Figure 11. Coast of Japan
Japan’s unique and diverse topography lends itself well to the country’s four distinct seasons. The Niseko Mountain Range in the north experiences strong winters with ideal skiing conditions five months of the year (Rich & Hida, 2022). A short one month spring season is celebrated locally with festivals as the country bursts into bloom (JAL, 2024). Summer brings droves of tourists to the southeastern border which is dotted with beach towns (JRailPass, 2024). Year Round Japan experiences earthquakes (Japan Meteorological Agency, 2024). Most are small tremors but every few years a mighty one devastates the region.
Water is an integral and large part of East Asia’s climate. The southern border of the region opens into the Pacific Ocean and experiences a lot of humidity (MeteoSwiss, 2024). This creates an optimal environment for the many rain forests (Butler, 2020). The closer one gets to the equator the temperature dramatically rises. The hot humid climate creates the ideal conditions for local farmers to grow crops like rice (Marsh, 2023). Additionally, tremors and aftershocks from earthquakes in the mega region disrupt the seabed and cause tsunamis along Japan’s coast.
