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 (rank) 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 http://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower
 - Tree Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
 - Bird Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
Symbol of Hiroshima Prefecture
Symbol of Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県 Hiroshima-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. 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

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

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture.
Map of Hiroshima Prefecture.

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Fuchū
Kaita
Kumano
Saka
Jinsekikōgen
Sera
Ōsakikamijima
Akiōta
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

Torii of Itsukushima Shrine
Torii of Itsukushima Shrine

[edit] Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Hiroshima.

Football(soccer)

Baseball

Volleyball

[edit] Tourism

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

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Shadow picture of Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima Prefecture
Flag of Hiroshima Prefecture
Cities
Akitakata | Etajima | Fuchū | Fukuyama | Hatsukaichi | Higashihiroshima | Hiroshima (capital) | Kure | Mihara | Miyoshi | Onomichi | Ōtake | Shōbara | Takehara
Districts
Aki | Jinseki | Sera | Toyota | Yamagata
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 34°26′N, 132°45′E