This article explores the history of Japan, from its earliest inhabitants to the modern day. It is believed that a group of migrants from mainland Asia crossed over to the Japanese archipelago in several waves between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago. Over this period, various cultures were formed including those during the Paleolithic, Jomon and Yayoi periods. The Heian period saw the rise of Shintoism while foreign cultures such as China have also shaped modern-day Japan. While there is no definitive answer regarding who first found Japan, it is likely that multiple waves of migrants arrived over thousands of years ago before forming what we now know as modern-day Japan.