DLTK's Countries and Cultures Crafts for Kids
Japan Crafts, Facts, and Activities for Kids

Extra info!  (Thanks to our viewers for sharing this.)

Japanese numbers up to ten:

1   ichi
2   ni
3   san
4   shi (or less often 'yo-on')
5   go
6   roku
7   shichi (or 'nana')
8   hachi
9   kyuu
10  jyuu

also: 'hai' means yes, 'iie' means no.
(pronunciation: hai => hi     iie ==> eeee-eh

My daughters and I like to explore different cultures -- especially when they are learning about them in school.

As with all of the different countries sections on the site, the information here consists of a combination of simple things most of us know about, some library research, some things the girls have learned in school and some things contributed by viewers.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind this website is meant for children, so I do generalize and simplify quite a bit!

Japan, a country in Asia, is known for unique culture and cuisine, architectural design, and immaculate city planning.

image of the island rock formations known as Matsushima in Miyagi, Japan

Kanejima of Matsushima, Miyagi, Japan
Photographed by Sébastien Bertrand; used with permission under C.C. BY 2.0

Since Japan has many languages commonly spoken based on region, Japan has no official language: Japanese is spoken throughout Japan; Amani-Oshima in northwestern Okinawa and northern Amami-oshima, Kakeroma, Yoro, and Uke islands; Kikai in northeastern Okinawa and Kikai island; Kunigami in central Okinawa, central and northern Okinawa island, Iheya, Izena, Ie-Jima and Sesoko island; Miyako in southern Okinawa, Miyako, Ogami, Ikema, Kurima, Irabu, Tarama, Minna islands; Okinawan in central Okinawa, southern Okinawa island, Kerama islands, Kume-jima, Tonaki, Aguna islands, and islands east of Okinawa island; Oki-No-Erabu in north central Okinawa and Oki-no-erabu island; Toku-No-Shima in northern Okinawa and Toku-no-shima island; Yaeyama in southern Okinawa, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatoma, Kohama, Taketomi, Kurashima, Hateruma, Aregusuku islands; Yonahuni in southern Okinawa and Yonaguni island; and Yoron in north central Okinawa and Yoron island.

Japan is a country found in the Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere of the globe. As of 2021, Japan is divided into 47 political divisions (called prefectures), more broadly into 8 regions. These regions are divided based on geography and history (each with its own dialect, customs, and unique culture): Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu-Okinawa.

Japan is an island country comprising what is known as a “stratovolcanic archipelago,” meaning that the country contains a stretch many islands with a very steep volcano found on one of the islands. There are 6,852 islands of Japan stretching over 3,000 km along East Asia’s Pacific coast. The five main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa. Since Japan is an archipelago, it is completely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbors are Korea, Russia, and China, and the Sea of Japan separates the Japanese archipelago from the continental mainland of Asia.

Capital city:  Tokyo
Language:  No official language; Japanese, Amani-Oshima, Kikai, Kunigami, Miyako, Okinawan, Oki-No-Erabu, Toku-No-Shima, Yaeyama, Yonahuni, Yoron.
National Bird:  the Green Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor)
National Animal:  Japanese Macaque, or the snow monkey (Macaca fuscata)
National Flower:  Cherry Blossoms (Prunus serrulata)
Currency:  Japanese Yen (JPY)


Japan Printables and Activities:
coloring page

The Moon Maiden

Japanese Folktale
Folktale:  The Moon Maiden


Japan themed Online Jigsaw Puzzles

Japanese Puzzles
Online Jigsaw Puzzles


Printable Worksheets

Printable Worksheets about Japan

Anagram

Artwork by Famous Japanese Artists

Word Mining


Japan Crafts:

Neat Facts:


Dharma Doll CD Rom Craft

Dharma Doll CD Rom Craft

preschoolers and up


dragon crafts 

Dragons

These mythical creatures can be found in fairy tales and folklore all over the world, including Japan.

 


Egg Carton Kendama Craft 

Egg Carton Kendama

grade school


Geisha Paper Plate Craft 

Geisha Paper Plate Craft

preschool and kindergarten


Godzilla Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Godzilla Toilet Paper Roll Craft

preschool and kindergarten


karate craft

Karate Toilet Paper Roll Craft

preschool and kindergarten


autumn word wall words

Kitsune crafts

Kitsune (Foxes)



Maneki Neko Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Maneki Neko Toilet Paper Roll Craft

preschool and kindergarten


Various Origami Projects

Origami

origami is a popular paper folding art form from Japan


Stained Glass Flag Craft

Stained Glass Flag Craft

Kindergarten and grade school


Famous landmarks in Japan include:

The Three Views of Japan

1. Matsushima

2. Amanohashidate

3. Itsukushima Shrine

Shibuya Crossing

Mount Fuji

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Himeji Castle


Other Japan Sections:
printable pochi bukuro templates

setsubun oni colouring pages

Various Anime Sections

Various Anime Sections

Anime is a form of Japanese animation


Various Ocean Animals

Various Ocean Animals

(not all of these are applicable to Japan, but it is an island -- fishing and the sea are an important part of life there)


Various Origami Projects

Various Origami Projects

origami is a popular paper folding art form from Japan