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 448sq km (88 976 sq miles)
Also called: Hondo
Honshu in American English
(ˈhɑnˈʃu)
largest of the islands forming Japan: 87,992 sq mi (227,898 sq km); chief city, Tokyo