Japan is full of surprises, from the number of islands it has to how seriously it takes train timetables. Whether you are planning a trip or just curious, here are 15 fun facts about Japan that help explain what makes the country so fascinating.
15 Fun Facts About Japan
1. Japan has more than 14,000 islands
For decades, Japan was said to have 6,852 islands. A new count using modern mapping in 2023 found 14,125. Most people live on the four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
2. Sumo is the national sport
Sumo has roots in Shinto rituals going back more than a thousand years. Six grand tournaments take place each year, three of them in Tokyo. Baseball, however, is the most popular sport to watch.
3. Japanese cuisine is UNESCO-listed
Washoku, traditional Japanese food culture, was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013, recognizing its respect for nature and seasonal ingredients. See the best food in Japan.
4. Mount Fuji is an active volcano
Japan's tallest mountain (3,776 meters) last erupted in 1707. It is sacred in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. Shoes come off indoors
You take your shoes off in homes, ryokan, temples, and some restaurants, and swap into slippers. There are even separate slippers for the toilet. Read our Japan etiquette tips.
6. The bullet train is almost always on time
The shinkansen's average delay is well under a minute per train, including delays caused by natural disasters. In 2017, a railway company publicly apologized for a train leaving 20 seconds early.
7. Shibuya Crossing is the world's busiest
Up to around 3,000 people can cross Shibuya Crossing at once when the lights change.
8. Slurping noodles is polite
Slurping cools the noodles and shows you are enjoying them.
9. Four is an unlucky number
The word for four (shi) sounds like the word for death, so some buildings and hospitals skip the number four, and gifts are rarely given in sets of four.
10. Hanami is a national pastime
Every spring, people across Japan gather for picnics under the cherry blossoms. The national weather agency even tracks the blossoms. See our guide to cherry blossom season in Japan.
11. There are thousands of onsen
Japan's volcanic landscape gives it more than 3,000 hot spring areas, from rustic mountain baths to resort towns like Beppu and Hakone.
12. People in Japan live a long time
Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, and some of the most centenarians per capita. Okinawa is famous for its long-lived residents.
13. Tokyo is the world's biggest metropolitan area
Greater Tokyo is home to around 37 million people, making it the largest urban area in the world.
14. Vending machines are everywhere
Japan has around four million vending machines, roughly one for every 30 people. They sell hot and cold drinks, snacks, ice cream, and sometimes more unusual items like soup or umbrellas.
15. Convenience stores are a way of life
There are more than 55,000 convenience stores in Japan. You can eat, pay bills, send luggage, print documents, buy concert tickets, and withdraw cash at most of them.
Planning a Trip to Japan?
Start with our Japan travel guide, and make sure you can get online from the moment you land. An egoViet Japan eSIM gives you data for maps, translation, and train times. Compare plans in our Japan eSIM guide.
FAQs: Fun Facts About Japan
How many islands does Japan have?
A 2023 survey counted 14,125 islands, more than double the older figure of 6,852.
What is Japan famous for?
Japan is famous for its food, temples and shrines, cherry blossoms, bullet trains, technology, anime and manga, and hot springs.
Why is four unlucky in Japan?
Because the word for four (shi) sounds like the word for death.
What is the national sport of Japan?
Sumo is considered the national sport, although baseball is the most popular spectator sport.