Comparison of regions of Japan

The **Comparison of regions of Japan** highlights differences and similarities. The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs".

## Geography and culture

The geography and administrative subdivisions of Japan have evolved and changed during the course of its history. Since the late-7th century, the regions of Japan have been grouped according to geographic position.

In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions (_chihō _). A regional council (_chihō gyōsei kyōgisai_) was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.
In this time, political development is marked by persistent loyalty to region and locality.

## Kansai region

The Kansai region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### Kinai

Since the late-7th century, the _Kinai_ region, also known as _Go-Kinai_, included the "Five Home Provinces" which surrounded the old capital city of Kyoto. In 645, _Kinai_ was created as part of the Taika Reform. These lands are also called the Kansai region or Kinki.

### Table: Kansai region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Izumi||style="background:#ffc109;"|Kinai|Osaka|Osaka|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai|created in 716 from Kawachi, then rejoined back in 740, later re-split in 757|
|Kawachi||style="background:#ffc109;"|Kinai|Osaka|Osaka|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Settsu|Osaka|style="background:#ffc109;"|Kinai|Hyōgo; Osaka|Kobe; Osaka|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Yamashiro|Kyoto|style="background:#ffc109;"|Kinai|Kyoto; Nara|Kyoto; Nara|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Yamato|Wakigami|style="background:#ffc109;"|Kinai|Nara|Nara|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai|northern Nara without Yoshino|

## Kantō region

The Kantō region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### Tōkaidō

Since the late-7th century, the _Tōkaidō_ region or "Eastern Sea Circuit" was made up of 15 provinces on the Pacific Ocean from Sendai Bay to _Kinai_. Fuji-san, Tokyo, Yokohama, and other important or well-known places are in this region. _Tōkaidō_ also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

### Table: Kanto Region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Awa|Minamibōsō|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Chiba; Ibaraki|Chiba; Mito|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō|created in 718 from Kazusa, then rejoined back in 741, later re-split in 781|
|Hitachi|near Ishioka|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Ibaraki|Mito|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō||
|Iga|Ueno|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Mie|Tsu|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai|created in 680 from Ise|
|Ise|Uji-Yamada|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Mie|Tsu|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Izu||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Shizuoka; Tokyo|Shizuoka; Tokyo|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created 680 from Suruga|
|Kai||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Yamanashi|Kōfu|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||
|Kazusa|near Ichihara|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Chiba|Chiba|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō|created from Fusa in the 7th centur|
|Mikawa||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Aichi|Nagoya|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||
|Musashi|near Fuchu|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Kanagawa; Tokyo; Saitama|Yokohama; Tokyo; Saitama|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō|transferred in 771 from Tōsandō|
|Owari|near Inazawa|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Aichi|Nagoya|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||
|Sagami|near Hiratsuka|style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Kanagawa|Yokohama|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō||
|Shima||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Mie|Tsu|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai|created at the beginning of the 8th century from Ise|
|Shimōsa||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Chiba; Ibaraki|Chiba; Mito|style="background:#79ff76;"|Kantō|created from Fusa in the 7th century|
|Suruga||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Shizuoka|Shizuoka|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||
|Tōtōmi||style="background:#ff9d9d;"|Tōkaidō|Shizuoka|Shizuoka|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||

## Tōhoku region

The Tōhoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### Tōsandō

Since the late-7th century, the _Tōsandō_ region or "Eastern Mountain Circuit" was made up of 13 provinces. _Tōsandō_ also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū. _Tōsandō_ included Musashi Province after 711.

### Table: Tōhoku region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Hida||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Gifu|capital city|style="background:#79efd8;"|Chūbu|notes|
|Iwaki||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Fukushima; Miyagi|Fukushima; Miyagi|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu|
|Iwashiro||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Fukushima|Fukushima|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu|
|Kōzuke|Maebashi|style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Gunma|Maebashi|style="background:#87ef79;"|Kantō|broke off from Kenu during the 4th century|
|Mino|near Gifu|style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Gifu|Gifu|style="background:#79efd8;"|Chūbu|notes|
|Mutsu||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Aomori, Iwate|Morioka|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created in the 7th century from Hitachi|
|Ōmi|Ōtsu|style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Shiga|Ōtsu|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|notes|
|Rikuchū||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Akita; Iwate; Miyagi|Akita; Morioka; Sendai|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu|
|Rikuzen||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Iwate|Morioka|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu|
|Shimotsuke||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Tochigi|Utsunomiya|style="background:#87ef79;"|Kantō|created from Kenu during the 4th century|
|Shinano|Matsumoto|style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Nagano|Nagano|style="background:#79efd8;"|Chūbu|notes|
|Suwa||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Nagano|Nagano|style="background:#79efd8;"|Chūbu|created in 721 from Shinano, later rejoined back in 731|
|Uzen||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Yamagata|Yamagata|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created from Dewa in 1868|
|Ugo||style="background:#fdb;"|Tōsandō|Akita; Yamagata|Akita; Yamagata|style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|created from Dewa during in 1868|

## Chūbu region

The Chūbu region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### Hokurikudō

Since the late-7th century, the _Hokurikudō_ region or the "Northern-land Circuit" was made up of 7 provinces on the Sea of Japan. _Hokurikudō_ also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

### Table: Chūbu region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Echigo||style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Niigata|Niigata|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created from Koshi in late-7th century|
|Echizen|Echizen|style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Fukui|Fukui|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created from Koshi in late-7th century|
|Etchū|Takaoka|style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Toyama|Toyama|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created from Koshi in late-7th century|
|Kaga||style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Ishikawa|Kanazawa|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created in 823 from Echizen|
|Noto|Nanao|style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Ishikawa|Kanazawa|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|created in 718 from Echizen, then part of Etchū in 741; split from Etchū in 757|
|Sado||style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Niigata|Niigata|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu|occupied in 743 by Echigo, later re-split in 752|
|Wakasa|Obama|style="background:#eaeaea;"|Hokurikudō|Fukui|Fukui|style="background:#8bffe8;"|Chūbu||

## Chūgoku region

The Chūgoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### San'indō

Since the late-7th century, the _San'indō_ region or "Mountain-shade Circuit" was made up of 8 provinces on the Sea of Japan. _San'indō_ also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

### San'yōdō

Since the late-7th century, the _San'yōdō_ region or "Mountain-sun Circuit" was made up of provinces on south or 'sunny' side of the mountains. _San'indō_ also names a road which connects the 8 provincial capitals of this region on the island of Honshū.

### Table: Chūgoku region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Aki||style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Hiroshima|Hiroshima|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Bingo|Fuchu|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Hiroshima|Hiroshima|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created from Kibi in late-7th century|
|Bitchū|Soja|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Okayama|Okayama|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created from Kibi in late-7th century|
|Bizen|near Okayama|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Okayama|Okayama|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created from Kibi in late-7th century|
|Harima|Himeji|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Hyōgo|Kobe|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Hōki|near Kurayoshi|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Tottori|Tottori|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Inaba|Tottori|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Tottori|Tottori|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Iwami|Hamada|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Shimane|Shimane|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Izumo|Matsue|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Shimane|Matsue|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Mimasaka,|Tsuyama|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Okayama|Okayama|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created in 713 from Bizen|
|Nagato|Shimonoseki|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Yamaguchi|Yamaguchi|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Oki|Saigō|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Shimane|Shimane|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Suō|Hofu|style="background:#f5fd95;"|San'yōdō|Yamaguchi|Yamaguchi|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Tajima|Hidaka|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Hyōgo|Kobe|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku||
|Tamba,|Kameoka|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Hyōgo; Kyoto|Kobe|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created from Ni in 713|
|Tango,|Maizuru; Miyazu|style="background:#dfdfff;"|San'indō|Kyoto|Kyoto|style="background:#ff9148;"|Chūgoku|created from Ni in 713|

## Shikoku region

The Shikoku region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

### Nankaidō

Since the late-7th century, the _Nankaidō_ region or the "South-sea Circuit" made up of 6 provinces (the island of Awaji, the 4 provinces of Shikoku, and Kishiu on Honshū). _Nankaidō_ also names a road which connects the provincial capitals of this region.

### Table: Shikoku region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Awa||style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Tokushima|Tokushima|style="background:#d16eff;"|Shikoku||
|Awaji||style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Hyōgo|Kobe|style="background:#7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Iyo|Imabari|style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Ehime|Matsuyama|style="background:#d16eff;"|Shikoku||
|Kii||style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Wakayama|Wakayama|style="background:##7272ff;"|Kansai||
|Sanuki||style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Kagawa|Takamatsu|style="background:#d16eff;"|Shikoku||
|Tosa|near Nantoku|style="background:#dce0c0;"|Nankaidō|Kōchi|Kōchi|style="background:#d16eff;"|Shikoku||

## Kyūshū region

The Kyūshū region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

Since the late-7th century, the _Saikaidō_ region or the "West-sea Circuit" was made up of the 9 provinces of the Kyūshū region. _Saikaidō_ also names a road which connected the provincial capitals of this region.

After 1878, the region included the Ryukyu Islands.

### Table: Kyūshū region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Buzen|near Toyatsu|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Fukuoka; Ōita|Fukuoka; Ōita|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century|
|Bungo||style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Ōita|Ōita|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century|
|Chikuzen|near Dazifu|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Fukuoka|Fukuoka|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century|
|Chikugo|near Kurume|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Fukuoka|Fukuoka|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century|
|Hizen|near Saga|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Nagasaki; Saga|Nagasaki; Saga|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Hi until the end of the 7th century|
|Higo||style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Kumamoto|Kumamoto|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created from Hi until the end of the 7th century|
|Hyūga|near Saito|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Miyazaki|Miyazaki|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū||
|Iki|Iki|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Nagasaki|Nagasaki|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|also known as Ikishima|
|Okinawa|Shuri|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Okinawa|Naha||annexed in 1878-79; traditional sub-region, but some sources consider the Ryukyu Islands as a distinct region||
|Ōsumi|near Kokubu|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Kagoshima|Kagoshima|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created in 702 from Hyūga|
|Satsuma||style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Kagoshima|Kagoshima|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created in 702 from Hyūga|
|Tane||style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Kagoshima|Kagoshima|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|created in 702 from Hyūga, later occupied in 824 by Ōsumi; islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima|
|Tsushima|Tsushima|style="background:#f0e1e1;"|Saikaidō|Nagasaki|Nagasaki|style="background:#c5c5c5;"|Kyūshū|also known as Tsushimajima|

## Hokkaidō region

The Hokkaidō region is used as a basic framework for description and comparison.

In the late 19th-century, the _Hokkaidō_ region or "North Sea Circuit" was made up of the 10 provinces of Yezo. The Kurile Islands became an 11th northern province which was added in 1875.

### Table: Hokkaidō region

|Province|Province capital|Pre-modern regions|Prefecture|Prefecture capital|Regions today|Notes|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Hokkaidō, 1886-||style="background:#fffb91;"|Tōhoku|Hokkaidō, 1947-|Sapporo|style="background:#ff8585;"|Hokkaidō|the far north is sub-region of Tōhoku until 20th century|
- Oshima, 1869-1882
    - southern Oshima Subprefecture
    - southern Hiyama Subprefecture
- Shiribeshi
    - most of Shiribeshi Subprefecture (excluding Abuta District)
    - northern Hiyama Subprefecture
- Iburi, 1869-1882
    - entire Iburi Subprefecture
    - Yamakoshi District, in Oshima Subprefecture
    - Abuta District, in Shiribeshi Subprefecture
    - Chitose and Eniwa cities, in Ishikari Subprefecture
    - Shimukappu village, Kamikawa Subprefecture
- Ishikari, 1869-1882
    - most of Ishikari Subprefecture (excluding Chitose and Eniwa cities)
    - entire Sorachi Subprefecture
    - southern Kamikawa Subprefecture (excluding Shimukappu village)
- Teshio, 1869-1882
    - entire Rumoi Subprefecture
    - northern Kamikawa Subprefecture
- Kitami, 1869-1882
    - entire Sōya Subprefecture
    - most of Abashiri Subprefecture (excluding part of Abashiri District)
- Hidaka, 1869-1882
    - entire Hidaka Subprefecture
- Tokachi, 1869-1882
    - entire Tokachi Subprefecture
- Kushiro, 1869-1882
    - entire Kushiro Subprefecture
    - part of Abashiri District, in Abashiri Subprefecture
- Nemuro, 1869-1882
    - Nemuro Subprefecture
- Chishima, 1869-1882 (the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, later included Shikotan and the Kuril Islands)

## Related pages

- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Gokishichidō