Japan, an island nation located in East Asia, is divided into 47 prefectures, each with its own unique cultural, economic, and geographical characteristics. A numbered map of Japan’s prefectures helps both residents and visitors easily identify locations and understand the administrative structure of the country.
Administrative Structure
Japan’s 47 prefectures are categorized as follows:
- 1 “to” (Tokyo Metropolis)
- 1 “dō” (Hokkaido)
- 2 “fu” (Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures)
- 43 “ken” (Prefectures)
Numbered Prefectures
Each prefecture is numbered from 1 to 47, often following a geographical or alphabetical order. Here are some key prefectures:
- Hokkaido (北海道): The largest island and northernmost prefecture of Japan.
- Aomori (青森県): Located at the northern tip of Honshu.
- Iwate (岩手県): Situated in the northeast of Honshu.
- Miyagi (宮城県): Nhật Bản to the famous city of Sendai.
- Akita (秋田県): Known for the Kanto Matsuri festival.
- Yamagata (山形県): Famous for its beautiful mountainous landscapes.
- Fukushima (福島県): Located in the Tohoku region.
Roles of the Numbered Map
- Education: Helps students and learners easily memorize the locations and names of the prefectures.
- Tourism: Assists tourists in identifying and planning their trips.
- Administrative Management: Facilitates regional division and governance by administrative bodies.
Notable Prefectures
- Tokyo (東京都, Prefecture No. 13): The capital and political, economic center of Japan.
- Osaka (大阪府, Prefecture No. 27): Japan’s second-largest economic hub.
- Kyoto (京都府, Prefecture No. 26): Renowned for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance.
The numbered map of Japan’s prefectures is not only a useful tool for education and administrative management but also an essential means for discovering and understanding the diversity and richness of the country. By numbering each prefecture, the map facilitates easy reference and learning, fostering a deeper comprehension of Japan’s geography and culture.
Introduction to the 47 Prefectures of Japan
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each with its unique characteristics, population, and area. Below is a table introducing each prefecture with its code, name, Kanji name, Hiragana name, population as of 2020, and area in square kilometers.
| PREFECTURE CODE | PREFECTURE NAME | KANJI NAME | HIRAGANA NAME | POPULATION (2020) | AREA (KM²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hokkaido | 北海道 | ほっかいどう | 5,281,297 | 83,456.58 |
| 02 | Aomori | 青森県 | あおもりけん | 1,232,852 | 9,645.64 |
| 03 | Iwate | 岩手県 | いわてけん | 1,209,513 | 15,275.01 |
| 04 | Miyagi | 宮城県 | みやぎけん | 2,305,596 | 7,282.22 |
| 05 | Akita | 秋田県 | あきたけん | 966,490 | 11,637.54 |
| 06 | Yamagata | 山形県 | やまがたけん | 1,077,666 | 9,325.15 |
| 07 | Fukushima | 福島県 | ふくしまけん | 1,848,257 | 13,783.90 |
| 08 | Ibaraki | 茨城県 | いばらきけん | 2,828,750 | 6,097.19 |
| 09 | Tochigi | 栃木県 | とちぎけん | 1,903,734 | 6,408.28 |
| 10 | Gunma | 群馬県 | ぐんまけん | 1,942,456 | 6,362.28 |
| 11 | Saitama | 埼玉県 | さいたまけん | 7,342,682 | 3,797.75 |
| 12 | Chiba | 千葉県 | ちばけん | 6,281,892 | 5,157.61 |
| 13 | Tokyo | 東京都 | とうきょうと | 14,064,696 | 2,194.07 |
| 14 | Kanagawa | 神奈川県 | かながわけん | 9,241,344 | 2,415.81 |
| 15 | Niigata | 新潟県 | にいがたけん | 2,170,267 | 12,584.18 |
| 16 | Toyama | 富山県 | とやまけん | 1,044,588 | 4,247.61 |
| 17 | Ishikawa | 石川県 | いしかわけん | 1,137,649 | 4,186.09 |
| 18 | Fukui | 福井県 | ふくいけん | 765,247 | 4,190.49 |
| 19 | Yamanashi | 山梨県 | やまなしけん | 817,192 | 4,465.37 |
| 20 | Nagano | 長野県 | ながのけん | 2,048,790 | 13,561.56 |
| 21 | Gifu | 岐阜県 | ぎふけん | 1,991,390 | 10,621.29 |
| 22 | Shizuoka | 静岡県 | しずおかけん | 3,637,998 | 7,777.42 |
| 23 | Aichi | 愛知県 | あいちけん | 7,552,873 | 5,172.92 |
| 24 | Mie | 三重県 | みえけん | 1,780,770 | 5,774.41 |
| 25 | Shiga | 滋賀県 | しがけん | 1,412,916 | 4,017.36 |
| 26 | Kyoto | 京都府 | きょうとふ | 2,580,525 | 4,612.19 |
| 27 | Osaka | 大阪府 | おおさかふ | 8,839,469 | 1,905.14 |
| 28 | Hyogo | 兵庫県 | ひょうごけん | 5,466,190 | 8,400.94 |
| 29 | Nara | 奈良県 | ならけん | 1,321,805 | 3,691.09 |
| 30 | Wakayama | 和歌山県 | わかやまけん | 924,933 | 4,724.65 |
| 31 | Tottori | 鳥取県 | とっとりけん | 553,407 | 3,507.19 |
| 32 | Shimane | 島根県 | しまねけん | 665,205 | 6,707.99 |
| 33 | Okayama | 岡山県 | おかやまけん | 1,856,786 | 7,113.21 |
| 34 | Hiroshima | 広島県 | ひろしまけん | 2,711,830 | 8,479.63 |
| 35 | Yamaguchi | 山口県 | やまぐちけん | 1,358,336 | 6,112.28 |
| 36 | Tokushima | 徳島県 | とくしまけん | 696,358 | 4,146.80 |
| 37 | Kagawa | 香川県 | かがわけん | 949,182 | 1,876.66 |
| 38 | Ehime | 愛媛県 | えひめけん | 1,313,524 | 5,676.44 |
| 39 | Kochi | 高知県 | こうちけん | 698,029 | 7,103.93 |
| 40 | Fukuoka | 福岡県 | ふくおかけん | 5,103,679 | 4,986.40 |
| 41 | Saga | 佐賀県 | さがけん | 809,248 | 2,440.68 |
| 42 | Nagasaki | 長崎県 | ながさきけん | 1,314,078 | 4,130.88 |
| 43 | Kumamoto | 熊本県 | くまもとけん | 1,748,134 | 7,409.35 |
| 44 | Oita | 大分県 | おおいたけん | 1,131,647 | 6,339.59 |
| 45 | Miyazaki | 宮崎県 | みやざきけん | 1,073,301 | 7,735.31 |
| 46 | Kagoshima | 鹿児島県 | かごしまけん | 1,599,779 | 9,187.01 |
| 47 | Okinawa | 沖縄県 | おきなわけん | 1,466,870 | 2,281.15 |
This table provides a comprehensive overview of the 47 prefectures of Japan, including key information such as population and area, offering a glimpse into the diverse regions that make up this fascinating country.
@ATK
