Honshu

American  

[hon-shoo, hawn-shoo] / ˈhɒn ʃu, ˈhɔn ʃu /

noun

1. an island in central Japan: chief island of the country. 88,851 sq. mi. (230,124 sq. km).

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Honshu British  

/ ˈhɒnʃuː /

noun

1. Also called: Hondo.  the largest of the four main islands of Japan, between the Pacific and the Sea of Japan; regarded as the Japanese mainland; includes a number of offshore islands and contains most of the main cities. Pop: 102 324 961 (2000). Area: 230 448 sq km (88 976 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

Smaller black bears, meanwhile, are common across large parts of Japan, including on the main island of Honshu, and are responsible for most of the attacks.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Colorful auroras appeared around Japan's Honshu and Hokkaido islands on May 11, 2024, sparked by an intense magnetic storm.

From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2024

The monkey’s real name, he added, was Honshu.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

The hardest hit spots were on the Noto Peninsula, the center of the quake, connected by a narrow land strip to the rest of the main island of Honshu, making alternative routes scarce.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2024

The northeastern shore of Honshu, often called the Sanriku Coast, zigzags in and out, forming jagged shapes that resemble the teeth of a saw.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland