Japan's area is larger than Germany and comparable to Italy or California. Japan's northernmost islands are located approximately on the same geographical latitude as Milan or Portland while her southernmost islands are about on the same latitude as the Bahamas. More than two thirds of the area of Japan is mountainous and covered by forests. Because the mountains cover so much land, most people live in the cities. Japan's population density of 825 people per square mile is one of the highest in the world.

Japan has four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) and thousands of smaller ones with a combined total of 17,000 mi/27,000 km of coastline. Japan has more than 70 volcanoes, which make up part of the Pacific's Ring of Fire, an enormous circle of volcanoes along the edge of the Pacific Plate that runs through New Zealand, the Philippines, Alaska, and California.

The temperature varies widely on any given day. May, June and July are the rainiest months and June, July and August are hot and more humid. Winter months can become quite cold or most likely be drizzly and dreary. It's sweater weather during these months.