Naruto Geography
Countries
Countries operate as separate political entities and are presumably all monarchies, ruled by daimyo who stand equally in rank with the Hidden Villages' Kage. The Naruto world is similar to feudal Japan in many aspects; those countries maintain balance between themselves through nothing but power. Treaties are periodically signed, but they are generally not even worth the paper they are written on.
The Land of Fire
The Land of Fire (火の国, Hi no Kuni) is one of the largest and most powerful countries in the series, and the home of the main characters. Its government leader is the Fire Daimyo. The Land of Fire was the first country to adopt a ninja village, Konohagakure, a custom other countries would soon adopt. The Land of Fire is appropriately oriented towards the element of fire, typically having very bright and warm weather. While not the largest country, it has the largest hidden village.
The Land of Fire has been involved in wars with the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind. In the quiet years that followed, the Land of Fire slowly recovered, and became accustomed to peace. This was seen by other countries, who had been working to increase their military power, as a weakness, and is one of the factors that brought about the invasion of Konoha by Otogakure and Sunagakure.
On the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Sound sits the Valley of the End, a large rift formed shortly after the founding of Konohagakure by the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha.
The Land of Water
The Land of Water (水の国, Mizu no Kuni) is oriented towards the element of water (Water Release). It is composed of many islands, with each having its own unique traditions. The country's weather is typically cool and full of mist and lakes. In some places, like the area where Haku grew up, it is very cold and snows quite a bit. Little is currently known about it and it apparently leaves itself out of most political affairs, which is understandable considering that it is an island relatively remote from the continent containing the other four major countries.
The Land of Sound
The Land of Sound (音の国, Oto no Kuni) is a neighbor country of the Land of Fire. It is a relatively new country in the political scene, though it has existed for some time under the name of the Land of Rice Fields (田の国, Ta no Kuni; English TV "Land of Rice Paddies"). Orochimaru conquered the country and convinced its daimyo to let him establish his own ninja village.
The Land of Earth
The Land of Earth (土の国, Tsuchi no Kuni) has seen little attention in the series thus far. It is located north-west of the Land of Fire. The country is mostly comprised of desolate, rocky areas. The border of the Land of Earth runs along a rocky mountain range, blocking communication with other countries. The wind blowing from the north passes over these mountains, carrying small rocks from the Land of Earth to the surrounding countries. This famous natural phenomenon is called "Gan'u" (岩雨, "Rock Rain").
The Land of Lightning
The Land of Lightning (雷の国, Kaminari no Kuni) has seen little attention in the series. It is located on a peninsula north-east of the Land of Fire and it is considered one of the Five Great Countries. In the center of the country are vast mountain ranges, whose many thunderstorms are said to give the country its name. From these mountain ranges, many rivers flow to the sea, creating a very crooked coastline that displays an impressive oceanic beauty. There are many hot springs located within the country.
The Land of Wind
The Land of Wind (風の国, Kaze no Kuni) is one of the more focused on countries in the series. It is located south-west of the Land of Fire and borders the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain. The country covers a vast realm, but that realm is largely comprised of deserts. Because there is very little rainfall throughout the year, the people of the country live in villages built on one of the desert's many oases. Despite the country's extremely harsh environment, it has a large population. The Land of Wind is on good terms with the Land of Fire, with a lot of trade going on between the two countries.
The Land of Waves
The Land of Waves (波の国, Nami no Kuni) is a relatively poor nation, and thus does not have a hidden village. It is an isolated island, but used to be prosperous nonetheless, until Gatō set his sights on it. He broke the people's will and monopolized the shipping industry, which was crucial for its economy. Team 7's first real mission was to this country, and, with the help of Zabuza Momochi and the townspeople, Gatō's reign of terror was ended for good. Afterwards, a bridge was built to connect the country to the Land of Fire. After the construction of the bridge, commerce and trade increased bringing more revenue to the Land. It is now a prosperous area.
Sasuke Uchiha briefly visits the country in Part II, bringing Suigetsu Hōzuki with him to retrieve Zabuza's Decapitating Carving Knife.
The Land of Iron
The Land of Iron (鉄の国, Tetsu no Kuni) is an icy, snow-covered country. It is politically unusual in that it has remained neutral and never been involved in the ninja wars. In fact, the shinobi have a rule since long ago that they would not meddle with the land. Despite this, it is said to have an incredibly strong military which, instead of ninja, is manned by samurai. Recently, when Madara Uchiha declared the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, the Land of Iron has joined the Shinobi Alliance and is fully prepared to participate in the war against Madara Uchiha's Moon's Eye Plan. It is located among three mountains called the Three Wolves (三狼, Sanrō). Its leader is Mifune, the general of the country.
The Kage Summit took place in the Land of Iron due to its security and neutrality, which it has prepared for by strengthening its guard. According to the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, it has its own distinct culture, and there is "nothing fun about" meeting there. When Sasuke Uchiha attacked the summit, he was declared an international criminal for challenging the five great ninja villages and for meddling with the neutral Land of Iron.
The Land of Snow
The Land of Snow (雪の国, Yuki no Kuni) was the focus of Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, in which it had been taken over by a tyrant. Its hidden village is Yukigakure. The Land of Snow possesses an unusually advanced level of technology when compared to other countries in the Naruto world. Things such as railroads, airships, snow mobiles, power generators and volley guns are commonplace here, though the latter fired salvos of kunai instead of bullets. Additionally, their ninja wear special chakra armor that makes them virtually immune to ninjutsu and genjutsu. In the end of the film, the snow is renamed the "Land of Spring" and all the snow melts.
The Land of Sky
The Land of the Sky (空の国, Sora no Kuni) is featured in Naruto Shippūden 2: Bonds. The country was formed by ninja from several countries that could mold their chakra to mist in order to fly. It is said that they fought in the Second Great Shinobi World War. Their hidden village was destroyed in the war by Konohagakure but the country survived. Shinnō is from this village. They apparently have quite the reputation as Tsunade was terrified that they were attacking Konohagakure. They use fliers that use chakra to operate. Their base is a giant temple named Ancor Vantian which means "The Ultimate Weapon."
------Minor Countries-----
The Land of Bean Jam
The Land of Bean Jam (餡の国, An no Kuni) is briefly mentioned in episode 194 of the anime. Lady Kayo was sent by the Land of Honey to have some dealings with them. She got lost, and they needed help from Konoha ninja, Hinata Hyūga, Naruto Uzumaki, and Kiba Inuzuka.
The Land of Bears
The Land of Bears (熊の国, Kuma no Kuni) is introduced in the anime, being a heavily forested country. Its ninja village, Hoshigakure, is located in the middle of the country surrounded by a canyon filled with poisonous gas that the locals call the Devil's Ravine (the Valley of Death, in the English anime). The canyon serves as a natural barrier to prevent raids on the village. A meteor crashed near the site of the village 200 years before the start of the series.
The Land of Birds
The Land of Birds (鳥の国, Tori no Kuni) is a small country located between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. In the anime, Naruto, Neji, and Tenten were sent to the country to investigate the rumor of the ghost of Cursed Warrior, as well as protect the daimyo, Sagi. They eventually learned that a group of wandering ninja called the Watari ninja was hoping to take over the country through a complex conspiracy. These ninja were defeated in the end. This land gets its name from the large number of birds that migrate to it each year.
The Land of Claws
The Land of Claws (爪の国, Tsume no Kuni) is featured in episode 177 of the anime. There was, at one point, tension between this nation and the Land of Fangs. The two sides barely averted a war thanks to one of Jiraiya's Icha Icha novels, which was delivered to the Land of Fangs' daimyo by mistake.
The Land of Demons
The Land of Demons (鬼の国, Oni no Kuni; English TV "Land of Ogres") is featured in the fourth Naruto movie, Naruto: Shippūden the Movie. It is located two countries away from the Land of Swamps. The country's priestess, Shion, can predict someone's death and seal away demons.
The Land of Fangs
The Land of Fangs (牙の国, Kiba no Kuni) is featured in episode 177 of the anime. There was, at one point, tension between this nation and the Land of Claws. The two sides barely averted a war thanks to Jiraiya's Icha Icha novel, which was delivered to the Land of Fangs' daimyo by mistake. The Fang Daimyo, who was an Icha Icha fan, thought it was a gift from the Claw Daimyo and avoided the war.
The Land of Forests
The Land of Forests (森の国, Mori no Kuni) is a country full of forests, which makes the river the only crossing access. The criminal group Shinobazu is acting around in this country. Gantetsu, who was a member of Shinobazu was captured and was supposed to be brought to the country's capital for a trial.
The Land of Honey
The Land of Honey (蜜の国, Mitsu no Kuni) is briefly mentioned in episode 194 of the Naruto anime. Nothing else is known about this country.
The Land of Mountains
The Land of Mountains (山の国, Yama no Kuni) is the country wherein Kagerō Village was located. The village was wiped out by another village about thirty years prior to the start of the series.
The Land of Noodles
The Land of Noodles specializes in the production of noodles, hence its name. Chikara hails from there.
The Land of Rivers
The Land of Rivers (川の国, Kawa no Kuni) does not play any particular role in the story until Pakkun discovers the first known Akatsuki hideout in one of the country's caverns. The hideout was decimated during a subsequent battle. This country also holds Katabami Kinzan gold mine, village, and processing center. There is an exclusive shop renowned as the Curry of Life shop where Naruto, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee came to eat.
The Land of Sand
The Land of Sand (砂の国, Suna no kuni) is a country with an apparently famous daimyo. Gennō faked a letter of recommendation written by the country's daimyo twice to gain access to Konohagakure.
The Land of Stone
The Land of Stone (石の国, Ishi no Kuni) is featured in episode 159. It is ruled by a priest, because of this, it has many temples in the capital. Nothing else is known about this land.
The Land of Swamps
The Land of Swamps (沼の国, Numa no Kuni) is a country located near the Land of Demons. It was here that the body of the demon Mōryō was kept.
Anko Mitarashi once protected Chichiyasu, the daimyo of a country with the same name. It is unknown if it is the same country. This country appears to be allied with the Land of Fire, as Might Guy was assigned a mission in this country.
The Land of Tea
The Land of Tea (茶の国, Cha no Kuni) is a small country, near the Land of Fire, in which Team Kakashi (minus Kakashi Hatake who was on another mission at the time) helped Idate Morino win a race that was intended to settle the rivalry between the Wasabi family and the Wagarashi family. It consists of two separate islands, on which the race occurred.
The Land of Valleys
The Land of Valleys (谷間の国, Tanima no Kuni) is briefly mentioned in episode 193 of the anime. Nanafushi, a shinobi set on stealing Konoha's secrets, hails from this country.
The Land of Vegetables
The Land of Vegetables (菜の国, Na no Kuni; English TV "Land of Greens") is featured in episodes 187-191 of the anime. Naruto, Chōji, and Hinata are sent there to escort a small convoy, not realizing that the country's daimyo's daughter, Haruna, was with the group. She was fleeing from a group of brothers who had taken control of the country with the help of collaborators that they massacred after the completion of the coup. Haruna becomes the daimyo after the Konoha ninja get rid of the brothers.
The Land of Whirlpools
The Land of Whirlpools (渦の国, Uzu no Kuni; Viz "Land of Eddies") is where Kushina Uzumaki originates from. It is implied to no longer exist, being referred to in the past tense. The surname Uzumaki was very common in this country.
The Land of Woods
The Land of Woods (林の国, Hayashi no Kuni) was once home to an ANBU group called the Prajñā Group.
The Land of the Moon
The Land of the Moon (月の国, Tsuki no Kuni) is the focus of Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom. It is an island nation in the shape of a crescent moon, hence the name. It is home to the ninja village Getsugakure. In the Chūnin Exams, a ninja wearing a headband with a crescent moon shape on it is seen taking the test, but is not mentioned or shown in the other exams.
The Land of the Sea
The Land of the Sea (海の国, Umi no Kuni) is featured in episode 169. Orochimaru had a hideout here, and several of his forbidden experiments were conducted here as well. One of his subordinates continued the work after Orochimaru abandoned it, leading to attacks on the local ships. It is not a prosperous nation, and relies on Land of Water ninja for protection.
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Hidden Villages
Hidden Villages are parts of countries in which the country's ninja reside. Their leaders stand equally with the landlords ruling the countries they are a part of. A Hidden Village maintains its economy by training its citizens to be ninja from a young age and using them as manpower in various missions others would be willing to pay for, from weeding a garden for a single payment to receiving a constant budget from the country it resides in for being soldiers in case the country is involved in a war.
Amegakure
Amegakure (雨隠れの里, Amegakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in Rain"), also known as Hidden Rain Village, is a small yet highly industrialized hidden village and the alleged headquarters of Akatsuki located in an unnamed country. It seems to be a rather loosely knit village, befitting the destabilized country, as a fair number of its ninja seem to either be missing-nin or end up as missing-nin, as the infamous Akatsuki leader Nagato and his partner Konan originate from this village. Its symbol is composed of four parallel vertical lines, resembling rain.
Getsugakure
Getsugakure (月隠れの里, Getsugakure; literally "Village Hidden under the Moon") is a hidden village in the Land of the Moon. A shinobi from this village briefly appears during the Chūnin Exams.
Hoshigakure
Hoshigakure (星隠れの里, Hoshigakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden Among Stars") was introduced during the Star Village filler arc. It is located in the Land of Bears, and is one of the lesser-known Shinobi Villages in the Naruto Universe. Hoshigakure was formed sometime after a strange meteorite, which the inhabitants called the "star," struck its location 200 years earlier. No trees or plants could grow around the vicinity after it landed.
Iwagakure
Iwagakure (岩隠れの里, Iwagakure no Sato; English TV "Hidden Stone Village"; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Rocks") is the hidden village of the Land of Earth. As one of the five great ninja villages, Iwagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Tsuchikage. Its symbol is made of two rocks, with a smaller one in front of a larger one. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Earth Release techniques.
Kagerō Village
Kagerō Village (陽炎の里, Kagerō no Sato; English TV "Heat Devil Village"; Literally meaning "Heat Haze Village"), introduced in the anime, was a small village located in the Land of Mountains.
Kirigakure
Kirigakure (霧隠れの里, Kirigakure no sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Mist"), called Kiri for short, is located in the Land of Water. The official head ninja of Kirigakure is the Mizukage. It is also the place from which the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist hail. Kakashi and Orochimaru have both stated that Kiri has a strong and ruthless military that cannot be easily defeated.
Konohagakure
Konohagakure (木ノ葉隠れの里, Konohagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden Among Tree Leaves"; also known as "Village Hidden in the Leaves" or "Hidden Leaf Village"), or Konoha for short, is one of the five great ninja villages. As such, it is one of five villages with a Kage as its leader, known as the Hokage. On a mountain overlooking the villages from the north exists the Hokage Monument. The village resides in the Land of Fire. Although Konoha, much like the country in which it resides, has been peaceful for the past sixteen years, and has grown accustomed to that peace, it remains one of the most powerful villages in existence, and has great military power and influence.
Kumogakure
Kumogakure (雲隠れの里, Kumogakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Clouds") is the Hidden Village of the Land of Lightning. As one of the five Great Ninja Villages, Kumogakure has a Kage as its leader, known as the Raikage. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Lightning Release techniques. Some shinobi from this village favor the use of Japanese-style swords (or katanas) as standard weapons, instead of the typical kunai that most shinobi wield; and, as a result, many Kumogakure ninja seem to excel at swordsmanship. The village is located in a range of tall mountains, and is literally hidden in the clouds.
Kusagakure
Kusagakure (草隠れの里, Kusagakure; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Grass") is located in a thus far unnamed country. Because it had Genin participating in the Chūnin exams organized by Konohagakure, it can be assumed the two villages are allied. Nothing is known about Kusagakure's general fighting style, or even if they have one. It can be inferred from the village's name that its shinobi use jutsu involving flora or possibly Earth Release techniques.
Moyagakure
Moyagakure (Moyagakure; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Haze") is located in an unnamed country. This hidden village is briefly mention in episode 101.
Otogakure
Otogakure (音隠れの里, Otogakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in Sound"), called Oto for short, was Orochimaru's personal village, founded for the express purpose of collecting ninja for his experiments and his quest to learn all jutsu. In actuality, Oto is not really a village, but a group of hideouts and bases scattered throughout the Land of Sound and other countries.
Sunagakure
Sunagakure (砂隠れの里, Sunagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Sand") is the hidden village of the Land of Wind. As one of the five great ninja villages, Sunagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Kazekage, which is currently Gaara. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Wind Release techniques and the Puppet Technique. Shinobi from Sunagakure believe that the accomplishment of a mission predominates the lives of the ninja trying to accomplish it.
Takigakure
Takigakure (滝隠れの里, Takigakure; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in a Waterfall") is located in an unnamed country. In terms of the village's appearance, Takigakure seems to be based on mostly Southeast Asian aesthetics. Their current leader is Shibuki.
Takumi Village
Takumi Village (匠の里, Takumi no Sato; Literally meaning "Village of Artisans") resides in the small Land of Rivers. It was founded approximately one hundred years ago by a man named Seimei. Takumi is known for its skills in making weaponry, many of which are sold to the ninja villages of the world.
Yugakure
Yugakure (湯隠れの里, Yugakure no Sato; Literally Meaning "Village Hidden in Hot Water") is the village that the Akatsuki member Hidan originated from. Once a ninja village, Yugakure decided that it didn't feel like staying a hidden village and transitioned out into a peaceful and prosperous village instead. However, Hidan, growing up, already showed a tendency toward violent Jashinist ways, decided that he didn't like this and slaughtered his neighbors before leaving the village.
Yukigakure
Yukigakure (雪隠れの里, Yukigakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Snow") is located in the Land of Snow and featured in the first Naruto movie. Its ninja apparently specialize in manipulating preexisting ice.