The eight regions of Japan
Japan is conventionally divided into eight regions — Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu–Okinawa. They have no administrative function, but they frame how Japanese people describe their country: its climates, dialects, foods and loyalties.
HokkaidoHokkaidō chihōOne island, one prefecture: Japan's cool, wide-open north1 PrefectureTohokuTōhoku chihōNorthern Honshu: mountains, snow country and the great summer festivals6 PrefecturesKantoKantō-chihōJapan's capital region on its largest plain7 PrefecturesChūbuChūbu chihōMountain heart of Honshu between two seas9 PrefecturesKansaiKinki-chihōAncient capitals, merchant cities and the sacred mountains of Kii7 PrefecturesChūgokuChūgoku-chihōWestern Honshu between the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea5 PrefecturesShikokuShikokuThe island of the 88-temple pilgrimage4 PrefecturesKyushu and OkinawaKyūshū-OkinawaJapan's volcanic south-west and the Ryukyu island arc8 Prefectures