List of extreme points of Japan

Extreme points of Japan marked on the map

The extreme points of Japan include the coordinates that are farthest north, south, east and west in Japan, and the ones that are at the highest and the lowest elevations in the country. Japan's northernmost point is disputed, because Japan considers it to be on Iturup, an island also claimed by Russia, and which Russia actually controls. The southernmost point is Okinotorishima; the westernmost is Cape Irizaki in Okinawa Prefecture, and the easternmost is Minami Torishima. The highest point in Japan is the summit of Mount Fuji at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft). At 150 m (492 ft) below sea level, the bottom of Hachinohe mine is the country's lowest point. The surface of Hachirōgata is Japan's lowest natural point at 4 m (13 ft) below sea level. With the exception of Cape Irizaki, the western-most location of Japan, all other extreme locations are uninhabited.

The coordinates used in this article are sourced from Google Earth, which makes use of the World Geodetic System (WGS) 84.

Extreme points

Cape Irizaki, Japan's westernmost point
Japan's easternmost point lies on Minami Torishima in the Pacific Ocean.

The northernmost point that Japan claims lies on the disputed island of Iturup. Japan's claim to the three southern-most islands of the Kuril Islands is disputed by Russia, who currently controls the islands. This list provides the northernmost point as claimed by Japan as well as the northern-most undisputed point in Japan.

Overall

Heading Location Prefecture Bordering entity Coordinates† Ref
North
(disputed)		 Cape Kamoiwakka Hokkaido‡ Sea of Okhotsk 45°33′26″N 148°45′09″E / 45.55722°N 148.75250°E / 45.55722; 148.75250 (Cape Kamoiwakka (Northernmost - disputed)) [1]
North
(undisputed)		 Benten-jima Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′38″N 141°55′06″E / 45.52722°N 141.91833°E / 45.52722; 141.91833 (Bentenjima (Northernmost - undisputed)) [2]
South Okinotorishima Tokyo Philippine Sea 20°25′31″N 136°04′11″E / 20.42528°N 136.06972°E / 20.42528; 136.06972 (Okinotorishima (Southernmost))
East Minami Torishima Tokyo Pacific Ocean 24°16′59″N 153°59′11″E / 24.28306°N 153.98639°E / 24.28306; 153.98639 (Minami Torishima (Easternmost))
West Cape Irizaki Okinawa East China Sea 24°26′58″N 122°56′01″E / 24.44944°N 122.93361°E / 24.44944; 122.93361 (Cape Irizaki (Westernmost))

Four main islands

A monument indicates the northernmost point of Japan's four major islands at Cape Sōya.

The four main islands of Japan are Hokkaidō, Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku. All of these points are accessible to the public.

Heading Location Prefecture Bordering entity Coordinates† Ref
North Cape Sōya Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′22″N 141°56′11″E / 45.52278°N 141.93639°E / 45.52278; 141.93639 (Cape Sōya)
South Cape Sata Kagoshima East China Sea 30°59′39″N 130°39′38″E / 30.99417°N 130.66056°E / 30.99417; 130.66056 (Cape Sata)
East Cape Nosappu Hokkaidō Pacific Ocean 43°23′06″N 145°49′03″E / 43.38500°N 145.81750°E / 43.38500; 145.81750 (Cape Nosappu)
West Kōzakihana Nagasaki East China Sea 33°13′04″N 129°33′09″E / 33.21778°N 129.55250°E / 33.21778; 129.55250 (Kōzakihana)

Hokkaidō

Heading Location Prefecture Bordering entity Coordinates† Ref
North Cape Sōya Hokkaidō La Pérouse Strait 45°31′22″N 141°56′11″E / 45.52278°N 141.93639°E / 45.52278; 141.93639 (Cape Sōya)
South Cape Shirakami Hokkaidō Tsugaru Strait 41°23′51″N 140°11′51″E / 41.39750°N 140.19750°E / 41.39750; 140.19750 (Cape Shirakami)
East Cape Nosappu Hokkaidō Pacific Ocean 43°23′06″N 145°49′03″E / 43.38500°N 145.81750°E / 43.38500; 145.81750 (Cape Nosappu)
West Cape Obana Hokkaidō Sea of Japan 42°18′11″N 139°46′01″E / 42.30306°N 139.76694°E / 42.30306; 139.76694 (Cape Obana)

Honshū

Northernmost point
Southernmost point
Westernmost point
Easternmost point

Shikoku

Heading Location Prefecture Bordering entity Coordinates† Ref
North Cape Takei Kagawa Bungo Channel 34°24′01″N 134°08′12″E / 34.40028°N 134.13667°E / 34.40028; 134.13667 (Cape Takei)
South Cape Ashizuri Kōchi Philippine Sea 32°43′19″N 133°00′19″E / 32.72194°N 133.00528°E / 32.72194; 133.00528 (Cape Ashizuri)
East Cape Gamōda Tokushima Kii Channel 33°50′03″N 134°45′00″E / 33.83417°N 134.75000°E / 33.83417; 134.75000 (Cape Gamōda)
West Cape Sada Ehime Hōyo Strait 33°20′38″N 132°00′45″E / 33.34389°N 132.01250°E / 33.34389; 132.01250 (Cape Sada)

Kyūshū

Northernmost point
Southernmost point
Westernmost point
Easternmost point

Extreme altitudes

The summit of Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan.
Extremity Name Altitude Prefecture Coordinates† Ref
Highest Mount Fuji 3,776 m (12,388 ft) Yamanashi 35°21′29″N 138°43′52″E / 35.35806°N 138.73111°E / 35.35806; 138.73111 (Mount Fuji (Highest)) [3]
Lowest
(man-made)		 Hachinohe mine −170 m (−558 ft) Aomori 40°27′10″N 141°32′16″E / 40.45278°N 141.53778°E / 40.45278; 141.53778 (Hachinohe mine (Lowest - man-made)) [4]
Lowest
(natural)		 Hachirōgata −4 m (−13 ft) Akita 39°54′50″N 140°01′15″E / 39.91389°N 140.02083°E / 39.91389; 140.02083 (Hachirōgata (Lowest - natural)) [3]

Notes

^† Coordinates obtained from Google Earth. Google Earth makes use of the WGS84 geodetic reference system.
^‡ Although Japan claims this island as part of Hokkaido prefecture this territory is disputed and Iturup is currently under Russian administration.

References

  1. ↑ "Google Maps (Cape Kamoiwakka)". Google. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  2. ↑ "Google Maps (Bentenjima)". Google. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  3. 1 2 "Japan: Geography". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  4. ↑ 施設見学ガイド　八戸鉱山株式会社　八戸石灰鉱山(八戸キャニオン). The Information Center for Energy and Environment Education (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-04-06.

See also

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