Mikawa Province facts for kids
Mikawa Province (三河国, Mikawa no kuni) was a historical area in Japan. It was located in what is now Aichi Prefecture on the island of Honshū. People also called it Sanshū (三州 or 参州).
Mikawa shared its borders with several other provinces. These included Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces.
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History of Mikawa Province
Mikawa Province has a rich history. It played an important role in old Japan.
The Tōkaidō Road
During the Edo period (1603-1868), a very important road called the Tōkaidō passed through Mikawa. This road was the main route connecting two major cities. It linked Kyoto, which was the home of the Emperor, with Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Edo was the main city of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan's military government at the time.
Changes in the Meiji Period
Later, in the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan went through big changes. The old provinces, like Mikawa, were changed into new areas called prefectures. This happened in the 1870s. The maps of Japan were redrawn to show these new prefectures. Mikawa Province became part of what is now Aichi Prefecture.
Important Shrines and Temples
Toga jinja was a very important place in Mikawa. It was the main Shinto shrine of the province. In Japan, the main shrine of a region is called an ichinomiya. Shinto shrines are places of worship in the Shinto religion.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A woodblock print showing a view of Mikawa Province.
