Thanks very much for the second response Lemon Sage.
I most definitely was not imagining the map of the Elemental Countries to be so compact in terms of scale. Though I suppose I should have picked up on it since there was an in story clue.
(in Chapter 54: Target: Samui, Darui describes the Great Tree Shipping Company's escort missions as being "around a few weeks long since you can choose to make a trek all the way to Suna after passing through the Leaf.”)
If the map's scale was in line with Eurasia just the first portion of a trek from Kumo to Suna would take more than a few weeks at the speed a loaded, horse drawn wagon can make over unpaved roads; let alone tacking on the return leg of the trip. Makes much more sense if the map shows an area around the same size as Japan or California.
Thanks for the clarification on the geography!