Hiroshima Prefecture

prefecture of Japan

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken) is a Japanese prefecture in the Chūgoku region of the island of Honshu.[1] The capital city is Hiroshima.[2]

Hiroshima
広島県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • RomajiHiroshima-ken
Flag of Hiroshima
Official seal of Hiroshima
Location of Hiroshima in Japan
Location of Hiroshima in Japan
Coordinates: 34°26′N 132°45′E / 34.433°N 132.750°E / 34.433; 132.750
Country Japan
RegionChūgoku
IslandHonshu
CapitalHiroshima
Government
 • GovernorHidehiko Yuzaki (since November 2009)
Area
 • Total8,476.95 km2 (3,272.97 sq mi)
 • Rank11th
Population
 (March 1, 2011)
 • Total2,857,990
 • Rank12th
 • Density340/km2 (870/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-34
Prefectural treeJapanese maple (Acer palmatum)
Prefectural birdRed-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
Number of districts5
Number of municipalities23
Websitepref.hiroshima.lg.jp

History change

The area of Bingo Province and Aki Province were merged in Hiroshima Prefecture.[3]

Hiroshima is a traditional center of the Chūgoku region and was the seat of the Mōri clan until the Battle of Sekigahara.

Hiroshima is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites:

Geography change

Hiroshima faces Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea. Hiroshima Bay opens on the Inland Sea.[4] The prefecture also includes many small islands.

Yamaguchi Prefecture is to the south and west of the prefecture Shimane Prefecture is to the northwest. East of Hiroshima is Okayama Prefecture.

National Parks change

National Parks are established in about 4% of the total land area of the prefecture.[5]

Shrines and Temples change

Itsukushima jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.[6]

Related pages change

References change

  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 320; "Chūgoku" at pp. 127.
  2. Nussbaum, "Hiroshima" at pp. 319-320.
  3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
  4. Nussbaum, "Hiroshima Wan" at p. 320.
  5. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  6. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-8-26.

Other websites change

  Media related to Hiroshima prefecture at Wikimedia Commons