Comparison of regions of Japan facts for kids

Traditional regions of Japan

The Comparison of regions of Japan highlights differences and similarities. The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs".

Geography and culture

The geography and administrative subdivisions of Japan have evolved and changed during the course of its history. Since the late-7th century, the regions of Japan have been grouped according to geographic position.

In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions (chihō ). A regional council (chihō gyōsei kyōgisai) was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries. In this time, political development is marked by persistent loyalty to region and locality.

Kansai region

The Kansai region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Kinai

Since the late-7th century, the Kinai region, also known as Go-Kinai, included the "Five Home Provinces" which surrounded the old capital city of Kyoto. In 645, Kinai was created as part of the Taika Reform. These lands are also called the Kansai region or Kinki.

Table: Kansai region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Izumi		Kinai	Osaka	Osaka	Kansai	created in 716 from Kawachi, then rejoined back in 740, later re-split in 757
Kawachi		Kinai	Osaka	Osaka	Kansai
Settsu	Osaka	Kinai	Hyōgo; Osaka	Kobe; Osaka	Kansai
Yamashiro	Kyoto	Kinai	Kyoto; Nara	Kyoto; Nara	Kansai
Yamato	Wakigami	Kinai	Nara	Nara	Kansai	northern Nara without Yoshino

Kantō region

The Kantō region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Tōkaidō

Since the late-7th century, the Tōkaidō region or "Eastern Sea Circuit" was made up of 15 provinces on the Pacific Ocean from Sendai Bay to Kinai. Fuji-san, Tokyo, Yokohama, and other important or well-known places are in this region. Tōkaidō also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

Table: Kanto Region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Awa	Minamibōsō	Tōkaidō	Chiba; Ibaraki	Chiba; Mito	Kantō	created in 718 from Kazusa, then rejoined back in 741, later re-split in 781
Hitachi	near Ishioka	Tōkaidō	Ibaraki	Mito	Kantō
Iga	Ueno	Tōkaidō	Mie	Tsu	Kansai	created in 680 from Ise
Ise	Uji-Yamada	Tōkaidō	Mie	Tsu	Kansai
Izu		Tōkaidō	Shizuoka; Tokyo	Shizuoka; Tokyo	Chūbu	created 680 from Suruga
Kai		Tōkaidō	Yamanashi	Kōfu	Chūbu
Kazusa	near Ichihara	Tōkaidō	Chiba	Chiba	Kantō	created from Fusa in the 7th centur
Mikawa		Tōkaidō	Aichi	Nagoya	Chūbu
Musashi	near Fuchu	Tōkaidō	Kanagawa; Tokyo; Saitama	Yokohama; Tokyo; Saitama	Kantō	transferred in 771 from Tōsandō
Owari	near Inazawa	Tōkaidō	Aichi	Nagoya	Chūbu
Sagami	near Hiratsuka	Tōkaidō	Kanagawa	Yokohama	Kantō
Shima		Tōkaidō	Mie	Tsu	Kansai	created at the beginning of the 8th century from Ise
Shimōsa		Tōkaidō	Chiba; Ibaraki	Chiba; Mito	Kantō	created from Fusa in the 7th century
Suruga		Tōkaidō	Shizuoka	Shizuoka	Chūbu
Tōtōmi		Tōkaidō	Shizuoka	Shizuoka	Chūbu

Tōhoku region

The Tōhoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Tōsandō

Since the late-7th century, the Tōsandō region or "Eastern Mountain Circuit" was made up of 13 provinces. Tōsandō also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū. Tōsandō included Musashi Province after 711.

Table: Tōhoku region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Hida		Tōsandō	Gifu	capital city	Chūbu	notes
Iwaki		Tōsandō	Fukushima; Miyagi	Fukushima; Miyagi	Tōhoku	created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu
Iwashiro		Tōsandō	Fukushima	Fukushima	Tōhoku	created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu
Kōzuke	Maebashi	Tōsandō	Gunma	Maebashi	Kantō	broke off from Kenu during the 4th century
Mino	near Gifu	Tōsandō	Gifu	Gifu	Chūbu	notes
Mutsu		Tōsandō	Aomori, Iwate	Morioka	Tōhoku	created in the 7th century from Hitachi
Ōmi	Ōtsu	Tōsandō	Shiga	Ōtsu	Tōhoku	notes
Rikuchū		Tōsandō	Akita; Iwate; Miyagi	Akita; Morioka; Sendai	Tōhoku	created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu
Rikuzen		Tōsandō	Iwate	Morioka	Tōhoku	created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu
Shimotsuke		Tōsandō	Tochigi	Utsunomiya	Kantō	created from Kenu during the 4th century
Shinano	Matsumoto	Tōsandō	Nagano	Nagano	Chūbu	notes
Suwa		Tōsandō	Nagano	Nagano	Chūbu	created in 721 from Shinano, later rejoined back in 731
Uzen		Tōsandō	Yamagata	Yamagata	Tōhoku	created from Dewa in 1868
Ugo		Tōsandō	Akita; Yamagata	Akita; Yamagata	Tōhoku	created from Dewa during in 1868

Chūbu region

The Chūbu region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Hokurikudō

Since the late-7th century, the Hokurikudō region or the "Northern-land Circuit" was made up of 7 provinces on the Sea of Japan. Hokurikudō also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

Table: Chūbu region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Echigo		Hokurikudō	Niigata	Niigata	Chūbu	created from Koshi in late-7th century
Echizen	Echizen	Hokurikudō	Fukui	Fukui	Chūbu	created from Koshi in late-7th century
Etchū	Takaoka	Hokurikudō	Toyama	Toyama	Chūbu	created from Koshi in late-7th century
Kaga		Hokurikudō	Ishikawa	Kanazawa	Chūbu	created in 823 from Echizen
Noto	Nanao	Hokurikudō	Ishikawa	Kanazawa	Chūbu	created in 718 from Echizen, then part of Etchū in 741; split from Etchū in 757
Sado		Hokurikudō	Niigata	Niigata	Chūbu	occupied in 743 by Echigo, later re-split in 752
Wakasa	Obama	Hokurikudō	Fukui	Fukui	Chūbu

Chūgoku region

The Chūgoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

San'indō

Since the late-7th century, the San'indō region or "Mountain-shade Circuit" was made up of 8 provinces on the Sea of Japan. San'indō also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

San'yōdō

Since the late-7th century, the San'yōdō region or "Mountain-sun Circuit" was made up of provinces on south or 'sunny' side of the mountains. San'indō also names a road which connects the 8 provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

Table: Chūgoku region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Aki		San'yōdō	Hiroshima	Hiroshima	Chūgoku
Bingo	Fuchu	San'yōdō	Hiroshima	Hiroshima	Chūgoku	created from Kibi in late-7th century
Bitchū	Soja	San'yōdō	Okayama	Okayama	Chūgoku	created from Kibi in late-7th century
Bizen	near Okayama	San'yōdō	Okayama	Okayama	Chūgoku	created from Kibi in late-7th century
Harima	Himeji	San'yōdō	Hyōgo	Kobe	Chūgoku
Hōki	near Kurayoshi	San'indō	Tottori	Tottori	Chūgoku
Inaba	Tottori	San'indō	Tottori	Tottori	Chūgoku
Iwami	Hamada	San'indō	Shimane	Shimane	Chūgoku
Izumo	Matsue	San'indō	Shimane	Matsue	Chūgoku
Mimasaka,	Tsuyama	San'yōdō	Okayama	Okayama	Chūgoku	created in 713 from Bizen
Nagato	Shimonoseki	San'yōdō	Yamaguchi	Yamaguchi	Chūgoku
Oki	Saigō	San'indō	Shimane	Shimane	Chūgoku
Suō	Hofu	San'yōdō	Yamaguchi	Yamaguchi	Chūgoku
Tajima	Hidaka	San'indō	Hyōgo	Kobe	Chūgoku
Tamba,	Kameoka	San'indō	Hyōgo; Kyoto	Kobe	Chūgoku	created from Ni in 713
Tango,	Maizuru; Miyazu	San'indō	Kyoto	Kyoto	Chūgoku	created from Ni in 713

Shikoku region

The Shikoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Nankaidō

Since the late-7th century, the Nankaidō region or the "South-sea Circuit" made up of 6 provinces (the island of Awaji, the 4 provinces of Shikoku, and Kishiu on Honshū). Nankaidō also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region.

Table: Shikoku region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Awa		Nankaidō	Tokushima	Tokushima	Shikoku
Awaji		Nankaidō	Hyōgo	Kobe	Kansai
Iyo	Imabari	Nankaidō	Ehime	Matsuyama	Shikoku
Kii		Nankaidō	Wakayama	Wakayama	Kansai
Sanuki		Nankaidō	Kagawa	Takamatsu	Shikoku
Tosa	near Nantoku	Nankaidō	Kōchi	Kōchi	Shikoku

Kyūshū region

The Kyūshū region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Since the late-7th century, the Saikaidō region or the "West-sea Circuit" was made up of the 9 provinces of the Kyūshū region. Saikaidō also names a road which connected the provincial capitals of this region.

After 1878, the region included the Ryukyu Islands.

Table: Kyūshū region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Buzen	near Toyatsu	Saikaidō	Fukuoka; Ōita	Fukuoka; Ōita	Kyūshū	created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century
Bungo		Saikaidō	Ōita	Ōita	Kyūshū	created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century
Chikuzen	near Dazifu	Saikaidō	Fukuoka	Fukuoka	Kyūshū	created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century
Chikugo	near Kurume	Saikaidō	Fukuoka	Fukuoka	Kyūshū	created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century
Hizen	near Saga	Saikaidō	Nagasaki; Saga	Nagasaki; Saga	Kyūshū	created from Hi until the end of the 7th century
Higo		Saikaidō	Kumamoto	Kumamoto	Kyūshū	created from Hi until the end of the 7th century
Hyūga	near Saito	Saikaidō	Miyazaki	Miyazaki	Kyūshū
Iki	Iki	Saikaidō	Nagasaki	Nagasaki	Kyūshū	also known as Ikishima
Okinawa	Shuri	Saikaidō	Okinawa	Naha		annexed in 1878-79; traditional sub-region, but some sources consider the Ryukyu Islands as a distinct region
Ōsumi	near Kokubu	Saikaidō	Kagoshima	Kagoshima	Kyūshū	created in 702 from Hyūga
Satsuma		Saikaidō	Kagoshima	Kagoshima	Kyūshū	created in 702 from Hyūga
Tane		Saikaidō	Kagoshima	Kagoshima	Kyūshū	created in 702 from Hyūga, later occupied in 824 by Ōsumi; islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima
Tsushima	Tsushima	Saikaidō	Nagasaki	Nagasaki	Kyūshū	also known as Tsushimajima

Hokkaidō region

The Hokkaidō region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

In the late 19th-century, the Hokkaidō region or "North Sea Circuit" was made up of the 10 provinces of Yezo. The Kurile Islands became an 11th northern province which was added in 1875.

Table: Hokkaidō region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Hokkaidō, 1886-		Tōhoku	Hokkaidō, 1947-	Sapporo	Hokkaidō	the far north is sub-region of Tōhoku until 20th century

• Oshima, 1869-1882
  • southern Oshima Subprefecture
  • southern Hiyama Subprefecture
• Shiribeshi
  • most of Shiribeshi Subprefecture (excluding Abuta District)
  • northern Hiyama Subprefecture
• Iburi, 1869-1882
  • entire Iburi Subprefecture
  • Yamakoshi District, in Oshima Subprefecture
  • Abuta District, in Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  • Chitose and Eniwa cities, in Ishikari Subprefecture
  • Shimukappu village, Kamikawa Subprefecture
• Ishikari, 1869-1882
  • most of Ishikari Subprefecture (excluding Chitose and Eniwa cities)
  • entire Sorachi Subprefecture
  • southern Kamikawa Subprefecture (excluding Shimukappu village)
• Teshio, 1869-1882
  • entire Rumoi Subprefecture
  • northern Kamikawa Subprefecture
• Kitami, 1869-1882
  • entire Sōya Subprefecture
  • most of Abashiri Subprefecture (excluding part of Abashiri District)
• Hidaka, 1869-1882
  • entire Hidaka Subprefecture
• Tokachi, 1869-1882
  • entire Tokachi Subprefecture
• Kushiro, 1869-1882
  • entire Kushiro Subprefecture
  • part of Abashiri District, in Abashiri Subprefecture
• Nemuro, 1869-1882
  • Nemuro Subprefecture
• Chishima, 1869-1882 (the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, later included Shikotan and the Kuril Islands)

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan
• Gokishichidō