All 47 prefectures
All 47 prefectures of Japan
Japan's 47 prefectures — one metropolis (Tokyo-to), one circuit (Hokkaido), two urban prefectures (Osaka-fu and Kyoto-fu) and 43 prefectures (ken) — are the country's first level of local government. Each profile covers its capital and key cities, landscape, history, festivals, crafts and food.
Region
Hokkaido
Region
Tohoku
JP-02AomoriAomori-kenHonshu's northern tip: lantern floats, apple orchards and deep snowCapital: AomoriJP-03IwateIwate-kenHonshu's largest prefecture, from Hiraizumi's Pure Land to the Sanriku coastCapital: MoriokaJP-04MiyagiMiyagi-kenDate Masamune's domain between the Ou Mountains and the PacificCapital: SendaiJP-05AkitaAkita-kenSnow country of rice, sake and Namahage on the Sea of JapanCapital: AkitaJP-06YamagataYamagata-kenSacred peaks, basin towns and the Mogami RiverCapital: YamagataJP-07FukushimaFukushima-kenThree regions, one prefecture: castle towns, volcanoes, orchards and the Pacific shoreCapital: Fukushima
Region
Kanto
JP-08IbarakiIbaraki-kenFarmland, science city and Pacific shore north-east of TokyoCapital: MitoJP-09TochigiTochigi-kenNikko's shrines and the mountains of northern KantoCapital: UtsunomiyaJP-10GunmaGunma-kenHot springs, silk and the mountains at the source of the ToneCapital: MaebashiJP-11SaitamaSaitama-kenTokyo's northern neighbour, from commuter plain to Chichibu mountainsCapital: SaitamaJP-12ChibaChiba-kenThe Boso Peninsula between Tokyo Bay and the PacificCapital: ChibaJP-13TokyoTōkyō-toJapan's capital, from Edo's old town to subtropical islandsCapital: ShinjukuJP-14KanagawaKanagawa-kenPort cities, a samurai capital and Hakone's hot springsCapital: Yokohama
Region
Chūbu
JP-15NiigataNiigata-kenRice fields, sake breweries and Snow Country on the Sea of JapanCapital: NiigataJP-16ToyamaToyama-kenFrom 3,000-metre peaks to the deep sea of Toyama BayCapital: ToyamaJP-17IshikawaIshikawa-kenThe Maeda family's land of crafts, from Kanazawa to the tip of NotoCapital: KanazawaJP-18FukuiFukui-kenEchizen and Wakasa: Zen, crabs and craft between Hokuriku and KyotoCapital: FukuiJP-19YamanashiYamanashi-kenKai: Fuji's northern face, vineyards and the land of Takeda ShingenCapital: KōfuJP-20NaganoNagano-kenShinano: the roof of Japan, from the Alps to the Kiso ValleyCapital: NaganoJP-21GifuGifu-kenMino and Hida: from river plains to the Northern AlpsCapital: GifuJP-22ShizuokaShizuoka-kenFuji, tea and the sea along the old TōkaidōCapital: ShizuokaJP-23AichiAichi-kenOwari and Mikawa: homeland of the unifiers and heart of Japanese industryCapital: Nagoya
Region
Kansai
JP-24MieMie-kenThe land of the Ise shrines, pearls and ninjaCapital: TsuJP-25ShigaShiga-kenThe prefecture around Lake BiwaCapital: OtsuJP-26KyotoKyōto-fuFrom the imperial city to the Sea of JapanCapital: KyotoJP-27OsakaŌsaka-fuThe merchant city and the kitchen of the nationCapital: OsakaJP-28HyogoHyōgo-kenFrom the Inland Sea to the Sea of JapanCapital: KobeJP-29NaraNara-kenYamato, where Japan beganCapital: NaraJP-30WakayamaWakayama-kenSacred mountains and the warm Kii coastCapital: Wakayama
Region
Chūgoku
JP-31TottoriTottori-kenDunes, a sacred volcano and the snow-crab coast of San'inCapital: TottoriJP-32ShimaneShimane-kenThe land of the gods on the Sea of JapanCapital: MatsueJP-33OkayamaOkayama-kenThe Land of Sunshine between the mountains and the Inland SeaCapital: OkayamaJP-34HiroshimaHiroshima-kenPeace city, sacred island and the islands of the Inland SeaCapital: HiroshimaJP-35YamaguchiYamaguchi-kenHonshu's western tip, cradle of the Meiji RestorationCapital: Yamaguchi
Region
Shikoku
JP-36TokushimaTokushima-kenAwa dance, indigo and the start of the pilgrimageCapital: TokushimaJP-37KagawaKagawa-kenUdon country on the Inland SeaCapital: TakamatsuJP-38EhimeEhime-kenCitrus slopes, ancient hot springs and island bridgesCapital: MatsuyamaJP-39KochiKōchi-kenTosa's Pacific coast of clear rivers and bold peopleCapital: Kochi
Region
Kyushu and Okinawa
JP-40Fukuoka PrefectureFukuoka-kenKyushu's front door to the Asian mainlandCapital: FukuokaJP-41Saga PrefectureSaga-kenWhere Japanese porcelain was bornCapital: SagaJP-42NagasakiNagasaki-kenPeninsulas, islands and four centuries of contact with the worldCapital: NagasakiJP-43KumamotoKumamoto-kenLand of fire: volcano, castle and spring waterCapital: KumamotoJP-44OitaŌita-kenSteam, stone Buddhas and volcanoes on Kyushu's eastern shoreCapital: OitaJP-45MiyazakiMiyazaki-kenSun, surf and the land of the mythsCapital: MiyazakiJP-46KagoshimaKagoshima-kenVolcanoes, Satsuma samurai and a chain of subtropical islandsCapital: KagoshimaJP-47OkinawaOkinawa-kenThe islands of the former Ryukyu KingdomCapital: Naha