The biggest cities in Japan are Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo. Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in Japan with a population of 13 million. It is the capital city and home of Japan’s government as well as the Japanese Imperial Palace, where the Imperial Family still live today. Tokyo is located on the southeastern side of Honshu, Japan’s largest island and enjoys a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. It is a popular international business and tourist destination, with hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving every year.



Yokohama is Japan’s second largest city with a population of 3.6 million. It is located in Tokyo Bay, just south of Tokyo. As it is situated right on the water front, it is a popular destination for those wanting to enjoy boating, fishing, and other water sports activities. It is also the home of the Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world.

Osaka is Japan’s third largest city with a population of 2.6 million. It is located on the southern end of Honshu right on Osaka Bay, and the port of Osaka is an international shipping hub. It has a thriving shopping district, restaurant and cafe culture which is very popular for tourists. It is also the home of the Kansai International Film Festival every year in July.

Nagoya is the forth largest city in Japan with a population of 2.2 million, located in central Honshu. It is the home of Nagoya Castle, a 17 century castle, as well as the famous Atsuta Shrine, which is said to protect an Imperial sword. The Atsuta Shrine holds 70 festivals every year which celebrate 2000 years of Japanese history. It also has many museums and temples, drawing in many tourists year round.

Sapporo is the fifth largest Japanese city with a population of 1.9 million people. It is the largest city in Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island. It has a wider range of temperatures than Japan’s main island, with warmer summers and colder winters, often seeing a large amount of snowfall. Famous landmarks include the Hokkaido Shrine, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Sapporo Beer Museum. These and many other popular attractions draw in many tourists annually.