09 September 2020

Quiz: How well do you really know Japan?

Do you know all about Japan's temples, castles, natural wonders and wildlife? Maybe you're an expert on Japanese geography, history and culture? Find out if you're an expert with our fun, fiendish quiz...

4 mins

Castles, wild wonders, glittering cities and cultural gems make Japan the must-visit country that it is. But how well do you really know the country?

Test your geography, history and travel knowledge with this fun, sometimes tricky, trivia quiz - made with the help of the specialists at InsideJapan. Good luck!

1. Japan is made up of islands. How many islands does Japan have in total?

6,852

380

6

5,431

2. What is a traditional Japanese inn called?

Onsen

Ryokan

Capsule

Hanok

3. We all know Tokyo’s the largest city in terms of population, but where is the second biggest?

Kyoto

Osaka

Yokohama

Nagoya

4. Japan’s total population is approx. 127 million, but which European country is similar in size according to landmass?

France

Germany

Spain

United Kingdom

5. Before Tokyo, Japan had several other capital cities. Which is the most recent previous capital?

Hiroshima

Osaka

Kyoto

Fukuoka

6. How tall is the iconic Mount Fuji?

3,776m

3,776ft

2,893m

2,893ft

7. Few ‘original’ castles remain from the Edo period of 1603 to 1868. How many still exist today?

8

12

19

23

8. Kyoto is famous for its stunning geisha. But what does the word ‘geisha’ actually translate to?

Person of art

Doll performer

Woman of art

Woman of dance

9. Japan is an up-and-coming hiking haven, but which of these timeless walking trails is over 1,000 years old?

Kumano Kodo

Nakasendo Way

Shimanamikaido

Shinestsu Trail

10. What is the top operational speed of the Shinkansen aka The Bullet train?

200kmph

260kmph

320kmph

400kmph

11. Japan is renowned for its incredible food. Which city is nicknamed the ‘kitchen of Japan’?

Osaka

Kobe

Fukuoka

Nagasaki

12. Which quintessentially Japanese dish actually originates from Portugal?

Sushi

Okonomiyaki

Ramen

Tempura

13. Which sacred animal is known for wandering through Nara Park?

Gazelle

Deer

Red Squirrel

Horse

14. Hokkaido’s red-crowned cranes are iconic. In which part of the island can they be seen all year round?

Shiretoko Peninsula

Kushiro Marshland

Akan-Nashu National Park

Nice try! It’s not in Hokkaido

15. In which prefecture can you find the hot spring-bathing Japanese macaque aka snow monkey?

Ishikawa

Kagoshima

Okinawa

Nagano

16. In which region would you find the city of Sendai?

Honshu

Chugoku

Tohoku

Shikoku

17. Can you identify this famous Japanese castle?

Matsumoto

Osaka

Fushimi-Yagura

Odawara

18. Can you identify this Japanese city garden?

Odori Park, Sapporo

Ueno Park, Tokyo

Minoo Park, Minoh

Sankeien Garden, Yokahama

19. In which Japanese town would you find this Buddha statue?

Gifu

Kamakura

Nara

Harajuku

20. When did the beloved Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka open?

1998

2001

2003

2007

21. Can you identify this bamboo forest?

Aokigahara

Tadasu no Mori

Ogasawara

Arashiyama

22. Finally, can you identify this Japanese city from its picture?

Nagoya

Kanazawa

Hakodate

Kawasaki