Spring – Haki Japan

Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture (佐賀県, Saga-ken) is a small prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The prefectural capital is Saga City. The prefecture’s best known tourist attraction is its pottery, especially the pottery from the town of Arita.

Miyazaki Prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県, Miyazaki-ken) is located along the southeastern coast of Kyushu, offering beautiful mountainous and coastal scenery and a mild climate. The prefectural capital is Miyazaki City. Among its most popular tourist destinations is Takachiho, a mountain town known for its gorge and place in mythology.

Yamaguchi Prefecture

Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県, Yamaguchi-ken) is the westernmost prefecture on Honshu Island and is part of the Chugoku Region. The prefectural capital is Yamaguchi City. Yamaguchi, then known as Choshu, played a leading role in overthrowing the shogunate and bringing Japan’s feudal era to an end.

Tottori Prefecture

Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県, Tottori-ken) is located along the Sea of Japan coast in the Chugoku Region. The prefectual capital is Tottori City. Tottori’s best known tourist attraction is its sand dunes (Tottori Sakyu). One of the tallest mountains of western Japan, Mount Daisen, is also located in Tottori Prefecture.

Shimane Prefecture

Shimane Prefecture (島根県, Shimane-ken) is located along the Sea of Japan coast in the Chugoku Region. The prefectural capital is Matsue. Touristic highlights include Matsue and its castle; Izumo Taisha, Japan’s oldest shrine; Iwami Ginzan, a historic silver mine; and the Adachi Art Museum with its wonderful garden.

Kochi Prefecture

Kochi Prefecture (高知県, Kōchi-ken) is located on the island of Shikoku. The prefectural capital is Kochi City. The prefecture’s former name is Tosa. Tosa and its local hero Sakamoto Ryoma played an important historical role towards the end of the Edo Period.

Iwate Prefecture

Iwate (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is a large prefecture on the Pacific coast in the northern Tohoku Region. Its prefectural capital is Morioka. A former political and cultural center of the Tohoku region, the city of Hiraizumi is also located in the prefecture. Iwate’s scenic coast was badly hit by the March 2011 tsunami.

Kagawa Prefecture

Located on the island of Shikoku, Kagawa Prefecture (香川県, Kagawa-ken) is the smallest prefecture of Japan. Kagawa is well known for its udon noodles, which are named after the prefecture’s old name Sanuki. The prefectural capital is Takamatsu.

Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県, Wakayama-ken) is located south of Osaka in the Kansai Region. Prefectural capital is Wakayama City. The prefecture’s best known tourist attraction is Mount Koya (Koyasan), the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism and the best place to experience an overnight stay at a temple.

Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture (岡山県, Okayama-ken) is located along the Seto Inland Sea in the Chugoku Region. The prefectural capital is Okayama City. Just 15 minutes west of Okayama City, Kurashiki attracts tourists with its nicely preserved old canal area.