Honshu; Honshū
The largest of Japan's four main islands; a proper noun used in geography, travel, and everyday conversation.
本州は日本の主要な島の中で一番大きい。
Honshu is the largest of Japan's main islands.
来月、本州の北の方へ旅行する予定です。
Next month, I plan to travel to the northern part of Honshu.
日本列島 refers to the entire chain of Japanese islands, whereas 本州 is only the largest single island among them.
Standard kanji spelling for the main island of Japan.
From 本 (hon, 'main') + 州 (shū, 'province, state'), literally 'main province'. The name reflects its historical and geographical centrality.