The scale and diversity of the Japanese archipelago

Looking at it this way, you can really see just how long Japan is from north to south.

The sheer scale of Japan, with Hokkaido at roughly the same latitude as Germany and Austria, and Kyushu extending almost to the African continent, is fascinating and breaks down the illusions associated with maps. Perhaps it is this vast geographical range that allows for such diverse climates, cultures, and architectural styles within Japan alone.

緯度の具体的な比較

• Hokkaido (Wakkanai): Approximately 45 degrees north latitude. This is roughly the same as Lyon in France , and Milan and Venice in Italy.

  
  

• Tokyo: Approximately 35 degrees North latitude. This is roughly the same latitude as North Africa (Casablanca, Morocco), Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea , and Baghdad, Iraq.

  
  

• Southern Kyushu: Approximately 31 degrees north latitude. This corresponds to roughly the location of Alexandria in Egypt on the African continent.

As the diagram shows, if you superimpose the Japanese archipelago onto Europe, it would stretch from Germany and Austria all the way to North Africa in a single line. Because the way light is perceived is completely different, it requires a very sophisticated and interesting way of thinking.