Abstract
In order to subdivide the natural regions of Japan, first, the regional subdivisions or distributions of geology, landforms, soils, climates, hydrology, flora, forests and vegetations are shown separately. The characteristics of the subdivided regions or zones are described briefly to illustrate the distribution of every element in Japan. Secondly, a tentative division of natural regions of Japan is given in reference to the subdivisions or distributions mentioned in the first part. The numbers of the natural regions of Japan tentatively proposed in this paper are 7 in the 1. order, 20 in the 2. order and 58 in the 3. order. The average area of the 3. order regions in Kyûshû, Shikoku, Honshû and Hokkaidô is about 8,100 km2, which implies a meso-scale dimension. The names of the regions in the 2. order are: I1) Nansei Islands, I2) Daitôjima, II1) Ogasawara Islands and others, II2) Minamitorishima (Marcus Is.), III1) Pacific coast (Nankai), III2) Mountain area of SW Japan, III3) NW Kyûshû, III4) Inland Sea region, III5) Pacific side of Central Japan, IV1) Izu Islands, IV2) Kanto-tosan, IV3) Pacific side of NE of Honshu, V1) San'in district, V2) NW of Central Japan, VI1) NE of Central Japan and S of N Honshû, VI2) Japan Sea side of N Honshû, VI3) SW Hokkaidô, VII1) Pacific side of Hokkaidô, VII2) E of Hokkaidô, and VII3) W of Hokkaidô.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
In Japanese with English abstract.
In Japanese with English abstract.
In Japanese
In Japanese with English abstract.
In Japanese
In Japanese with English abstract.
References
Barsch, H. and Richter, H.: Grundzüge einer naturräumlichen Gliederung der DDR auf der Basis typisierter Naturräume in der chorischen Dimension. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 119, 173–179 (1975)
Forestry Agency: Forestry of Japan. Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Tokyo, 1–219, 1955.
Haase, G.: Landschaftsökologische Detailuntersuchung und naturräumliche Gliederung. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 108, 8–30 (1965)
Haase, G.: Entwicklungstendenzen in der geotopologischen und geochorologischen Naturraumerkundung. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 123, 7–18 (1979)
Hara, H.: An outline of the phytogeography of Japan. In: Distribution maps of flowering plants in Japan. Pt. 2., 1–94, Hara, H. and Kanai, H., eds., Tokyo Inoue Book Co., 1959.
Hara, H. and Kanai, H.: Distribution maps of flowering plants in Japan. Part 2. 100 maps and 94 p., Tokyo Inoue Book Co., 1959.
Honda, S.: Studies on forest zones in Japan. Tokyo Miura Shoten, 1912Footnote
In Japanese with English abstract.
.Kaizuka, S.: Late cenozoic palaeogeography of Japan. GeoJournal, 4.2 (1980)
Kanai, H.: Distribution patterns of Japanese plants, distributed on the Pacific side of central Japan. In: Distribution maps of flowering plants in Japan. Pt. 1., pp. 1–14, Kanai, H., ed., Tokyo Inoue Book Co., 1958.
Kira, T.: A climatological interpretation of Japanese vegetation zones. In: Vegetation science and environmental protction. pp. 21–30, Miyawaki, A. and Tüxen, R., eds., Maruzen Tokyo, 1977.
Maekawa, F.: Origin and characteristics of Japan's Flora. In: The flora and vegetation of Japan. pp. 33–86, Numata, M., ed., Amsterdam Elsevier Sci. Pub. Co. 1974.
Miyawaki, A.: Vegetation of Japan. Encyclopedia of Sci. and Techn. Vol. 3, 535 pp., Tokyo Gakken, 1967Footnote
In Japanese with English abstract.
.Miyawaki, A.: Outline of Japanese vegetation. JIBP Synthesis. Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 8, 19–25 (1975)
Natural Resources Section, General Headquarters, SCAP: Important trees of Japan. Report No. 119, 1–87 (1949)
Neef, E.: Topologische und chorologische Arbeitsweisen in der Landschaftsforschung. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 107, 249–259 (1963)
Neef, E.: Zur großmaßstäbigen landschaftsökologischen Forschung. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 108, 1–7 (1964)
Numata, M.: The flora and vegetation of Japan. pp. 1–249, Amsterdam Elsevier Sci. Pub. Co. 1974 a.
Numata, M.: Grassland vegetation. In: The flora and vegetation of Japan. pp. 125–149, Numata, M., ed., Amsterdam Elsevier Sci. Pub. Co. 1974 b.
Okayama, T.: The relations between the geomorphic and geologic structure of the Japanese Islands. Celebration Volume of Prof. Tsujimura's 70th Birthday, Kokonshoin, Tokyo, 50–69 (1961)Footnote
In Japanese
Ôta, Y.: Tectonic landforms and Quaternary tectonics in Japan. geoJournal, 4.2 (1980)
Paffen, K.H.: Ökologische Landschaftsgliederung. Erdkunde, 2, 167–173 (1948)
Research Group for Quaternary Tectonic Map: Explanatory text of Quaternary tectonic map of Japan. National Research Center of Disaster Prevention. 1969, 1973.
Richter, H.: Naturräumliche Strukturmodelle. Peterm. Geog. Mitt., 122, 9–14 (1968)
Schmithüsen, J.: “Fliesengefüge der Landschaft” und “Ökotope”. Vorschläge zur begrifflichen Ordnung und zur Nomenklatur in der Landschaftsforschung. Ber. z. Deutsch. Landeskunde, 5, 74–83 (1948)
Schmithüsen, J.: Grundsätze für die Untersuchung und Darstellung der naturräumlichen Gliederung von Deutschland. Ber. z, Deutsch. Landeskunde, 6, 8–19 (1949)
Sekiguti, T. and Yoshino, M.M.: Annual march of water economy in Japan. Geog. Rev. Japan, 26, 3, 110–121 (1953)Footnote
In Japanese with English abstract.
Shidei, T.: Climate and the distribution of vegetation zones. In: The flora and vegetation of Japan. pp. 20–27, Numata, M., ed., Tokyo, Kodansha, Amsterdam Elsevier Sci. 1974.
Shimizu, T.: Flora of Japan. JIBP Synthesis, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 8, 16–18 (1975)
Sugimura, A. and Uyeda, S.: Island arcs, Japan and its environments. 247 pp., Amsterdam Elsevier Sci., 1973.
Tanaka, K. and Nozawa, T.: Geology and mineral resources of Japan. Vol.I, 430 pp. Geology. Geological Survey of Japan, Kawasaki, 1977.
Thornthwaite, C.W.: An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geog. Rev., 38, 1, 55–94 (1948)
Uyeda, S. and Miyashiro, A.: Plate tectonics and the Japanese islands: a synthesis. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 85, 7, 1159–1170 (1974)
Watanabe, A.: Landform divisions of Japan. Jour. of Geography (Tokyo), 61, 1, 1–7 (1952)Footnote
In Japanese
Watanabe, A.: Landform divisions of Japan. Proc. of 17th International Geographical Congress, Washington D.C. 1952, 598–607, 1952.
Yamane, I.: Soils of Japan. JIBP Synthesis, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 8, 8–12 (1975)
Yoshino, M.M.: Climate in a small area. 549 pp., Tokyo Univ. of Tokyo Press, 1975.
Yoshino, M.M.: Altitudinal vegetation belts of Japan with special reference to climatic conditions. Arctic and Alpine Res., 10, 2, 449–456 (1978)
Yoshino, M.M.: Climatic regions of Japan. Erdkunde (1980)
Yoshioka, K.: Plant geography. Tokyo Kyôritsu-shuppan, 1973.Footnote
In Japanese with English abstract.
Yoshioka, K.: Vegetation map of Japan. In: The flora and vegetation of Japan. Numata, M., ed., Tokyo Kôdansha and Amsterdam Elsevier Sci. an accompanied map, 1974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yoshino, M.M. Natural regions of Japan. GeoJournal 4, 161–172 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705523
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705523