Hiroshima Prefecture
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) | |
| • Romaji | Hiroshima-ken |
 Flag  Symbol | |
 Location of Hiroshima in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°26′N 132°45′E | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Chūgoku |
| Island | Honshu |
| Capital | Hiroshima |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Hidehiko Yuzaki (since November 2009) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8,476.95 km2 (3,272.97 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11th |
| Population (March 1, 2011) | |
| • Total | 2,857,990 |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Density | 340/km2 (870/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-34 |
| Prefectural tree | Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) |
| Prefectural bird | Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) |
| Number of districts | 5 |
| Number of municipalities | 23 |
| Website | pref.hiroshima.lg.jp |
History
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:
- Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few remnants of prewar Hiroshima following the atomic bombing in 1945
- Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for appearing to "float" during high tide
Geography
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
National Parks are established in about 4% of the total land area of the prefecture.[5]
Shrines and Temples
Itsukushima jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.[6]
Related pages
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 320; "Chūgoku" at pp. 127.
- Nussbaum, "Hiroshima" at pp. 319-320.
- Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
- Nussbaum, "Hiroshima Wan" at p. 320.
- Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.
- "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-8-26.
Other websites
Media related to Hiroshima prefecture at Wikimedia Commons
- (in English); (in Japanese)
- National Archives of Japan ... Hiroshima map (1891) Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
- National Archives of Japan: Itsukushima kakei, illustrated scroll describing Itsukushima, text by Kaibara Ekiken (circa 1720) Archived 2008-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
