east coast of North Korea.

South Korea

South Korea is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, and is separated from Japan by the Korea Strait.

Russia

Russia is bordered by fourteen countries, and shares maritime borders with the United States, Sweden, Turkey, and Japan. The maritime border between Russia and Japan is defined by several straits, including the La Perouse Strait, the Nemuro Strait, and the Sovietsky Strait.