Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 and has a geographic area of 8,479 km². Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama Prefecture to the east, Tottori Prefecture to the northeast, Shimane Prefecture to the north, and Yamaguchi Prefecture to the southwest.
Hiroshima is the capital and largest city of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region, with other major cities including Fukuyama, Kure, and Higashihiroshima. Hiroshima Prefecture is located on the Seto Inland Sea across from the island of Shikoku, and is bounded to the north by the Chūgoku Mountains. Hiroshima Prefecture is one of the three prefectures of Japan with more than one UNESCO World Heritage site.
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.Together with Nara and Tokyo, Hiroshima is one of the three prefectures with more than one UNESCO World Heritage site. The two such sites in Hiroshima Prefecture are:
- 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
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, 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:- Akitakata
- Etajima
- Fuchū
- Fukuyama
- Hatsukaichi
- Higashihiroshima
- Hiroshima
- Kure
- Mihara
- Miyoshi
- Onomichi
- Ōtake
- Shōbara
- Takehara
Towns and villages
- Aki District
- *Fuchū
- *Kaita
- *Kumano
- *Saka
- Jinseki District
- *Jinsekikōgen
- Sera District
- *Sera
- Toyota District
- *Ōsakikamijima
- Yamagata District
- *Akiōta
- *Kitahiroshima
Mergers
Economy
Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles and tourism in two World Heritage sites: the A-Bomb dome and Itsukushima Shrine.Components of the economy are primary industry, secondary industry, and tertiary industry, which compose 0.6%, 32.6%, and 66.2% in 2015. There is 0.6% of unclassified production.
Value of production of manufacturing is 10,343 billion yen in 2016, which is the 10th largest in Japan. After 2012, production of manufacturing is continuously increasing in 2015.
Education
University
- Hiroshima University
- Hiroshima Shudo University
- Prefectural University of Hiroshima
- Hiroshima University of Economics
- Hiroshima International University
- Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University
- Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University
- Hiroshima Cosmopolitan University
- Hiroshima Institute of Technology
- Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin University
- Hiroshima City University
- Hiroshima Jogakuin University
- Hijiyama University
- Elisabeth University of Music
- Fukuyama University
- Fukuyama City University
- Fukuyama Heisei University
- Yasuda Women's University
- Onomichi City University
- Japan Coast Guard Academy
Transportation
Railway
- JR West
- *Sanyo Shinkansen
- *Sanyo Main Line
- *Kabe Line
- *Kure Line
- *Geibi Line
- *Fukuen Line
- Ibara Railway
People movers
- Astram Line
- Skyrail Service
Streetcars
- Hiroshima Electric Railway
Roads
Expressways
- Chugoku Expressway
- Sanyo Expressway
- Shimanami Expressway
- Hamada Expressway
- Onomichi Expressway
- Hiroshima Expressway
- Hiroshima Expressway
National highways
- Route 2
- Route 31
- Route 54
- Route 182
- Route 183
- Route 185
- Route 186
- Route 191
- Route 261
- Route 313
- Route 314
- Route 317
- Route 375
- Route 432
- Route 433
- Route 434
- Route 486
- Route 487
- Route 488
Ports
- Kure Port - Ferry route to Edajima, Matsuyama
- Hiroshima Port - Ferry route to Miyajima, Edajima, Matsuyama and Beppu, and also International Container hub port
- Mihara Port
- Onomichi Port
- Fukuyama Port - International Container hub port
Airports
- Hiroshima Airport
Sports
Football
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Baseball
- Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Volleyball
- JT Thunders
Basketball
- Hiroshima Dragonflies
- Hiroshima Lightning
Tourism
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial
- Hiroshima Castle
- Shukkei-en
- Mitaki Temple
- Itsukushima Shrine
- Momijidani Park
- Mt. Misen
- Miyajima Public Aquarium
- Senkō-ji Temple
- Jōdo-ji Temple
- Onomichi City Museum of Art
- Fukuyama Castle
Famous festivals and events
- Onomichi Port Festival - held in April
- Hiroshima Flower Festival - held from May 3 to 5
- Fukuyama Rose Festival - held in May
- Enryuji Tokasan Festival - held in June
- Gion Festival of Onomichi - held in July
- Innoshima Water-naval Festival - held in August
- Miyajima Under-water Firework Festival - held on August 14
- Yassa Festival of Mihara - held in August
- Saijo Sake Festival - held in October
- Onomichi Becher Festival - held on November 3
- Hiroshima Ebisu Festival - held from November 18 to 20