Japan

Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. It also has the world's tenth-largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, pictured in this gallery, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.

After its fall as a military power in World War II, Japan rebuilt itself as the most robust economy in Asia. The skyscrapers of Tokyo and its highly efficient transportation system continues to inspire city planners around the world.