Hiroshima Prefecture
広島県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese広島県
 • RōmajiHiroshima-ken
A pair of sika deer in front of the torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at low tide, one of Japan
A pair of sika deer in front of the torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at low tide, one of Japan's three scenes of Itsukushima Island, Miyajima Ward, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Flag of Hiroshima Prefecture
Official logo of Hiroshima Prefecture
Location of Hiroshima Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionChūgoku (San'yō)
IslandHonshu
CapitalHiroshima
SubdivisionsDistricts: 5, Municipalities: 23
Government
 • GovernorHidehiko Yuzaki (since November 2009)
Area
 • Total8,479.63 km2 (3,274.00 sq mi)
 • Rank11th
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
 • Total2,811,410
 • Rank12th
 • Density330/km2 (860/sq mi)
 • Dialects
Aki・Bingo
ISO 3166 codeJP-34
Websitepref.hiroshima.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdRed-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
TreeJapanese maple (Acer palmatum)

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[1] Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,479 km² (3,274 sq mi). Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama Prefecture to the east, Tottori Prefecture to the northeast, Shimane Prefecture to the north, and Yamaguchi Prefecture to the southwest.

Hiroshima is the capital and largest city of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region, with other major cities including Fukuyama, Kure, and Higashihiroshima.[2] Hiroshima Prefecture is located on the Seto Inland Sea across from the island of Shikoku, and is bounded to the north by the Chūgoku Mountains. Hiroshima Prefecture is one of the three prefectures of Japan with more than one UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

See also: Historic Sites of Hiroshima Prefecture

The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province.[3] This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded history. Hiroshima is a traditional center of the Chūgoku region and was the seat of the Mōri clan until the Battle of Sekigahara.

Together with Nara and Tokyo, Hiroshima is one of the three prefectures with more than one UNESCO World Heritage Site. The two such sites in Hiroshima Prefecture are:

Geography

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town
Map of Hiroshima Prefecture
     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town
Fukuyama
Fukuyama
Onomichi
Onomichi
Higashihiroshima
Higashihiroshima
Mihara
Mihara

Hiroshima prefecture lies in the middle of Japan . Most of the prefecture consists of mountains leading towards Shimane Prefecture; and rivers produce rich plains near the coast.

The province faces Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea. Hiroshima Bay opens on the Inland Sea.[4] The prefecture also includes many small islands.

The sheltered nature of the Inland Sea makes Hiroshima's climate very mild.

As of 1 April 2014, 4% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks (the lowest percentage of any prefecture), namely Setonaikai National Park; Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku and Nishi-Chūgoku Sanchi Quasi-National Parks; and six Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]

Cities

See also: List of cities in Hiroshima Prefecture by population

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Akitakata, Hiroshima.svg
Akitakata
安芸高田市 538.17 31,565
Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Etajima, Hiroshima.svg
Etajima
江田島市 100.97 24,596
Etajima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fuchu city, Hiroshima.svg
Fuchū
府中市 195.71 43,932
Fuchu in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fukuyama, Hiroshima.svg
Fukuyama
福山市 518.14 468,812
Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hatsukaichi.svg
Hatsukaichi
廿日市市 489.36 117,106
Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima.svg
Higashihiroshima
東広島市 635.32 185,418
Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hiroshima, Hiroshima.svg
Hiroshima (capital)
広島市 906.68 1,199,391
Hiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kure, Hiroshima.svg
Kure
呉市 352.8 228,030
Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mihara, Hiroshima.svg
Mihara
三原市 471.03 97,324
Mihara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Miyoshi, Hiroshima.svg
Miyoshi
三次市 778.19 53,616
Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Onomichi, Hiroshima.svg
Onomichi
尾道市 284.85 141,811
Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Otake, Hiroshima.svg
Ōtake
大竹市 78.57 27,684
Otake in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Shōbara, Hiroshima.svg
Shōbara
庄原市 1,246.6 35,870
Shobara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Takehara Hiroshima.JPG
Takehara
竹原市 118.3 26,035
Takehara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Akiōta, Hiroshima.svg
Akiōta
安芸太田町 342.25 6,585 Yamagata District Town
Akiota in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fuchū Town, Hiroshima.svg
Fuchū
府中町 10.45 52,056 Aki District
Fuchu town in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Jinsekikogen, Hiroshima (Blue).svg
Jinsekikōgen
神石高原町 381.81 9,427 Jinseki District
Jinsekikogen in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kaita, Hiroshima.svg
Kaita
海田町 13.81 29,082 Aki District
Kaita in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kitashiroshima, Hiroshima.svg
Kitahiroshima
北広島町 645.86 19,115 Yamagata District
Kitahiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kumano, Hiroshima.svg
Kumano
熊野町 33.62 24,000 Aki District
Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Osakikamishima Hiroshima.JPG
Ōsakikamijima
大崎上島町 43.24 7,801 Toyota District
Osakikamijima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Saka, Hiroshima.svg
Saka
坂町 15.64 13,265 Aki District
Saka in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sera Hiroshima.svg
Sera
世羅町 278.29 19,213 Sera District
Sera in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Hiroshima Prefecture

Economy

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18901,319,507—    
19031,508,713+1.04%
19131,691,699+1.15%
19201,541,905−1.32%
19251,617,680+0.96%
19301,692,136+0.90%
19351,804,916+1.30%
19401,869,504+0.71%
19451,885,471+0.17%
19502,081,967+2.00%
19552,149,044+0.64%
19602,184,043+0.32%
19652,281,146+0.87%
19702,436,135+1.32%
19752,646,324+1.67%
19802,739,161+0.69%
19852,819,200+0.58%
19902,849,847+0.22%
19952,881,748+0.22%
20002,878,915−0.02%
20052,876,642−0.02%
20102,860,750−0.11%
20152,844,963−0.11%
source:[6]

Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles (Mazda is headquartered there) and tourism in two World Heritage Sites: the A-Bomb dome and Itsukushima Shrine.

Components of the economy are primary industry, secondary industry, and tertiary industry, which compose 0.6%, 32.6%, and 66.2% in 2015. There is 0.6% of unclassified production.[7]

Value of production of manufacturing is 10,343 billion yen in 2016, which is the 10th largest in Japan. After 2012, production of manufacturing is continuously increasing in 2015.[8]

Education

University

Religion

Religious denominations in the Hiroshima Prefecture (1996)[9]

  Pure Land Buddhism (35.3%)
  Zen Buddhism (3.6%)
  Tendai or Shingon Buddhism (4.4%)
  Soka Gakkai (4.9%)
  Nichiren Buddhism (3%)
  Other Buddhist schools (1%)
  Christianity (2%)
  Shinto sects (2%)
  Folk Shinto or no religion (44.8%)

Similar to the rest of Japan, most people in the Hiroshima Prefecture are Shinto or Buddhist. in 1996 51.2% of the population was Buddhist, 2 were affiliated with Shinto Sects, 44.8% practiced Folk Shinto, and 2% were Christian.[9]

Transportation

Railway

People movers

Streetcars

Hiroshima Tramway
Hiroshima Tramway

Roads

Expressways

National highways

Ports

Airports

Sports

Mazda Stadium.

The sports teams listed below are based in Hiroshima.

Football

Baseball

Volleyball

Basketball

Cycling

Tourism

Famous festivals and events

International sister relations

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 320 at Google Books; "Chūgoku" at p. 127 at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Hiroshima" at pp. 319–20 at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Province and prefecture" at p. 780 at Google Books.
  4. ^ Nussbaum, "Hiroshima Wan" at p. 320 at Google Books.
  5. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ^ Statistics Bureau of Japan
  7. ^ "平成27年度広島県民経済計算結果について" (PDF). 広島県.
  8. ^ "平成 28 年経済センサス" (PDF). 広島県.
  9. ^ a b Religion in Japan by prefecture, 1996. English language bar table.
  10. ^ "県の外国との友好交流に関する問い合わせは" (in Japanese). Hiroshima Prefecture.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Hawaii's Sister-States". State of Hawai'i. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020.

References

Coordinates: 34°26′N 132°45′E / 34.433°N 132.750°E / 34.433; 132.750