An island country in East Asia, Japan is an archipelago, or string of islands, consisting of more than 14,000 smaller islands and four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.

The land is mostly covered by mountains and can often be a dangerous place, home to over 1,000 earthquakes each year and 60 active volcanoes.

Still, the Japanese people have a deep affection for the beauty of the landscape.

The ancient Shinto religion believes natural elements like mountains, waterfalls and forests have their own spirit or soul.

Today, the country is celebrated for its unique blend of ancient traditions and modern innovations.

Traditional tea ceremonies, samurai culture and mysterious geisha move alongside bullet trains, robotics and skyscrapers.

Japanese cuisine is also really something to be celebrated; sushi, ramen, boba, the list goes on.