Are There Uninhabited Regions in Japan and Taiwan? Yes.

The statement "there are no uninhabited regions in Japan or Taiwan" is **false**. Both have significant uninhabited areas.

Japan

• Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands: ~30 subtropical islands, 1,000 km south of Tokyo. **Only Chichijima & Hahajima inhabited** (~2,500 people). Rest pristine, UNESCO World Heritage.
• Remote Ryukyu Islands: Many small islands (e.g., Kitadaitō, Minamidaitō) uninhabited or only weather station staff.
• Northern Territories (Kurils): Disputed; some uninhabited.
• Mountainous Interior: ~73% of Japan is mountainous/forested; vast tracts in Japanese Alps, Hokkaido wilderness have **zero permanent residents**.

Taiwan

• Orchid Island (Lanyu): **Inhabited** by ~5,000 Tao (Yami) people — *correction: source claimed uninhabited, but it IS inhabited*.
• Green Island (Ludao): Inhabited (~3,000); former prison.
• Pengjia Islet, Mianhua, Huaping: **Uninhabited** volcanic islets (bird sanctuaries).
• Central Mountain Range: >100 peaks >3,000m; **vast roadless wilderness** (Yushan, Taroko, Shei-Pa NPs) — no permanent settlement.
• Military/Restricted Zones: Coastal/islet areas off-limits.

Bottom Line

Both nations have **extensive uninhabited wilderness** (mountains, remote islands) and **uninhabited islets**. Human settlement is concentrated on coastal plains and valleys.