noun
mainland Japan; Japan proper
Refers to the four main islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku), sometimes excluding remote islands like the Ryukyus. Used in geographic, political, and cultural contexts.
日本本土では桜の開花が始まった。
Cherry blossoms have started blooming on mainland Japan.
沖縄から日本本土への移住
The number of people moving from Okinawa to mainland Japan is increasing.