Gokishichidō

was the name for ancient regions of Japan starting in the Asuka period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). Goki-shichidō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 255.  Imperial government of Japan was divided into large regions made up of several provinces.  

Regions

The Gokishichidō counted the five provinces in the  or capital area as one region.Gokishichidō is a compound word made up of  plus   In addition, there were seven  in an organizational system which was imported from China in the 7th century.  Each of the "circuits" or do was a region which had several provinces within it.

Over centuries, the government functions of the Gokishichido became less important.  However, the traditional  remained cultural markers.

Core
Under the Gokishichido system, the central provinces were considered to be a core region. These lands are called the Kansai regionNussbaum,  "Kansai," p. 477; excerpt, "Region between Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto without well-defined borders (as opposed to the term Kinki"). or KinkiNussbaum,   "Kinki," p. 522. or Kinai.Nussbaum, "Kinai," at 521; excerpt, "This region is still called Kinai, though its area now corresponds only vaguely to the provinces it once encompassed."  The five provinces included:
Izumi Province, now the southern part of Osaka Prefecture
Kawachi Province,Gilman, Daniel Coit and Harry Thurston. (1907).  "Japan," in The New International Encyclopædia, Vol. 11, p. 132. now the southeastern part of Osaka Prefecture
Settsu Province, now the northern part of Osaka Prefecture, including the city of Osaka, and parts of Hyōgo Prefecture
Yamato Province, now Nara Prefecture
Yamashiro Province, now the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, including the city of Kyōto

Circuits
Under the Gokishichido system, there were seven roads which connected the imperial capital with all of the provincial capitals.  The land around each of the roads was called by the same name as the road, including
Hokurikudō,Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 66 n2 northeast along the coast of the Sea of Japan
Nankaidō,Titsingh, pp. 65-66 n3. southern side of the Seto Inland Sea
Saikaidō, the southern islands
San'indō,Titsingh, p. 65 n3. west coast of the Sea of Japan
San'yōdō, northern side of the Seto Inland Sea
Tōkaidō,Titsingh, p. 57 n1. east coast of the Pacific Ocean
Tōsandō, northeast through the Japanese Alps

Related pages 
KinaiTōkaidōTōsandōHokurikudōSan'indōSan'yōdōNankaidōSaikaidō
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 Comparison of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan

References

Category:Subdivisions of Japan
Category:History of Japan