Japan is an island country located in the Pacific Ocean. It features dense cities, imperial palaces, mountainous national parks, and thousands of temples and shrines. Shinkansen high-speed trains connect the main islands of Kyūshū (with the subtropical beaches of Okinawa), Honshū (home to Tokyo and the memorial to the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing) and Hokkaidō (prized for skiing). Tokyo, the capital, is known for its skyscrapers, shopping, and popular culture.
