Japan is an archipelago located in East Asia, with a long shoreline that stretches from the Sea of Japan in the northwest to the East China Sea and the Philippines Sea in the east.  It is surrounded by several neighboring countries on the mainland and the islands.  These countries include Russia to the north, North and South Korea, China and Taiwan to the west, and the Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands, which include Okinawa, to the south.  Japan also has close ties with the United States, which has held a military presence since the end of World War II.  The country's location in the Pacific Rim has also allowed it to develop strong economic and cultural ties with numerous other countries, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.