Hiroshima Prefecture

Updated on Oct 03, 2024

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Country Japan Island Honshu ISO 3166 code JP-34 Area 8,477 km²		Region Chūgoku (San'yō) Area rank 11th Districts 5 Capital Hiroshima

Population 2.847 million (31 Mar 2012) Weather 14°C, Wind SE at 11 km/h, 56% Humidity Destinations Hiroshima, Itsukushima, Onomichi, Fukuyama, Kure Clubs and Teams Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Sanfrecce Hiroshima Colleges and Universities Hiroshima University, Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima International University, Hiroshima City University, Prefectural University of Hiroshi Points of interest Itsukushima, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Castle, Shukkei‑en

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima. It has a population of around 2.8 million.

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

History

The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded history. 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:

The Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few remnants of prewar Hiroshima following the atomic bombing in 1945;

The Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for filling with water and appearing to "float" during high tide.

Geography

Hiroshima prefecture lies in the middle of Chūgoku. Most of the prefecture consists of mountains leading towards Shimane Prefecture; and rivers produce rich plains near the coast.

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

The sheltered nature of the Inland Sea makes Hiroshima's climate very mild.

As of 1 April 2014, 4% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks (the lowest percentage of any prefecture), namely Setonaikai National Park; Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku and Nishi-Chūgoku Sanchi Quasi-National Parks; and six Prefectural Natural Parks.

Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns in each district:

Economy

Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles (Mazda is headquartered there) and shipbuilding (Kure was one of the main naval bases of the Imperial Japanese Navy and remains a major commercial yard).