Page 132 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

130  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

Japan at a Glance Wakkanai

Honshu, Japan’s largest island, is characterized by its
mountainous center and densely populated southern coastline.
Most of Japan’s ancient temples, shrines, and imperial cities are
on Honshu, along with the capital, Tokyo. North of Honshu lies
the island of Hok kaido, a largely unspoiled wilderness of HOKKAIDO
(see pp284–95)
national parks, snow bound for much of the year. The quiet, Sapporo
traditional island of Shikoku lies south of Honshu, as does The Inland Sea, separating Honshu and
Kyushu island, a varied mixture of modern cities, hot springs, Shikoku islands
and archaeological ruins. A string of subtropical islands with
Okinawa at the center stretches away to the southwest.
Hakodate
Okinawa Archipelago

Aomori

Morioka
Konomine-ji is NORTHERN
Temple 27 on Shikoku’s
Amami HONSHU
Nakijin Castle Ruin (see p261) on Island 88-temple pilgrimage (see pp264–83)
Okinawa’s northwest coast dates from the (see pp232–3). The
14th century. It is one of several historical thousands of pilgrims
and cultural sights that make this colorful, who travel the route Sendai
exotic island more than simply a beach every year are following
resort destination. Okinawa Island in the footsteps of Kukai,
the 9th-century founder Niigata
Naha
of Shingon-sect Buddhism.
OKINAWA
(see pp254–63)
Miyako Island 0 kilometers 100 Nagano
Yaeyama 0 miles 50
Islands
Takayama
TOKYO
CENTRAL (see pp64–127)
HONSHU
(see pp132–57)
WESTERN
Miyajima island’s vermilion Nagoya
HONSHU
torii (gate) is one of Japan’s (see pp190–223) KYOTO CITY
most famous sights. (see pp158–89)
Hiroshima Osaka
Fukuoka SHIKOKU
(see pp224–33)
KYUSHU
Nagasaki (see pp234–53)

The Peace Park in Nagasaki (see Kagoshima
pp244–7) is directly below the
detonation site of the second atomic
bomb, for which the city is now known
worldwide. A cosmopolitan port for
centuries, it has regenerated since the 0 kilometers 200
war to become a thriving urban center. Okinawa 0 miles 100
Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan

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