Kantō Plain

Japan’s largest plain, occupying much of the Kantō region on Honshu and centered on Tokyo Bay. Its broad lowlands were formed by river deposits, volcanic ash, and changing sea levels.

Kantō region: A region of eastern Honshu comprising Tokyo and six surrounding prefectures. The plain occupies most of this region and gives it its central lowland.
Alluvial plain: A low, flat landform built from sediment deposited by rivers. The plain’s river lowlands are a large example of this landform.
Tokyo: The capital of Japan, occupying the southern part of the Kantō Plain. Its growth transformed the plain’s southern lowlands into a vast urban region.
Urbanization in Japan: The growth of towns and cities across Japan, especially around major metropolitan centers. The plain became the country’s largest focus of urban concentration.
Honshu: The largest island of Japan, containing Tokyo and most of the country’s population. The plain lies on Honshu’s eastern side.
Arakawa River: A river flowing through Saitama and Tokyo before entering Tokyo Bay. Its floodplain and channel shape densely settled parts of the southern plain.
Greater Tokyo Area: Japan’s largest metropolitan region, centered on Tokyo and extending into neighboring prefectures. Its continuous urban development spans much of the plain.
Tokyo metropolitan area: The densely populated urban region centered on Tokyo and extending into neighboring prefectures. Its scale reflects how the plain’s connected lowlands enabled metropolitan expansion.
Tokyo Bay: An inlet of the Pacific Ocean bordered by Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures. The plain opens toward this bay, whose shoreline has shifted with sea level.
Edo River: A river forming part of the boundary between Tokyo and Chiba before reaching Tokyo Bay. Its engineered channels illustrate how watercourses have been managed across the lowlands.

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