Japan Quiz
Fuji, Kyoto, bullet trains and shoguns: 15 questions on the islands, cities and traditions of Japan.
Which sacred mountain, an active volcano about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is the highest peak in Japan?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji stands 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) tall and is Japan's highest mountain. Its near perfect cone has been painted, climbed and worshipped for centuries and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
Fuji last erupted in 1707, scattering ash over Edo, the city now called Tokyo, and it is still officially classed as an active volcano.
What is the name of the traditional Japanese art of folding paper into shapes such as cranes?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Origami
Origami combines the Japanese words ori, meaning folding, and kami, meaning paper; the paper crane is its most famous design and a symbol of peace and long life.
Ikebana is the art of flower arranging, kabuki is a form of classical theatre, and bonsai is the cultivation of miniature trees.
Which traditional Japanese garment is wrapped left over right and tied with a wide sash called an obi?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Kimono
The kimono is Japan's classic T-shaped robe, held closed by the obi sash. The word simply means thing to wear, and it is still worn for weddings, coming of age ceremonies and summer festivals.
Wrapping a kimono right over left is reserved for dressing the dead, so getting the fold wrong is a famous tourist mistake.
Which of Japan's four main islands is the northernmost?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the northern island, famous for its snowy winters, ski resorts and the Sapporo Snow Festival. It is separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Strait and was only fully settled by the Japanese in the nineteenth century.
Hokkaido is the homeland of the Ainu, an indigenous people with their own language, officially recognised by Japan as indigenous in 2019.
Which city was the imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years before the court moved to Tokyo?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Kyoto
Kyoto was founded as Heian-kyo in 794 and remained the emperor's capital until 1868. Its 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines include Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, and Fushimi Inari with its tunnels of red torii gates.
Kyoto was spared from atomic bombing in 1945 partly because US Secretary of War Henry Stimson argued for its cultural importance.
The first Shinkansen bullet train line opened in October 1964 connecting Tokyo with which city?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Osaka
The Tokaido Shinkansen opened on 1 October 1964, days before the Tokyo Olympics, running from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. It cut the journey from about six and a half hours to four, and today the fastest trains do it in about two and a quarter.
In six decades of operation the Shinkansen has never had a passenger fatality from a derailment or collision.
What is the Japanese name for the springtime custom of gathering under cherry trees to enjoy the blossom?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Hanami
Hanami literally means flower viewing. Families, friends and colleagues spread tarpaulins beneath the sakura trees for picnics and parties, and television forecasts track the blossom front as it moves north each spring.
The Japan Meteorological Agency and private forecasters publish cherry blossom front maps each year, since full bloom in any one spot lasts only about a week.
Which Japanese city is famous for its park where more than 1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and bow to visitors for crackers?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Nara
Nara Park is home to well over a thousand sika deer, protected as a national natural monument. Nara was Japan's first permanent capital in the eighth century, and the deer were long regarded as sacred messengers of the gods.
Nara's Todai-ji temple houses a bronze Great Buddha about 15 metres (49 feet) tall, cast in the eighth century.
Which Japanese city hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games held in Asia?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Sapporo
Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. Japan returned as a winter host in 1998 when Nagano staged the Games, and Tokyo has held two Summer Olympics, in 1964 and 2021.
Sapporo's famous Snow Festival began in 1950 when local students built six snow statues in Odori Park, and it now draws about two million visitors each February.
What is the name of Japan's national parliament?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
The National Diet
Japan's legislature is the National Diet, made up of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. The name was borrowed in the nineteenth century from the German word for a parliament, and the Diet chooses the prime minister.
The Diet Building in Tokyo took 17 years to complete and opened in 1936, with its central tower built from Japanese granite.
The Seto Inland Sea separates Honshu from which two of Japan's other main islands?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Shikoku and Kyushu
The Seto Inland Sea lies between Honshu to the north, Shikoku to the south and Kyushu to the west. It is dotted with about 3,000 islands and crossed by three bridge systems, including the Great Seto Bridge opened in 1988.
The island of Naoshima in the Inland Sea has become a contemporary art destination, famous for Yayoi Kusama's giant spotted pumpkin sculptures.
Which era of Japanese history, lasting from 1603 to 1868, was ruled by the Tokugawa shoguns from the city now called Tokyo?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Edo period
The Edo period began when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1603 and ran until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. It brought more than two centuries of peace, strict social order and sakoku, the policy that kept Japan largely closed to foreigners.
During the Edo period Edo grew into one of the largest cities on Earth, with a population above a million by the early eighteenth century.
Which Shinto shrine on the island of Miyajima is famous for a vermilion torii gate that appears to float on the sea at high tide?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, near Hiroshima, is built on piers over the water, and its great torii gate stands in the bay so that it seems to float at high tide. The shrine has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
At low tide visitors can walk out across the sand to stand beneath the 16 metre (52 foot) gate, whose main pillars are made of camphor wood.
Which city is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost island chain?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Naha
Naha, on Okinawa Island, is the prefectural capital and the former royal capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the islands until Japan annexed them in 1879. Shuri Castle, the Ryukyu royal palace, stands on a hill above the city.
Okinawa remained under US administration after World War II and was only returned to Japan in 1972.
Which strait, crossed by the Seikan rail tunnel, separates Honshu from Hokkaido?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Tsugaru Strait
The Tsugaru Strait lies between Aomori on Honshu and Hakodate on Hokkaido. The Seikan Tunnel runs 53.85 kilometres (33.5 miles) beneath it and opened in 1988, and by total length it is still the longest undersea tunnel in the world.
The Kanmon Strait is at the other end of Honshu, separating it from Kyushu, and the Naruto Strait between Shikoku and Awaji Island is famous for its whirlpools.
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All Geography quizzes →About the Japan Quiz
Japan packs an astonishing amount into its four main islands. Mount Fuji rises 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) above the Pacific coast, Kyoto served as the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and the first Shinkansen bullet trains were already running between Tokyo and Osaka in 1964. Add centuries of shoguns, Shinto shrines and cherry blossom festivals and you have one of the richest countries in the world to quiz on.
These 15 questions move from the gentle basics (the paper cranes, the famous mountain, the northern island) through cities, straits and inland seas to a few deeper cuts on history and sacred sites. It suits travellers planning a trip, anime and culture fans, and anyone who wants to know Japan beyond sushi and Tokyo.
You will find 15 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Medium. Most people finish in about 6 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 15 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
How many main islands does Japan have?
Four: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The country also includes thousands of smaller islands, including the Okinawa chain in the far south.
What is the highest mountain in Japan?
Mount Fuji, an active volcano 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) high, about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo. It last erupted in 1707.
Was Tokyo always the capital of Japan?
No. Kyoto was the imperial capital from 794 until 1868, when the emperor moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo, meaning eastern capital.
Answer key: all 15 questions with explanations
- Which sacred mountain, an active volcano about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is the highest peak in Japan?
Mount Fuji Mount Fuji stands 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) tall and is Japan's highest mountain. Its near perfect cone has been painted, climbed and worshipped for centuries and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. Fuji last erupted in 1707, scattering ash over Edo, the city now called Tokyo, and it is still officially classed as an active volcano. - What is the name of the traditional Japanese art of folding paper into shapes such as cranes?
Origami Origami combines the Japanese words ori, meaning folding, and kami, meaning paper; the paper crane is its most famous design and a symbol of peace and long life. Ikebana is the art of flower arranging, kabuki is a form of classical theatre, and bonsai is the cultivation of miniature trees. - Which traditional Japanese garment is wrapped left over right and tied with a wide sash called an obi?
Kimono The kimono is Japan's classic T-shaped robe, held closed by the obi sash. The word simply means thing to wear, and it is still worn for weddings, coming of age ceremonies and summer festivals. Wrapping a kimono right over left is reserved for dressing the dead, so getting the fold wrong is a famous tourist mistake. - Which of Japan's four main islands is the northernmost?
Hokkaido Hokkaido is the northern island, famous for its snowy winters, ski resorts and the Sapporo Snow Festival. It is separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Strait and was only fully settled by the Japanese in the nineteenth century. Hokkaido is the homeland of the Ainu, an indigenous people with their own language, officially recognised by Japan as indigenous in 2019. - Which city was the imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years before the court moved to Tokyo?
Kyoto Kyoto was founded as Heian-kyo in 794 and remained the emperor's capital until 1868. Its 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines include Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, and Fushimi Inari with its tunnels of red torii gates. Kyoto was spared from atomic bombing in 1945 partly because US Secretary of War Henry Stimson argued for its cultural importance. - The first Shinkansen bullet train line opened in October 1964 connecting Tokyo with which city?
Osaka The Tokaido Shinkansen opened on 1 October 1964, days before the Tokyo Olympics, running from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. It cut the journey from about six and a half hours to four, and today the fastest trains do it in about two and a quarter. In six decades of operation the Shinkansen has never had a passenger fatality from a derailment or collision. - What is the Japanese name for the springtime custom of gathering under cherry trees to enjoy the blossom?
Hanami Hanami literally means flower viewing. Families, friends and colleagues spread tarpaulins beneath the sakura trees for picnics and parties, and television forecasts track the blossom front as it moves north each spring. The Japan Meteorological Agency and private forecasters publish cherry blossom front maps each year, since full bloom in any one spot lasts only about a week. - Which Japanese city is famous for its park where more than 1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and bow to visitors for crackers?
Nara Nara Park is home to well over a thousand sika deer, protected as a national natural monument. Nara was Japan's first permanent capital in the eighth century, and the deer were long regarded as sacred messengers of the gods. Nara's Todai-ji temple houses a bronze Great Buddha about 15 metres (49 feet) tall, cast in the eighth century. - Which Japanese city hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games held in Asia?
Sapporo Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. Japan returned as a winter host in 1998 when Nagano staged the Games, and Tokyo has held two Summer Olympics, in 1964 and 2021. Sapporo's famous Snow Festival began in 1950 when local students built six snow statues in Odori Park, and it now draws about two million visitors each February. - What is the name of Japan's national parliament?
The National Diet Japan's legislature is the National Diet, made up of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. The name was borrowed in the nineteenth century from the German word for a parliament, and the Diet chooses the prime minister. The Diet Building in Tokyo took 17 years to complete and opened in 1936, with its central tower built from Japanese granite. - The Seto Inland Sea separates Honshu from which two of Japan's other main islands?
Shikoku and Kyushu The Seto Inland Sea lies between Honshu to the north, Shikoku to the south and Kyushu to the west. It is dotted with about 3,000 islands and crossed by three bridge systems, including the Great Seto Bridge opened in 1988. The island of Naoshima in the Inland Sea has become a contemporary art destination, famous for Yayoi Kusama's giant spotted pumpkin sculptures. - Which era of Japanese history, lasting from 1603 to 1868, was ruled by the Tokugawa shoguns from the city now called Tokyo?
Edo period The Edo period began when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1603 and ran until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. It brought more than two centuries of peace, strict social order and sakoku, the policy that kept Japan largely closed to foreigners. During the Edo period Edo grew into one of the largest cities on Earth, with a population above a million by the early eighteenth century. - Which Shinto shrine on the island of Miyajima is famous for a vermilion torii gate that appears to float on the sea at high tide?
Itsukushima Shrine Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, near Hiroshima, is built on piers over the water, and its great torii gate stands in the bay so that it seems to float at high tide. The shrine has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. At low tide visitors can walk out across the sand to stand beneath the 16 metre (52 foot) gate, whose main pillars are made of camphor wood. - Which city is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost island chain?
Naha Naha, on Okinawa Island, is the prefectural capital and the former royal capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the islands until Japan annexed them in 1879. Shuri Castle, the Ryukyu royal palace, stands on a hill above the city. Okinawa remained under US administration after World War II and was only returned to Japan in 1972. - Which strait, crossed by the Seikan rail tunnel, separates Honshu from Hokkaido?
Tsugaru Strait The Tsugaru Strait lies between Aomori on Honshu and Hakodate on Hokkaido. The Seikan Tunnel runs 53.85 kilometres (33.5 miles) beneath it and opened in 1988, and by total length it is still the longest undersea tunnel in the world. The Kanmon Strait is at the other end of Honshu, separating it from Kyushu, and the Naruto Strait between Shikoku and Awaji Island is famous for its whirlpools.
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