How much of Japan’s land is mountainous?

Japan is a highly mountainous country, with approximately three-fourths of its total land area consisting of mountains and hills. This rugged terrain significantly limits the amount of land available for agriculture and urban development, concentrating much of the population and economic activity in the relatively small percentage of lowland areas.12

The country's relief is defined by a series of mountain arcs formed by complex tectonic activity, including the subduction of major crustal plates. These ranges, such as the Japanese Alps in central Honshu, dominate the landscape and contribute to the country's geologically unstable environment, which is characterized by frequent volcanic activity and seismic events.32