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".Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), "Regions of Japan". Retrieved 2012-4-11.

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.Fraser, Andrew  et al. (1995). Japan's early parliaments, 1890-1905: structure, issues, and trends, p. 67.

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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today  Notes IzumiKinai Osaka OsakaKansai created in 716 from Kawachi, then rejoined back in 740, later re-split in 757 KawachiKinai Osaka OsakaKansai Settsu OsakaKinai Hyōgo; Osaka Kobe; OsakaKansai Yamashiro KyotoKinai Kyoto; Nara Kyoto; NaraKansai Yamato WakigamiKinai Nara NaraKansai 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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes Awa MinamibōsōTōkaidō Chiba; Ibaraki Chiba; MitoKantō created in 718 from Kazusa, then rejoined back in 741, later re-split in 781 Hitachi near IshiokaTōkaidō Ibaraki MitoKantō Iga UenoTōkaidō Mie TsuKansai created in 680 from Ise Ise Uji-YamadaTōkaidō Mie TsuKansai IzuTōkaidō Shizuoka; Tokyo Shizuoka; TokyoChūbu created 680 from Suruga KaiTōkaidō Yamanashi KōfuChūbu Kazusa near IchiharaTōkaidō Chiba ChibaKantō created from Fusa in the 7th centur MikawaTōkaidō Aichi NagoyaChūbu Musashi near FuchuTōkaidō Kanagawa; Tokyo; Saitama Yokohama; Tokyo; SaitamaKantō transferred in 771 from Tōsandō Owari near InazawaTōkaidō Aichi NagoyaChūbu Sagami near HiratsukaTōkaidō Kanagawa YokohamaKantō ShimaTōkaidō Mie TsuKansai created at the beginning of the 8th century from Ise ShimōsaTōkaidō Chiba; Ibaraki Chiba; MitoKantō created from Fusa in the 7th century SurugaTōkaidō Shizuoka ShizuokaChūbu TōtōmiTōkaidō Shizuoka ShizuokaChūbu

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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes HidaTōsandō Gifu capital cityChūbu notes IwakiTōsandō Fukushima; Miyagi Fukushima; MiyagiTōhoku created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu IwashiroTōsandō Fukushima FukushimaTōhoku created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu Kōzuke MaebashiTōsandō Gunma MaebashiKantō broke off from Kenu during the 4th century Mino  near GifuTōsandō Gifu GifuChūbu notes MutsuTōsandō Aomori, Iwate MoriokaTōhoku created in the 7th century from Hitachi Ōmi ŌtsuTōsandō Shiga ŌtsuTōhoku notes RikuchūTōsandō Akita; Iwate; Miyagi Akita; Morioka; SendaiTōhoku created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu RikuzenTōsandō Iwate MoriokaTōhoku created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu ShimotsukeTōsandō Tochigi UtsunomiyaKantō created from Kenu during the 4th century Shinano MatsumotoTōsandō Nagano NaganoChūbu notes SuwaTōsandō Nagano NaganoChūbu created in 721 from Shinano, later rejoined back in 731 UzenTōsandō Yamagata YamagataTōhoku created from Dewa in 1868 UgoTōsandō Akita; Yamagata Akita; YamagataTōhoku 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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes EchigoHokurikudō Niigata NiigataChūbu created from Koshi in late-7th century Echizen EchizenHokurikudō Fukui FukuiChūbu created from Koshi in late-7th century Etchū TakaokaHokurikudō Toyama ToyamaChūbu created from Koshi in late-7th century KagaHokurikudō Ishikawa KanazawaChūbu created in 823 from Echizen Noto NanaoHokurikudō Ishikawa KanazawaChūbu created in 718 from Echizen, then part of Etchū in 741; split from Etchū in 757 SadoHokurikudō Niigata NiigataChūbu occupied in 743 by Echigo, later re-split in 752 Wakasa ObamaHokurikudō Fukui FukuiChūbu

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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes AkiSan'yōdō Hiroshima HiroshimaChūgoku Bingo FuchuSan'yōdō Hiroshima HiroshimaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century Bitchū SojaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century Bizen near OkayamaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century Harima HimejiSan'yōdō Hyōgo KobeChūgoku Hōki near KurayoshiSan'indō Tottori TottoriChūgoku Inaba TottoriSan'indō Tottori TottoriChūgoku Iwami HamadaSan'indō Shimane ShimaneChūgoku Izumo MatsueSan'indō Shimane MatsueChūgoku Mimasaka, TsuyamaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created in 713 from Bizen Nagato ShimonosekiSan'yōdō Yamaguchi YamaguchiChūgoku Oki SaigōSan'indō Shimane ShimaneChūgoku Suō HofuSan'yōdō Yamaguchi YamaguchiChūgoku Tajima HidakaSan'indō Hyōgo KobeChūgoku Tamba, KameokaSan'indō Hyōgo; Kyoto KobeChūgoku created from Ni in 713 Tango, Maizuru; MiyazuSan'indō Kyoto KyotoChūgoku 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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes AwaNankaidō Tokushima TokushimaShikoku AwajiNankaidō Hyōgo KobeKansai Iyo ImabariNankaidō Ehime MatsuyamaShikoku KiiNankaidō Wakayama WakayamaKansai SanukiNankaidō Kagawa TakamatsuShikoku Tosa near NantokuNankaidō Kōchi KōchiShikoku

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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes Buzen near ToyatsuSaikaidō Fukuoka; Ōita Fukuoka; ŌitaKyūshū created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century BungoSaikaidō Ōita ŌitaKyūshū created from Toyo at the end of the 7th century Chikuzen near DazifuSaikaidō Fukuoka FukuokaKyūshū created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century Chikugo near KurumeSaikaidō Fukuoka FukuokaKyūshū created from Chikushi until the end of the 7th century Hizen near SagaSaikaidō Nagasaki; Saga Nagasaki; SagaKyūshū created from Hi until the end of the 7th century HigoSaikaidō Kumamoto KumamotoKyūshū created from Hi until the end of the 7th century Hyūga near SaitoSaikaidō Miyazaki MiyazakiKyūshū Iki IkiSaikaidō Nagasaki NagasakiKyūshū also known as Ikishima Okinawa ShuriSaikaidō Okinawa Naha annexed in 1878-79; traditional sub-region, but some sources consider the Ryukyu Islands as a distinct region Ōsumi near KokubuSaikaidō Kagoshima KagoshimaKyūshū created in 702 from Hyūga SatsumaSaikaidō Kagoshima KagoshimaKyūshū created in 702 from Hyūga TaneSaikaidō Kagoshima KagoshimaKyūshū created in 702 from Hyūga, later occupied in 824 by Ōsumi; islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima Tsushima TsushimaSaikaidō Nagasaki NagasakiKyūshū 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 50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes Hokkaidō, 1886-  Tōhoku Hokkaidō, 1947-   SapporoHokkaidō 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

References

Category:Regions of Japan