Aomori Prefecture
Aomori (青森県, Aomori-ken) is the northernmost prefecture on Japan’s main island Honshu. The prefectural capital is Aomori City. The former regional capital city, Hirosaki, offers a nice castle which becomes one of Japan’s best cherry blossom spots each spring.
Read MoreKagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県, Kagoshima-ken) consists of the southernmost part of Kyushu and the northern half of the Nansei Shoto, the island group that stretches from Kyushu to Taiwan. The prefecture’s former name is Satsuma. Satsuma played a crucial role in realizing the Meiji Restoration at the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
Read MoreOita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture (大分県, Ōita-ken) is located on the eastern coast of Kyushu. The prefectural capital is Oita City. The prefecture is famous for its large amount of hot spring waters and popular hot spring resorts, including Beppu and Yufuin.
Read MoreNara
Japan’s first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara (奈良). Prior to that, the capital was moved to a new location whenever a new emperor ascended to the throne. However, as the influence and political ambitions of the city’s powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a…
Read MoreKyoto
Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) served as Japan’s capital and the emperor‘s residence from 794 until 1868. It is one of the country’s ten largest cities with 1.5 million inhabitants and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its exceptional historic value, the city was dropped from…
Read MoreHiroshima
Hiroshima (広島) is the principal city of the Chugoku Region and home to over a million inhabitants. When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction. The destructive power of the bomb was tremendous and obliterated nearly everything within a two kilometer…
Read MoreYamanashi Prefecture
Landlocked Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken) is located immediately west of Tokyo in the Chubu Region. The northern half of Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lake region are located in Yamanashi Prefecture. The prefectural capital is Kofu.
Read MoreIshikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県, Ishikawa-ken) is located along the Sea of Japan coast in the Chubu Region. Its capital and largest tourist attraction is Kanazawa, best known for Kenrokuen Garden. The Noto Peninsula is the prefecture’s most prominent geographical feature.
Read MoreTochigi Prefecture
Tochigi (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) is a landlocked prefecture in the Kanto Region. One of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, the city of Nikko with its famous Toshogu Shrine, is located in Tochigi Prefecture. The prefectural capital is Utsunomiya.
Read MoreGifu Prefecture
Gifu (岐阜県, Gifu-ken) is a large, landlocked prefecture in the center of Honshu. Takayama, a beautiful town in the mountains, and Shirakawa-go, a collection of small villages even deeper in the mountains, are Gifu’s main tourist attractions. The prefectural capital Gifu City is famous for cormorant fishing.
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