In Japan, settlements are often concentrated along the coastal areas and plains due to the mountainous terrain in the interior. The majority of the population is clustered in the urban areas, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, while the rural areas have a lower population density. The geography of Japan is characterized by its archipelago status, consisting of four main islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku) and numerous smaller islands. It is located off the eastern coast of Asia, which gives it a diverse climate, ranging from the cool temperate in the north to the subtropical in the south. Japan is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
