What is washed by Japan. The geographical location of Japan. What to see and where to go
The territory of Japan is about 370 thousand square meters, which allows it to occupy only the 61st place in the world ranking of countries with the largest territory. However, the number of people living in this territory is 129 million people (as of 2015), placing Japan among the most densely populated countries in the world. The country ranks 10th in the list of countries by the number of people living.
Geographic characteristics
Japan is an island nation. It is located on 4 large islands, the names of which are familiar to all lovers of geography: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu. They make up 98% of the country's territory. The remaining 2% falls on 3 thousand small and sometimes even small islands. In order to keep in touch between disparate territories, the islands joined together through a system of bridges and tunnels dug underground and under water. That is how a unified land space was created in Japan.
Nature
The country of the Rising Sun is often called the country of steep slopes. And this is true. The vast majority (approximately 3/4) of all the mountain ranges of the country are too fragmented to be mastered. The contours of the mountains are angular, with pointed contours. The only exceptions are the mountain ranges located in the south of Honshu and Kyushu. Yes, and off the coast of Hokkaido you can see the smooth outlines of the mountains.
The highest mountains, by analogy with the European ones, are called the Japanese Alps. They are located in the center of Honshu Island, near Tokyo. They are quite high - peaks with a height of 3000 meters above sea level are not uncommon here. Due to their appearance and attractiveness, they are a tourist attraction ...
In Japan, a huge number of rivers. Their profiles are short and pretty cool. Because of this, their use for shipping is difficult. The waters of these rivers are clean, transparent, a lot of various fish are found in them. The three largest Japanese rivers are called Shinano, Ishikari and Kanto. Shinano originates in the Japanese Alps, flows over 360 km and then flows into the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. Ishikari begins in the western part of Hokaido Island, flows almost the same distance and also feeds the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan with its waters. As for Kanto, they pass through the Kanto plain and flow into the Gulf of Tokyo, and therefore indirectly we can say that it flows directly into the Pacific Ocean ...
The country's territory is generously washed by various seas and oceans. In the east and south, its islands are dominated by the Pacific Ocean. In the west are the coasts of the East China and Japan Seas, and in the North the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk ...
In Japan, you can find so many different species of flora and fauna. This is a consequence of the fact that the climate here is very favorable for their living, and rather high humidity. Plus island isolation of the country is doing its job. A feature of the flora and fauna is the fact that here you can often find endemic animals - animals that live only in this part of the globe. And forests make up 60% of the country's territory, which only contributes to the development of the animal and plant worlds.
Camphor laurels, oaks and camellias are common among the plants; bamboo and ginkgo can also be found. Of their animals, Japanese macaques, raccoon dogs, shrews, flying squirrels and chipmunks, copper pheasants are of particular interest ...
The climate of the country can be described as mild and humid. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below zero. Strong colds are a rarity, however, in Northern Japan you can find snow, which, however, melts quite quickly. The seasons in nature are less pronounced, and especially beautifully spring sakura blossoms ...
Resources
The country has a very low resource potential. Almost all natural resources are in great shortage, and especially mineral ones. And although various types of minerals are present in the country, the reserves of these resources are minimal, and the needs of such countries are great. Therefore, almost all mineral resources the country is forced to import from neighboring states, more generously endowed with nature ...
Japan is a unique country. Indeed, despite the dependence on imported resources, the industrial approach to production, as well as the potential itself, is huge. Thus, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (Japanese cars are known throughout the world as an example of reliability), and shipbuilding received development. Many residential and administrative facilities are being built, the chemical and petrochemical industries are at the peak of their development. The country has achieved great achievements in the field of digital technologies.
As for agriculture, on soils on which nothing grows at all, Japanese farmers, using modern technologies, grow vegetables and fruits in fairly large quantities ...
Culture
The cultural layer of the country is very original and unique. The Japanese adhere to ancient traditions, such as the tea ceremony, kimono and geisha - there are no such phenomena in any other country in the world. In Japan, there are two main religions - Shintoism and Buddhism, and the people themselves are quite hospitable, although they show a characteristic restraint in the manifestation of any emotions ...
And the Japanese skeletons are the boundaries delimiting the waters of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan from the Pacific basin. The Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan has predominantly natural borders, only some areas are separated by conventional lines. The Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, although it is the smallest of the Far Eastern seas, belongs to the largest. The surface area of \u200b\u200bthe water is 1062 thousand km2, with a water volume of about 1630 thousand km3. The depth of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan is on average 1535 m, the maximum depth is 3699 m. This sea belongs to the marginal ocean.
A small number of rivers carry their waters into the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. The largest rivers are: Rudnaya, Samarga, Partizanskaya and Tumnin. Mostly all of this. During the year is about 210 km 3. Throughout the year, fresh water evenly flows into the sea. In July, the full river reaches its maximum. Between the Pacific Ocean, water exchange occurs only in the upper layers.
Japan is probably the most unusual country on the planet. Many of those who have been here call her a country of another civilization. Indeed, there is much that is unusual and sometimes not amenable to standard logical, ethical and cultural thinking. And all due to the fact that for a long time Japan was a closed country for all foreigners. Having limited its foreign presence in the country in the 17th century, Japan thus protected its culture and traditions from foreign influence.
For almost 250 years, right up to the Meiji restoration, the country developed in its own way. This period was marked by the flowering of many areas in art and culture, which to this day are strongly associated with Japan. At this time, haiku poetry, kabuki drama, plebeian novels, woodcuts, as well as the Ura Senke tea ceremony school, the largest of modern ones, appeared. This is the heyday of the samurai class with its moral code of bushi-do (literally, "the way of the warrior"). All this has left a significant imprint on modern Japanese society, and although in recent years Japanese culture has been more and more influenced by Western cultures, it still remains one of the most amazing and controversial in the world.
general information
Japan is an island country located on an arched archipelago consisting of more than 6.8 thousand islands with a total area of \u200b\u200b377.4 thousand square meters. km, which with a curved chain of about 3800 km stretch along the east coast of Asia. The geographical location of the Japanese islands east of the mainland also determined the figurative name of the country - the Land of the Rising Sun. All the eastern borders of Japan are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in the south - by the East China Sea. The northern borders are washed by the waves of the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk, and the western - by the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and the Korea Strait. Despite its small size, Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world - more than 127 million people live in it. The capital of the state - the city of Tokyo with a population of 13.5 million inhabitants, is rightfully considered one of the largest megacities in the world.Mountains - a characteristic feature of the Japanese archipelago, they cover 71% of land. The most famous and highest mountain in Japan is Fuji (3776m). A significant part of the mountain peaks of Japan are volcanoes, there are about two hundred of them. 67 are considered "alive" (active or sleeping). Among the volcanoes, Asama, Miharayama, Asosan and Sakurajima are especially active.
Japan is a country in which three main religions harmoniously coexist: Shintoism, Buddhism and Christianity.
How to get there
Direct flights fly from Moscow to Japan, but it is often much cheaper to fly with a change in Doha or Istanbul. From Novosibirsk to Tokyo you can fly with a transfer in Khabarovsk or Vladivostok. A ferry runs from Vladivostok to Japan through South Korea twice a week, the journey takes almost two days. And there is also a small ferry that connects the city of Korsakov on Sakhalin with the northernmost city of Japan, Wakkanai.Climate
Due to the fact that Japan is very elongated from north to south, significant differences in climate can be observed on its territory. In general, the climate of the Land of the Rising Sun is marine and humid. Snow is a weather phenomenon inherent in the whole territory of the country, but in the south it only takes about a week, and in the north - a little more than 95 days.The north of Honshu Island and the entire island of Hokkaido are the areas with the harshest climate. Summer here is quite short but hot, and winter is cold - the average temperature is -8 ° С. The mountain climate in this area is generally most similar to the subarctic.
In the lowlands of Shikoku, Kyushu and Honshu to the Kanto Plain, the climate is subtropical, in winter the temperature reaches + 4 ° C, and in the summer + 30 ° C. In these places, summer is preceded by the rainy season, which begins in mid-May and ends in June.
The main scourge of the Japanese islands in the summer are typhoons. Tropical low pressure zones (tropical cyclones) are formed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, over an overheated water surface. In Japanese, they are called "typhoon", from this name the word "typhoon" was formed. The typhoon season in Japan begins in June and usually ends in October.
The best time to visit Japan is March-April and October-November. During this period, the air temperature is most pleasant to stay, there is practically no rain and typhoon activity is minimal.
Visa
Tourists need a visa to visit Japan. Since January 2017, the requirements have changed, now you do not need to provide a letter from the guarantor in Japan. A list of required documents can be found on the website of the Consulate General. The standard review period is 4 business days, but the terms can be extended. There is no consular fee, i.e. the visa itself is worthless.A transit visa is issued subject to a stay in Japan for no more than 72 hours, subject to a third country and is issued in advance. To obtain it, you must also contact the Consulate with the necessary documents. The list can be found on the website of the Consulate.
Cities and regions
Japan is officially divided into 8 regions, 47 prefectures and 3300 municipalities. In the north are the regions of Hokkaido and Tohoku. In the center of the largest of the islands of the Japanese Honshu archipelago are the regions of Tibu, Kanto and Kansai. In the south and south-west are the regions of Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu. Okinawa Islands are located in the same region.The largest and most famous cities - Tokyo and Kyoto - are located in the Kanto and Kansai regions, respectively. And if Tokyo is the political capital of Japan, then Kyoto rightfully belongs to the title of cultural capital. In general, the central regions of Japan are the most popular among tourists - here are located the most cultural, historical and natural sites of interest to travelers.
Where to stay
Japan offers travelers various places to stay: European-style hotels, traditional Japanese ryokans, minsyuku (relatively inexpensive hotels in the Japanese style), hostels and notorious capsule hotels. As a rule, there are a lot of European-style hotels in megacities, and in places of tourist pilgrimage, in small towns there are more Japanese ryokans. The most popular resorts are natural hot springs, which are not few in Japan. As a rule, at all these resorts there is a ryokan where you can stay. The cost in such places is quite high, but includes a traditional Japanese breakfast and dinner. In general, the cost of living in Japanese hotels and hostels is not low, but they are always distinguished by cleanliness, quality of service and respect for the client. Please note that on well-known Japanese hotel reservation sites, the average user rating is higher than in any other country. 
Transport
As in most developed countries, you can travel around Japan by bus, plane, ferry and rail. Transport in the country is expensive, but very convenient, and the service is always at the highest level. The most popular among tourists is traveling around the country by train. In Japan, one of the most developed railway systems in the world, and the Japanese have made it even more convenient for foreign tourists. Railways in Japan are owned by several private companies, but 95% of them, including the Shinkansen high-speed train lines, are part of the Japan Railways (JR) group. For foreign tourists, tickets for 7, 14 and 21 days are provided, which allow almost unlimited use of the JR lines. As a rule, they quickly pay for themselves and therefore are popular. In major cities, you can also travel on the JR lines, but they cover only a small part, so buses, trams and the metro are most often used here. In every city there is transport on which it is most convenient to travel. For example, in Kyoto it is a bus, and in Tokyo - a subway. One-time trips are not cheap, so if you plan to move a lot, it is better to immediately buy travel tickets - this will greatly save your resources.Taxi
Do not use it often, because taxi in Japan is one of the most expensive in the world (except perhaps in London). True, the service and maintenance here is also up to par. When you ride a Tokyo taxi, you feel at least the Japanese emperor. Tipping taxi drivers do not take and do not even try to offer them - this can offend them.
Car rent
Renting a car to travel around the country is not a good idea. Firstly, traffic is very difficult in cities, fuel is expensive, and there are no free parking lots in the city center. Secondly, if you have Russian-style car rights, even international ones, they are not valid here. Therefore, if you are planning to rent a car, rent it with the driver, but it will already be very expensive (see taxi).
Communication
The official language of the country is Japanese. The dialects are slightly different in different regions, but in general, if you know the common Japanese language at least at the initial level, you will be understood everywhere. But with English everything is much more complicated. The language of foggy Albion is spoken more or less tolerably in the central regions of Japan. The farther from the center and from the big cities, the worse with understanding. In Kyushu, for example, in its southern part, even in some expensive resort hotels, staff do not speak English at all. And you will not find a menu in the cafe in English. There are no signs or street names in English either. The Japanese do not really like foreigners (according to a 2005 survey, 50% of Japanese hotels have never hosted foreign tourists and 75% of them would not want to see foreign guests in the future).Money
The national currency of Japan is the yen (JPY). 100 yen is about 1 dollar. There are metal coins of 1,5,10,50,100,500 yen. Banknotes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 yen. For the exchange, it is best to bring dollars or euros with you - the most reasonable rate for these currencies. There are few exchange offices, but they are definitely at all international airports and at railway stations of large cities. Unlike Russia, at airports and train stations one of the best exchange rates, so you can safely exchange currency there. Also, the currency is changed in the offices of some banks.Bank cards are becoming more common in the world, but in Japan it is still customary to pay in cash yen. Therefore, do not rely only on the card, always have enough cash with you. You can withdraw cash from a credit card at ATMs of any post office, as well as at 7Eleven chain of stores. ATMs of many local banks do not accept foreign cards.
Kitchen
Japanese cuisine is one of the most diverse, sophisticated and delicious in the world. The main idea of \u200b\u200bJapanese cuisine is that everything should be in moderation, food should be beneficial, and dishes should retain their natural taste. All (even spices and sauces) are prepared immediately before serving. The basis of both traditional and modern Japanese food is boiled rice, of which there are more than 40 varieties. The second most important ingredient in local cuisine is fish and seafood. The favorite dish of the Japanese table is sashimi and sushi. Under the influence of China, beef and pork dishes appeared in Japanese cuisine. Especially popular are meat dishes such as nabe, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, named after the sound that makes the meat stewed in the sauce. Another alien from Chinese cuisine is beans and soya dishes, the most popular of which are tofu bean curd and seiu bean sauce. For everyday meals, an ordinary Japanese employee sells noodles in small cafes and on the street. In Japanese cuisine, there are three national types of noodles: udon, soba and ramen. Boil the noodles and serve in a variety of combinations with other dishes.Souvenirs
Perhaps the best souvenir from Japan is a kimono. Knives from the famous Japanese steel, porcelain, traditional dolls, sushi sets, souvenir katanas (samurai swords) and chopsticks are also popular. All this is sold in specialized stores, but it is better to buy souvenirs in flea markets. Not only is there all this cheaper, but sometimes you can find amazing and unique things. Green tea, Japanese okashi sweets and cosmetics are also brought from Japan. Cosmetics are sold in large specialized supermarkets, there are a lot of them in the Shinjuku and Shibuya districts in Tokyo. The most famous of them are supermarkets of the Matsumoto Kiyoshi chain.What to see and where to go
Japan and the people living in it are already an attraction in itself. No wonder Japan is called a different civilization. And also this is a country of temples, castles, beautiful nature, onsen and high technology.Tokyo - A high-tech city of skyscrapers and shops. It is the capital of Japan, and therefore the most urbanistic of all cities. Downtown Tokyo is a futuristic mix of skyscrapers, sparkling advertisements, crowded shopping centers, and entertainment venues. Famous brands are concentrated in Shibuya, Ginza and Roppongi districts, Shinjuku district is famous for entertainment, and Akihabara district is home to megamalls of electronic goods and sex shops. Here you can arrange a hunt for cosplay.
In the southeast of Tokyo, in Tokyo Bay there is an artificial bulk island Odaiba- a real city of the future. Here you can visit the museum-exhibition of the most famous automobile concern Toyota, ride a Ferris wheel, take a picture against the background of the statue of liberty and the hero of the anime series of the robot Gundam. If you go a little out of the city to the south, you can see the ancient city of Kamakura with its temples and the famous eleven meter Buddha figure. If you drive 100 km from Tokyo to the north, then we get to the holy city of Nikko, where the temple and the tomb of the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is located.
Kyoto- one of the most ancient Japanese cities. About 1,600 Buddhist temples and 600 Shinto shrines are concentrated in it. Perhaps one of the most famous are Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and its replica Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion). For 11 centuries, Kyoto was the capital of Japan and therefore there is an imperial palace. After the Meiji restoration and the imperial family moved to Tokyo, the palace was opened for tourists. Next to the imperial palace is Nijo Castle - the residence of Tokugawa. With his monumentality, he demonstrated the power and power of the shogun, surpassed the imperial palace both in occupied space and in beauty. With his greatness, he was supposed to dispel any doubts about the inviolability of the power of the Tokugawa shoguns.
Hakone and surroundings Fuji
Between Tokyo and Kyoto is another town called Hakone. This place is the exact opposite of Tokyo. Instead of mega-city bustle - silence, instead of skyscrapers made of glass and concrete - green mountains, clear lakes and beautiful waterfalls. It is also a mountain-climatic resort with panoramic views of Mount Fuji. Here you can first walk around the town and look at various sights, and at night stop at one of the many ryokans at the hot springs and relax in rotenburo with views of the surrounding beauty and the sacred mountain for all Japanese.
"A fool is one who has never climbed Fuji, and one who has climbed twice is doubly stupid." This famous proverb was invented in those days when climbing the mountain was associated with serious difficulties. Today, the climb is not as difficult as in antiquity, and everyone can make it in the period from July 1 to August 31.
Communication
GSM mobile phones in Japan do not work, only 3G and 4G standard. Sim cards of local operators are not sold to non-residents of the country, only special tourist cards can be purchased, but they cost a lot. The best way to get a local phone with a Japanese number is to rent a phone directly at the airport upon arrival. If you are traveling in a group of several people, then consider renting a 4G router. There are also services that, upon reservation, can deliver a phone or router directly to your hotel at your arrival.Security
Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate here is minimal, and crimes are mainly committed not by the Japanese, but emigrants from other countries - Koreans, Chinese, Brazilians, etc. The punishment for any type of crime is very high.Japan is a country in which not only the Japanese, but also tourists feel safe and can safely walk the streets at any time of the day, while no one will encroach on their life or property. This is a country where doors can be opened for the night, and cars remain in parking lots with almost the keys inside, and there is no thought that things left in the car should be hidden to prevent theft.
What to visit around
Around Japan - water, however, often combine a trip to Japan with a visit to China and South Korea. It is very convenient to fly to Japan from Russia via Shanghai. In the event that you arrive and depart from the same Shanghai airport, you will be provided with 144-hour transit without a visa, which is 6 days. In South Korea, it is generally allowed to stay without a visa for up to 15 days.The Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan is geographically located between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin and the Asian mainland. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean.
The sea is washed by the shores of Japan, Russia, North and South Korea. It has almost no tides due to its almost complete isolation from the Pacific Ocean. This isolation is reflected in the species of fauna and in the salinity of the water, which is lower than in the ocean. There are no large islands, bays or capes in the sea. Its water balance is mainly determined by the inflow and outflow through the straits connecting the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan (, Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk) and the Pacific Ocean. Several rivers enter the sea, but their total contribution to water exchange is not more than 1%. , the largest of which is the Tyumen, Rudnaya, Samarga, Partizanskaya and Tumnin river; all of them are mountainous. Large rivers flow into the sea from the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, including the four largest rivers in Japan - the Shinano, Ishikari, Agano and Mogami. The total annual and relatively constant discharge of discharge into the sea is 210,000 cubic meters, with the exception of a slight increase in July. Most of the water (97%) flows into the sea through the Korea Strait and is discharged through the Tsugaru, La Perez and Korean straits. Falling precipitation, evaporation and tributaries account for only 1% of the water balance of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan.
Sea water has an increased concentration of dissolved oxygen, which leads to high biological productivity of the sea. Therefore, fishing in the region is the dominant economic activity. The intensity of shipping by sea is moderate due to political problems, but it is growing steadily as a result of the growth of the East Asian economy. The water life of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan includes more than 800 species of aquatic plants and more than 3,500 species of animals, including 900 species of crustaceans, about 1,000 species of fish and 26 mammals. Pelagic (oceanic) fish - saury, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, herring, sea bream, squid and various types of salmon and trout. Bottom (on the seabed) fish - cod, pollock, rasp. Mammals are represented by seals and whales, while crustaceans are represented by shrimps and crabs. Due to the shallow straits connecting the sea with the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan does not have a characteristic oceanic deep-sea fauna. Flora and fauna unique to the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan region are known as “elements of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan”.
The largest Japanese ports on the Pacific coast (port of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan) are Niigata, Tsuruta, Mizuru. Large South Korean ports - Busan, Ulsan, Pohang. The largest Russian ports - Vladivostok, Nakhodka and Vostochny are international and have a lively exchange with Japan and South Korea. Other prominent Russian ports are Sovetskaya Gavan, Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky and Kholmsk. The main ports of North Korea are Wonsan, Hamhung and Chongjin.
The name "Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan" is an international standard and the dominant term used in most European languages \u200b\u200bequivalently, but sometimes it is called by other different names in neighboring countries, which reflects the historical claims of these countries to hegemony over the sea. The sea is called Rìběn hǎi “Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan” or Jīng hǎi “Whale Sea” in China, Chosŏn Tonghae “Korean East Sea” in North Korea and Donghae “East Sea”, “Mer du Japon” in French, “Japan Meer ”in German,“ Mar del Jappone ”in Italian and“ Mar del Japon ”in Spanish,“ Laut Jepoon ”in Malay,“ Laut Jepan ”in Indonesian and“ Dagat Hapon ”in the Philippines.
The marine climate is characterized by warm waters and monsoons. This combination leads to strong evaporation, which is especially noticeable from October to March, when a strong northwest monsoon wind brings cold and dry continental air. Evaporation causes snowfall in the mountainous western regions. This winter monsoon brings typhoons and storms with waves reaching 8-10 m, destructive for the western coast of Japan. Tsunami waves were also recorded at sea. Monsoon enhances convection of surface water up to a depth of 30 m.
The coldest months are January and February with an average air temperature of -20 ° C in the north and +5 ° C in the south. The northern quarter of the sea, especially the Siberian coast and the Tatar Strait, freeze for 4-5 months. The time and degree of freezing vary from year to year, so ice begins to form in the bays in October, and its remains can be seen even in June. The ice cover is united only in bays and forms floating spots in the open sea. Ice melting in spring leads to cold currents in the northern regions.
In summer, the wind weakens to 2-7 m / s and changes direction - warm, humid air blows from the northern Pacific Ocean to the Asian mainland. The warmest month is August, with an average air temperature of +15 ° C in the north and +25 ° C in the south. Annual precipitation increases from 310-500 mm in the northwest to 1500-2000 mm in the southeast.
The characteristic pattern of a turbulent cloud, called Karman vortices, is sometimes observed over the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. A stable field of low clouds, driven by the wind over a small (isolated) and high obstacle, usually forms over small mountain islands. The Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan has frequent winds, a cloudy sky and compact high islands such as Rishiri (1721 m), Ulluundo (984 m) and Ōshima (732 m).
The sea has an area of \u200b\u200babout 978,000 km 2 (378,000 sq. Miles), an average depth of 1,752 m (5,748 ft) and a maximum depth of 3,742 m (12,277 ft). It has a carrot shape, with a large axis extending from the southwest to the northeast and the wide southern part tapering to the north. The coastal length is about 7600 km (4700 miles) with the largest part (3240 km or 2,010 miles) belonging to Russia. The sea stretches from north to south for more than 2255 km (1401 miles) and has a maximum width of about 1070 km (660 miles).
It has three main pools: the Yamato Basin in the southeast, the Japanese Basin in the north and the Tsushima Basin (Ulloon Basin) in the southwest. The Japanese basin is of oceanic origin and is the deepest part of the sea, while the Tsushima basin is the shallowest with depths below 2300 m. On the eastern shores, the continental shelves of the sea are wide, and on the western shores, especially along the coast of Korea, they are narrow, on average about 30 km
The Japanese coastal zone of the sea consists of the Okujiri ridge, Sado ridge, Hakusan, Wakas and the Oka ridge. The Yamato-ridge is of continental origin and consists of granite, rhyolite, andesite and basalt. It has an uneven bottom covered with boulders of volcanic rock. Most other areas of the sea are of oceanic origin. The seabed up to 300 m has a continental nature and is covered with a mixture of mud, sand, gravel and rock fragments. Depths from 300 to 800 m are covered with hemipelagic deposits; these deposits are composed of blue mud rich in organic matter. Pelagic deposits of red mud dominate in deeper regions.
There are no large islands in the sea. Most small islands are located off the east coast, with the exception of Ulluundo (South Korea). The most significant islands are Moneron, Rebun, Rishiri, Okushiri, Eshima, Sado, Okinoshima, Ulundo, Askold, Russian and Putyatin. The coastlines are relatively straight and do not have large bays or capes; coastal forms are simple for Sakhalin and more winding in the Japanese islands.
The largest bays are Peter the Great Bay, Sovetskaya Gavan, Vladimir, Olga, Posyet - in Russia, East Bay - in North Korea and Ishikari (Hokkaido), Toyama and Wakasa (Honshu) - in Japan. Among the prominent capes - Cape Lazarev, Peschaniy, Rotary, Gromov, Kill, Tyk, Korsakova - in Russia; Krillon on Sakhalin; Soya, Nosappu, Tappi, Nyuda, Rebun, Rishiri, Okushiri, Daso, Oki - in Japan.
Sea currents circulate in a counterclockwise direction. Kuroshio (Kuroshio "Dark Current"), Tsushima current and warm current from East Korea will bring warmer and more salty water to the north. There, they merge with the course of the Tsugaru and flow into the Pacific Ocean through the Tsugaru Strait. They also feed the Syy current and go through the Laperuz Strait into the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk. A returning branch of currents brings fresh and cold water along the Asian coast to the south.
For centuries, the sea has protected Japan from land invasions. It was oriented to the Asian region, and from the 18th century to European ships. Russian expeditions of 1733-1743 marked Sakhalin and the Japanese islands on maps. In the 1780s, the Frenchman Jean-Francois de Galaup, Count de Laperouz, sailed north through the sea through the strait, later named after him. In 1796, another Frenchman, Robert Broughton, explored the Tatar Strait, the eastern coast of the Russian Far East and the Korean Peninsula.
In 1803-1806, the Russian navigator Adam Johann von Kruzenshtern, while circumnavigating the Nadezhda ship, also explored in passing the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and the eastern coast of the Japanese islands. In 1849, another Russian researcher, Gennady Nevelsky, discovered the strait between the continent and Sakhalin and mapped it (the Amur Liman, Nevelsky Strait). Russian expeditions of 1853-1854 and 1886-1889 were involved in measuring the surface temperature of the water and recording tides. They also recorded the cyclonic nature of the sea currents.
Other notable 19th century expeditions include the American North Pacific Exploration and Geodesic Expedition (1853-1856) and the British Challenger Expedition (1872-1876). Water life was described by V.K. Brazhnikov in 1899-1902. and P. Yu. Schmidt in 1903-1904. Japanese scientific research of the sea began only in 1915 and has become systematic since the 1920s.
