Hiroshima Prefecture

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県 Hiroshima-ken)
Map of Japan with Hiroshima highlighted
Capital Hiroshima
Region Chūgoku
Island Honshū
Governor Yuzan Fujita
Area 8,476.95 km² (11th)
 - % water 0.3%
Population  (October 1, 2000)
 - Population 2,878,915 (12th)
 - Density 340 /km²
Districts 5
Municipalities 23
ISO 3166-2 JP-34
Website www.pref.hiroshima.jp/
index-e.html
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower n/a
 - Tree Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
 - Bird Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
Symbol of Hiroshima Prefecture
Symbol of Hiroshima Prefecture
The headquarters of the government of the prefecture are in this building in the city of Hiroshima.
Enlarge
The headquarters of the government of the prefecture are in this building in the city of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県 Hiroshima-ken?) is located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.

Contents

[edit] History

The area around Hiroshima, formerly divided into Bingo and Aki provinces, 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 Mori clan until the Battle of Sekigahara.

Hiroshima is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites:

  1. the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few remnants of prewar Hiroshima following the atomic bombing in 1945;
  2. Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for filling with water and appearing to "float" during high tide.

[edit] Geography

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture.
Enlarge
Map of Hiroshima Prefecture.

Hiroshima prefecture lies in the middle of Chūgoku, facing Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea. Most of the prefecture consists of mountains leading towards Shimane Prefecture, but rivers produce rich plains near the coast, and the prefecture also includes many small islands in the Inland Sea. The sheltered nature of the Inland Sea makes Hiroshima's climate very mild.

[edit] Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

Aki-ku
Asakita-ku
Asaminami-ku
Higashi-ku
Minami-ku
Naka-ku
Nishi-ku
Saeki-ku

[edit] Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Fuchu
Kaita
Kumano
Saka
Jinsekikogen
Sera
Osakikamijima
Akiota
Kitahiroshima

[edit] Mergers

[edit] Economy

Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles (Mazda is headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture) and shipbuilding (Kure was one of the main naval bases of the Imperial Japanese Navy and remains a major commercial yard).

[edit] Culture

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima.
Enlarge
Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima.

[edit] Tourism

  • Miyajima Aquarium
  • Senko Temple
  • Jodo Temple
  • Saikoku Temple
  • Onomichi Castle
  • Onomichi City Art Museum

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima Prefecture
Cities
Akitakata | Etajima | Fuchu | Fukuyama | Hatsukaichi | Higashihiroshima | Hiroshima (capital) | Kure | Mihara | Miyoshi | Onomichi | Otake | Shobara | Takehara
Districts
Aki | Jinseki | Sera | Toyota | Yamagata
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 34°26′N 132°45′E