Capital of Japan: Tokyo — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Japan is Tokyo. Japan sits in Asia, has a population of 125,124,989, and uses the JPY. Official languages include Japanese.
Quick facts
- Capital: Tokyo
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~125,124,989
- Area: 377,975 km²
- Population density: 331 people per km²
- Official language: Japanese
- Currency: JPY
- ISO code: JP
How big is Japan?
By population, Japan ranks 11th in the world, holding roughly 1.57% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 62nd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Japan has 331 people per square kilometre, which is about 5.6 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Japan is the 6th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Japan in population are Ethiopia (123,379,924) and Mexico (127,504,125).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Norway (385,207 km²) and Zimbabwe (390,757 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Japanese is listed as an official language of Japan alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Japan uses the JPY, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Japan
Tokyo means 'Eastern Capital'. The city was once called Edo, and it got its new name in 1868, when the emperor's capital moved there from Kyoto in the west. For the flag, think of a red sun rising on a plain white sky.
The flag of Japan: white and red
🇯🇵 The flag is a white flag with a large red disc in the centre. The red disc stands for the sun, which fits the country's nickname, the Land of the Rising Sun. The flag is commonly called the Hinomaru, 'circle of the sun', and it became the official national flag by law in 1999.
Region and neighbours
Japan is an island country in East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean, made up of four major islands and more than 14,000 smaller ones. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Japan
- Mount Fuji, a volcano on the island of Honshu, is the highest mountain in Japan at about 3,776 m.
- The Greater Tokyo Area is the biggest metropolitan area in the world, with about 37 million people.
- Japan's first high-speed Shinkansen ('bullet train') line opened in 1964, just before the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Sources: Wikipedia: Japan, Wikipedia: Flag of Japan, Wikipedia: Tokyo, Wikipedia: Mount Fuji, Wikipedia: Shinkansen, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Japan
- Asian capitals quiz — match Japan to Tokyo
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Japan flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Japan is an island country
Japan capital quiz
What is the capital of Japan 🇯🇵?
- Damascus
- Tokyo
- Tehran
- Jakarta
Show answer
Tokyo
What is the capital of Philippines 🇵🇭?
- Muscat
- Taipei
- Doha
- Manila
Show answer
Manila
What is the capital of Vietnam 🇻🇳?
- Kabul
- Hanoi
- Kathmandu
- Sana'a
Show answer
Hanoi
What is the capital of Bangladesh 🇧🇩?
- Ashgabat
- Kuwait City
- Tehran
- Dhaka
Show answer
Dhaka
What is the capital of Iran 🇮🇷?
- Tehran
- Bangkok
- Beijing
- Kabul
Show answer
Tehran
Japan capital quiz tip
Kyoto is the classic trap. It was the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, but the capital of Japan today is Tokyo.
Japan in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Japan belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Japan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Japan?
The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
Is Kyoto the capital of Japan?
No. Kyoto was Japan's historic imperial capital; the capital today is Tokyo.
What is the population of Japan?
About 125,124,989, making it the 11th most populous country in the world.
How big is Japan?
377,975 square kilometres, ranking 62nd by land area, at a density of 331 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Japan use?
The JPY, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Japan flag?
The flag of Japan is a white flag with a large red disc in the centre. The red disc stands for the sun, which fits the country's nickname, the Land of the Rising Sun. The flag is commonly called the Hinomaru, 'circle of the sun', and it became the official national flag by law in 1999.
Which countries border Japan?
None. Japan is an island country in East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean, made up of four major islands and more than 14,000 smaller ones, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Japan?
Tokyo means 'Eastern Capital'. The city was once called Edo, and it got its new name in 1868, when the emperor's capital moved there from Kyoto in the west. For the flag, think of a red sun rising on a plain white sky.
More capitals to learn
Get the free Mind Skills Arcade app
Brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, free and offline: Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store