Map of Japan
Japan is an archipelago of nearly 7,000 islands, built around four main ones: Hokkaido in the cold north, the long central spine of Honshu, and Shikoku and Kyushu to the south-west. Two great currents shape its diving — the warm Kuroshio sweeping up the Pacific side, and cold water spilling down from the north — which is why a single country can offer both drift-ice dives and subtropical reefs.
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
From here, head north to Hokkaido, out to the volcanic Izu Islands, or far south to Ogasawara. See all areas on the maps of Japan.
Where Japan’s diving happens
From this overview you can see how far Japan’s diving stretches. The cold north brings Hokkaido’s drift-ice dives; the warm Kuroshio feeds the Izu Islands and the reefs of Okinawa; and far out in the Pacific lie Ogasawara and Yonaguni. See them all on the destinations page or the full maps of Japan.
