Islands are often popular tourist destinations due to their natural beauty, unique ecosystems and cultural attractions. They can also be important economical significant strategic impact, mainly for countries with large coastlines or in regions with important maritime routes.
The islands surrounding Japan have been at the center of several territorial disputes.
That's because Japan claims the Russian-controlled Southern Kuril Islands, which Tokyo calls the Territories. of the North, a dispute that dates back to the end of World War II, when Soviet troops took them from the Japan.
Japan reports having a historic claim to the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which it currently manages, but China has repeatedly disputed it.
Japan and South Korea remain locked in a more than 70-year dispute over the sovereignty of a group of islets known as Dokdo by Seoul and Takeshima by Tokyo in the Sea of Japan, which Korea calls the Sea of East.
The island of Honshu is the largest and most populous of the Japanese islands, home to the country's largest cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama. Hokkaido, the second largest island, lies to the north and is known for its beautiful natural scenery, including mountains, lakes and national parks.
Kyushu, the third largest island, is located in the southwest of the country and is home to major cities such as Fukuoka and Nagasaki. Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands, located south of Honshu and famous for its Buddhist temples and religious pilgrimages.
