Abstract: The research of timing and extent of the late Quaternary glaciation in the Japanese islands show that the glacial sequences, dated as the early stage (MIS4), middle stage (MIS3b),late stage(MIS2) and the Holocene (MIS1), are all constrained within the last glacial cycle, and the glacial extent decreases with time. According to the topography (altitude) and climate affected the glacier development, abundant precipitation, active tectonic movement and the suitable geographic position provide the necessary conditions for the glacier development on the Japanese mountains. In the east Asia monsoon region, they are initiated the earlist,but, the retreated the latest. The glacial advances are mainly controlled by several cold events. Compared with the mountains in the same latitude in eastern China, the existance of the low altitude glacial action in eastern China is doubtful.