National Geographic Countries of the World: Japan

National Geographic requests the pleasure of your company on a journey to the faraway island nation of "Nippon." Japan's name means "origin of the sun" (often translated as Land of the Rising Sun)—a term born of Japan's location to the east of the ancient empires of China. Take a trip through history to discover the influence that the Chinese exerted on their island neighbors throughout antiquity. Enjoy the scenic island landscape, richly celebrated in Japanese art and literature. Scale the heights and get to know the hilly topography—mountains cover over 75 percent of Japan's landscape. Visit the National Parks that now preserve the country's treasured natural heritage. Meet Japan's industrious people, mainly plains and lowland dwellers.