Izu Province facts for kids
Izu Province (伊豆国, Izu-no kuni) was an old area of Japan on the island of Honshū. It was located in what is now part of Shizuoka Prefecture. People also called it Zushū (豆州).
Izu Province shared its borders with Sagami and Suruga Provinces.
History of Izu Province
During the Edo period (1603-1868), an important road called the Tōkaidō road went through the northern part of Izu. This road connected the cities of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Travelers often stopped at a special rest town, or shuku-eki, in Mishima.
In the 1850s, a port city in Izu called Shimoda became very important. It was opened for trade with the American ships. The very first American Consulate in Japan was set up in Shimoda. It was located at a temple called Gyokusen-ji.
Later, during the Meiji period (1868-1912), big changes happened in Japan. The old provinces, like Izu, were changed into new areas called prefectures. The maps of Japan were updated in the 1870s to show these new prefectures.
Today, the Izu Peninsula is the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture. The Izu Islands, which are a group of islands near the peninsula, are now considered part of Tokyo.
Important Shrines and Temples
The most important Shinto shrine in Izu Province was called Mishima taisha. It was known as the chief shrine, or ichinomiya, of the province.
Related pages
