List of extreme points of Japan

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Extreme points of Japan marked on the map Extreme points japan map.png
Extreme points of Japan marked on the map

The extreme points of Japan include the coordinates that are the farthest north, south, east and west in Japan, and the ones that are at the highest and the lowest elevations in the country. Japan's northernmost point is disputed, because Japan considers it to be on Iturup, an island de facto governed by Russia. The southernmost point is Okinotorishima; the westernmost is Tuishi  [ jp ] near Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and the easternmost is Minami Torishima. The highest point in Japan is the summit of Mount Fuji at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft). At 150 m (492 ft) below sea level, the bottom of Hachinohe mine is the country's lowest point. The surface of Hachirōgata is Japan's lowest natural point at 4 m (13 ft) below sea level. All extreme locations are uninhabited.

Contents

Japan extends from 20° to 45° north latitude (Okinotorishima to Benten-jima) and from 122° to 153° east longitude (Yonaguni to Minami Torishima). [1] The coordinates used in this article are sourced from Google Earth, which makes use of the World Geodetic System (WGS) 84.

Extreme points

Benten Island, northernmost point under effective Japanese control Zong Gu Jia Bian Tian Dao .JPG
Benten Island, northernmost point under effective Japanese control
A monument indicates the northernmost point of Japan at Cape Soya on Hokkaido. The northernmost point of Japan monument in Soya cape.jpg
A monument indicates the northernmost point of Japan at Cape Sōya on Hokkaido.
Tuishi, Japan's westernmost point off Yonaguni Island Tuishi3-Yonaguni.jpg
Tuishi, Japan's westernmost point off Yonaguni Island
Japan's easternmost point lies on Minami Torishima in the Pacific Ocean. Aerial-View-Minamitori-Island-1987.jpg
Japan's easternmost point lies on Minami Torishima in the Pacific Ocean.
Okinotori Island, Japan's southernmost point Okinotorishima20070602.jpg
Okinotori Island, Japan's southernmost point
Hateruma Island, Japan's southernmost inhabited location Hateruma-minami.jpg
Hateruma Island, Japan's southernmost inhabited location

The northernmost point that Japan claims lies on the disputed island of Iturup. Japan's claim to the three southernmost islands of the Kuril Islands is disputed by Russia, which de facto controls the islands. This list provides the northernmost point as claimed by Japan as well as the northernmost undisputed point in Japan.

Overall

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref.
North
(disputed)
Cape Kamoiwakka Hokkaido [b] Sea of Okhotsk 45°33′26″N148°45′09″E / 45.55722°N 148.75250°E / 45.55722; 148.75250 (Cape Kamoiwakka (Northernmost - disputed)) [2]
North
(undisputed)
Benten-jima Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′38″N141°55′06″E / 45.52722°N 141.91833°E / 45.52722; 141.91833 (Bentenjima (Northernmost - undisputed)) [3]
South Okinotorishima [c] Tokyo Philippine Sea 20°25′31″N136°04′11″E / 20.42528°N 136.06972°E / 20.42528; 136.06972 (Okinotorishima (Southernmost))
East Minami Torishima Tokyo Pacific Ocean 24°16′59″N153°59′11″E / 24.28306°N 153.98639°E / 24.28306; 153.98639 (Minami Torishima (Easternmost))
West Tuishi  [ jp ] Okinawa East China Sea 24°27′5″N122°55′57″E / 24.45139°N 122.93250°E / 24.45139; 122.93250 ((Westernmost))

Five main islands

The five main islands of Japan are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Shikoku, Kyūshū and Okinawa. [4] All of these points are accessible to the public.

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Cape Sōya Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′22″N141°56′11″E / 45.52278°N 141.93639°E / 45.52278; 141.93639 (Cape Sōya)
South Cape Arasaki  [ jp ] Okinawa Miyako Strait 26°04′28″N127°40′38″E / 26.07444°N 127.67722°E / 26.07444; 127.67722 (Cape Arasaki)
East Cape Nosappu Hokkaidō Pacific Ocean 43°23′06″N145°49′03″E / 43.38500°N 145.81750°E / 43.38500; 145.81750 (Cape Nosappu)
West Naha Airport Okinawa East China Sea 26°12′22″N127°37′50″E / 26.20611°N 127.63056°E / 26.20611; 127.63056 (Naha Airport)

Hokkaidō

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Cape Sōya Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′22″N141°56′11″E / 45.52278°N 141.93639°E / 45.52278; 141.93639 (Cape Sōya)
South Cape Shirakami Hokkaidō Tsugaru Strait 41°23′51″N140°11′51″E / 41.39750°N 140.19750°E / 41.39750; 140.19750 (Cape Shirakami)
East Cape Nosappu Hokkaidō Pacific Ocean 43°23′06″N145°49′03″E / 43.38500°N 145.81750°E / 43.38500; 145.81750 (Cape Nosappu)
West Cape Obana  [ jp ] Hokkaidō Sea of Japan 42°18′11″N139°46′01″E / 42.30306°N 139.76694°E / 42.30306; 139.76694 (Cape Obana)

Honshū

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Cape Ōma Aomori Tsugaru Strait 41°32′47″N140°54′45″E / 41.54639°N 140.91250°E / 41.54639; 140.91250 (Cape Ōma)
South Cape Shionomisaki Wakayama Pacific Ocean 33°25′59″N135°45′45″E / 33.43306°N 135.76250°E / 33.43306; 135.76250 (Cape Shirakami)
East Cape Todo Iwate Pacific Ocean 39°32′53″N142°04′21″E / 39.54806°N 142.07250°E / 39.54806; 142.07250 (Cape Todo)
West Cape Bisha  [ jp ] Yamaguchi Tsushima Strait 34°06′39″N130°51′38″E / 34.11083°N 130.86056°E / 34.11083; 130.86056 (Cape Obana)

Shikoku

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Cape Takei  [ jp ] Kagawa Bungo Channel 34°24′01″N134°08′12″E / 34.40028°N 134.13667°E / 34.40028; 134.13667 (Cape Takei)
South Cape Ashizuri Kochi Philippine Sea 32°43′19″N133°00′19″E / 32.72194°N 133.00528°E / 32.72194; 133.00528 (Cape Ashizuri)
East Cape Gamōda  [ jp ] Tokushima Kii Channel 33°50′03″N134°45′00″E / 33.83417°N 134.75000°E / 33.83417; 134.75000 (Cape Gamōda)
West Cape Sada  [ jp ] Ehime Hōyo Strait 33°20′38″N132°00′45″E / 33.34389°N 132.01250°E / 33.34389; 132.01250 (Cape Sada)

Kyūshū

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Tachinoura Container Terminal Fukuoka Kanmon Straits 33°58′12″N131°00′08″E / 33.97000°N 131.00222°E / 33.97000; 131.00222 (Tachinoura Container Terminal)
South Cape Sata Kagoshima East China Sea 30°59′40″N130°39′37″E / 30.99444°N 130.66028°E / 30.99444; 130.66028 (Cape Sata)
East Cape Tsurumi  [ jp ] Oita Hōyo Strait 32°44′54″N132°05′04″E / 32.74833°N 132.08444°E / 32.74833; 132.08444 (Cape Tsurumi)
West Kōzakihana Nagasaki East China Sea 33°12′33″N129°33′18″E / 33.20917°N 129.55500°E / 33.20917; 129.55500 (Kōzakihana)

Okinawa

HeadingLocation Prefecture Bordering entityCoordinates [a] Ref
North Cape Hedo Okinawa East China Sea, Pacific Ocean 26°52′24″N128°15′53″E / 26.87333°N 128.26472°E / 26.87333; 128.26472 (Cape Hedo)
South Cape Arasaki  [ jp ] Okinawa Miyako Strait 26°04′28″N127°40′38″E / 26.07444°N 127.67722°E / 26.07444; 127.67722 (Cape Arasaki)
East Sedakazaki Okinawa Pacific Ocean 26°44′58″N128°19′37″E / 26.74944°N 128.32694°E / 26.74944; 128.32694 (Sedakazaki)
West Naha Airport Okinawa East China Sea 26°12′22″N127°37′50″E / 26.20611°N 127.63056°E / 26.20611; 127.63056 (Naha Airport)

Extreme altitudes

The summit of Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan. MtFuji FujiCity.jpg
The summit of Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan.
Hachirogata is the lowest natural point in Japan. Oga Peninsula and Hachirogata Akita Japan SRTM.jpg
Hachirogata is the lowest natural point in Japan.
ExtremityNameAltitude Prefecture Coordinates [a] Ref.
Highest Mount Fuji 3,776 m (12,388 ft) Yamanashi 35°21′29″N138°43′52″E / 35.35806°N 138.73111°E / 35.35806; 138.73111 (Mount Fuji (Highest)) [5]
Lowest (man-made) Hachinohe mine 170 m (558 ft) Aomori 40°27′10″N141°32′16″E / 40.45278°N 141.53778°E / 40.45278; 141.53778 (Hachinohe mine (Lowest - man-made)) [6]
Lowest (natural) Hachirōgata 4 m (13 ft) Akita 39°54′50″N140°01′15″E / 39.91389°N 140.02083°E / 39.91389; 140.02083 (Hachirōgata (Lowest - natural)) [5]


See also

Notes

References

  1. "GeoHack - Geography of Japan". GeoHack. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  2. "Google Maps (Cape Kamoiwakka)". Google. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  3. "Google Maps (Bentenjima)". Google. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  4. "離島とは(島の基礎知識) (what is a remote island?)". MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) (in Japanese). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original (website) on 2007-11-13. Retrieved 9 August 2019. MILT classification 6,852 islands(main islands: 5 islands, remote islands: 6,847 islands)
  5. 1 2 "Japan: Geography". The World Factbook . CIA . Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  6. 施設見学ガイド 八戸鉱山株式会社 八戸石灰鉱山(八戸キャニオン). The Information Center for Energy and Environment Education (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-04-06.