Japan has mountainous islands with much of the dense urban development on coastal plains and in valleys. Honshu curves through the centre of the archipelago, with Hokkaido to the north and Kyushu to the southwest. Large bays can provide a more recognisable outline than a patch of buildings.
Mountain interiors and coastal settlement
Compare the broad Kanto Plain around Tokyo Bay with a narrow coastal valley. Notice how the available flat ground changes the settlement footprint.
Similar landscapes across borders
Rice fields and compact towns also occur in South Korea and Taiwan. Building colour is weak evidence, especially across different image dates. Use the shape of a bay and the mountains behind it to check a candidate location.