What Are Japan's 47 Prefectures?
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures (都道府県, todōfuken), which are the country's primary administrative divisions — similar to states or provinces in other countries. These prefectures are grouped into 8 major regions, stretching from the northern island of Hokkaido down to the subtropical Okinawa islands in the south.
Understanding the prefectures is essential for studying Japanese geography, history, and culture — each one has its own distinct character, dialect, cuisine, and history.
The 8 Regions of Japan
Japan's 47 prefectures are organized into 8 broad geographic regions:
- Hokkaido (北海道) — 1 prefecture; Japan's northernmost and largest island, known for cold winters, lavender fields, and seafood.
- Tōhoku (東北) — 6 prefectures; the northeastern region of Honshu, including Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima.
- Kantō (関東) — 7 prefectures; home to Tokyo, this is Japan's most populous region, including Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma.
- Chūbu (中部) — 9 prefectures; central Japan, containing the Japanese Alps and cities like Nagoya (Aichi) and Niigata.
- Kansai / Kinki (関西・近畿) — 7 prefectures; the cultural heartland, including Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo (Kobe), Nara, Shiga, Mie, and Wakayama.
- Chūgoku (中国) — 5 prefectures; western Honshu, including Hiroshima and Shimane.
- Shikoku (四国) — 4 prefectures; the smallest of Japan's four main islands, home to the famous 88-temple pilgrimage route.
- Kyushu & Okinawa (九州・沖縄) — 8 prefectures; includes Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and the island chain of Okinawa.
The Four Types of Prefectures
Not all prefectures are called "prefecture" in Japanese. There are actually four legal designations:
| Japanese Term | Reading | Example | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 都 (To) | Metropolis | Tokyo-to | 1 |
| 道 (Dō) | Circuit/Territory | Hokkai-dō | 1 |
| 府 (Fu) | Urban prefecture | Osaka-fu, Kyoto-fu | 2 |
| 県 (Ken) | Prefecture | Aichi-ken, etc. | 43 |
Key Prefectures to Know
- Tokyo (東京都) — The capital and largest city, seat of the national government.
- Osaka (大阪府) — Japan's second economic hub, famous for food culture and comedy.
- Kyoto (京都府) — The ancient imperial capital, rich with temples, shrines, and traditional arts.
- Hokkaido (北海道) — Nearly 22% of Japan's land area, yet home to only about 4% of the population.
- Okinawa (沖縄県) — A subtropical island chain with a distinct Ryukyuan cultural heritage.
Why Learn the Prefectures?
Learning Japan's prefectures is a foundational step in Japanese social studies (shakaika). It helps you:
- Understand regional dialects (hōgen) and local culture
- Follow news events and weather reports in Japanese
- Appreciate historical context — many modern prefectures align with ancient provinces
- Plan travel and understand regional specialties (meibutsu)
Start by memorizing prefectures by region rather than all 47 at once — grouping them geographically makes the task far more manageable.