Q 01/05

Which prefecture of Japan, not the capital itself, is home to both Tokyo Disneyland and Narita International Airport?

A) Saitama

B) Chiba

C) Ibaraki

D) Yamanashi

Answer · why

B) Chiba

Chiba has hosted Tokyo Disneyland in the city of Urayasu since 1983, when it opened as the first Disney park built outside the United States. Narita, ...

Q 02/05

Which prefecture in northern Japan gave its name to the dog breed of Hachiko, the famously loyal pet?

A) Akita

B) Yamagata

C) Miyagi

D) Toyama

Answer · why

A) Akita

Akita is home to the city of Odate, where Hachiko was born on a farm in 1923. The breed itself was known as the Odate dog until 1931, when it took the...

Q 03/05

Which prefecture, the most northerly in Japan, celebrates winter with a huge snow festival in its capital, Sapporo?

A) Yamagata

B) Miyagi

C) Ishikawa

D) Hokkaido

Answer · why

D) Hokkaido

Hokkaido is also the largest prefecture in Japan. Its Sapporo Snow Festival began as a one-day event in 1950, when six local high school students buil...

Q 04/05

Which prefecture of Japan, once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, stayed under American administration until 1972?

A) Kagoshima

B) Ishikawa

C) Okinawa

D) Kochi

Answer · why

C) Okinawa

Okinawa was returned to Japan on May 15, 1972, 27 years after the battle fought there. Karate also comes from these islands: it grew up in the old kin...

Q 05/05

Which prefecture's capital was home to Japan's emperors for eleven centuries, until the court moved to Tokyo?

A) Kyoto

B) Shiga

C) Hyogo

D) Okayama

Answer · why

A) Kyoto

Kyoto was chosen as the seat of the imperial court in 794 by Emperor Kanmu. After the court left for the city whose new name meant eastern capital, it...