Hyōgo Prefecture

Hyōgo Prefecture is a prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan on the island of Honshu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hyōgo prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 363-365; "Kansai" at p. 477. The capital city is Kobe.Nussbaum, "Kobe" at p. 537. 

 History 
In the Meiji period, Hyōgo Prefecture was formed by merging the provinces of Harima, Tajima, Awaji, and parts of Tamba and Settsu.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.

In 1993, Himeji Castle was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is in the city of Himeji.Japan-i.jp,  Himeji-jo. Retrieved 2012-8-30.

In 1995, the Great Hanshin earthquake damaged Kobe and neighboring Osaka Prefecture. It caused the deaths of 5,000+ people.Fukushima, Glen S. "The Great Hanshin Earthquake,"  Japan Policy Research Institute (JPRI), March 1995. Retrieved 2012-8-30.

 Geography 
Hyōgo has coastlines on two seas. The Sea of Japan is north of the prefecture and the Seto Inland Sea is on the south.  Awaji Island in the Inland Sea is part of Hyōgo.

Hyōgo shares land borders with Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture.

Cities
There are twenty-nine cities in Hyōgo Prefecture, including
Aioi
Akashi
Akō
Amagasaki
Asago
Ashiya
Awaji
Himeji
Itami
Kakogawa
Kasai
Katō
KawanishiKobe (capital)
Chūō-ku
Higashinada-ku
Hyōgo-ku
Kita-ku
Nada-ku
Nagata-ku
Nishi-ku
Suma-ku
Tarumi-ku
Miki
Minamiawaji
NishinomiyaNishiwaki
Ono
Sanda
Sasayama
Shisō
Sumoto
Takarazuka
Takasago
Tamba
Tatsuno
Toyooka
Yabu

National Parks
National Parks are established in about 20% of the total land area of the prefecture.Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.

Shrines and Temples
Izumo daijinju is the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. 
"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2 . Retrieved 2012-3-13.

Related pages
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan
 Hanshin Tigers

References

Other websites

Official Hyōgo Prefecture website
  Himeji-jo, World Heritage Site