Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku regions – Japan Specialist Travel

Tokyo

Originally a fishing village named Edo, the city became a major political center in the early 1600s, when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. Today it is one of the most populous cities in the world with a Metropolitan Greater Tokyo Area of more than 37 million residents as of 2020.

Nagano

Nagano is a central prefecture in Japan with a population of over 2 million people. Major cities are Nagano, Matsumoto and Ueda. Nagano is also a popular ski area in Japan.

Hyogo

Hyōgo prefecture is next to Osaka and Kyoto prefectures. It has a population of almost 5.5 million people and Kōbe is the capital and largest city. Other major cities including Himeji, Nishinomiya, and Amagasaki. The prefecture is a major economic center and transportation hub.

Shiga

Shiga prefecture is located in the Kansai region of Honshu.It has a population of almost 1.5 million people. The largest city and capital is Otsu. The prefecture encircles Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan.

Niigata

Niigata prefecture has a population of over 2 million and is famous for its rice production. Niigata city’s major metropolitan area, centered on Niigata city is home to almost 1.4 million people and is the largest populated area on the Sea of Japan coast. Rice production is famous in this area.

Fukui

Fukui Prefecture has a population of just under 800,000. Fukui is the capital and largest city and the Matsudaira clan, a powerful samurai clan during the Edo period was headquartered at Fukui Castle, the site of the modern prefectural offices. Fukui Prefecture is home to the Tōjinbō cliffs and has a number of historical sightseeing attractions along with the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.

Toyama

Toyama Prefecture has a population of just over 1 million people. It is considered a prefecture with a good work life balance, and offers tourists a number of attractions such as the Kurobe Alpine Route and national parks. Toyama city is the capital and largest city. Toyama is a significant industrial producer on the Sea of Japan side of the country.

Kanagawa

Kanagawa a prefecture just south of Tokyo. Yokohama is the capital city which is home to a Chinatown and a popular harbour area. Nearby is the city of Kawasaki. The prefecture is home to roughly 9 million people.

Tochigi

Tochigi prefecture is located in the Kantō region of Honshu and home to almost 2 million people. Utsunomiya is the capital and largest city. The prefecture is a major tourist area and known for hot springs, hiking, skiing and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nikko.

Shimane

Shimane Prefecture is the second-least populous prefecture in Japan at just under 700,000 people. Matsue is the capital and largest city of the prefecture. The prefecture governs the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan which are an attraction for nature lovers.

Gifu

Gifu Prefecture in the central region of Honshu and has a population of almost 2 million. Gifu is known for its traditional industries, Cormorant fishing and the site of the Battle of Sekigahara. The popular tourist sites include Takayama and Shirakawago.

Mie

Mie Prefecture is located in the Kansai and has a population a little under 1.8 million. Tsu city is the capitlal with Yokkaichi being the largest city. Major tourist attractions can include the Ise Grand Shrine, the Ama Pearl Divers and Nagashima Spa Land.

Ibaraki

Ibaraki Prefecture has a population of almost 3 million. Mito is the capital and largest city of Ibaraki with other major cities including Hitachi and Tsukuba. Ibaraki Prefecture is home to Lake Kasumigaura, the second-largest lake in Japan, Mt Tsukuba and Kairaku-en, one of the Great Gardens of Japan.

Yamanashi

Yamanashi prefecture has a population of over 800,000. Kōfu is the capital and largest city. 27% of its total land area has been designated as Natural Parks. Yamanashi prefecture is home to many of the highest mountains in Japan, including Mt Fuji.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima prefecture is home to over 2.5 million people. The capital is Hiroshima city which is famous for the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Today it is a vibrant, modern city known for its Peace Memorial Park. Near Hiroshima city is the sacred island of Miyajima.

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi Prefecture is home to almost 1.5 million people. Yamaguchi is the capital and Shimonoseki is the largest city with other major cities including Ube, Shunan and Iwakuni. Agriculture is a major industry in this prefecture and is home to a number of cultural sightseeing attractions.

Ishikawa

Ishikawa on the Japan Sea side of the island of Honsu. The prefectural population is over 1 million with the capital and main city being Kanazawa. Ishikawa well known industries include gold leaf production and fabric production.

Osaka

Osaka is the capital and largest city of Osaka Prefecture, and the third-largest city in Japan, with other major cities including Sakai, Higashiōsaka, and Hirakata. Osaka is the third-most-populous prefecture (just shy of 9 million) and second-smallest by area. Osaka is a major business, entertainment, educational and industrial centre in Japan.

Shizuoka

Shizuoka prefecture has a population of just over 3.5 million with the largest city being Hamamatsu however the capital is Shizuoka city. Other major cities include Fuji, Numazu, and Iwata. The iconic Mt Fuji is partially located in Shizuoka prefecture with part of it in Yamanashi prefecture. Shizuoka is famous for tea production and the origin of a number of famous Japanese motor companies – Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha.

Nara

Nara Prefecture has a population of just under 1.5 million and is the old capital before Kyoto. Nara is the capital and largest city and is a major tourist spot. Nara has many temples and shrines and has more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan.

Aichi

Aichi Prefecture is heavily populated with over 7.5 million people and is a major manufacturing area. Aichi is home to Toyota Motors and Nagoya is the capital and largest city which is the fourth largest city in Japan.

Kyoto

Kyoto, the old capital of Japan for more than a thousand years before it was moved to Tokyo. Kyoto is famous for its temples, gardens, shrines and traditional wooden houses. Kyoto is a major tourist centre which is also famous for its traditional kaiseki meals and its geisha.

Okayama

Okayama prefecture is located in the Chūgoku region Japan with a population just under 2 million. Okayama is home to a number of major tourist attractions and a number of industries such as automobile manufacturing, agricultural machinery manufacturing and shipbuilding.

Gunma

Gunma is a mountainous, landlocked prefecture known for its hot springs and ski areas. the population of the prefecture is almost 2 million people. Major cities include Takasaki, Maebashi, Oota and Isesaki.

Chiba

Chiba Prefecture is located next to Tokyo. It has a population of over 6 million and is home to Narita International Airport and Tokyo Disney resorts. Chiba is the capital and largest city with a number of other major cities in the prefecture. It is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, the most populous metropolitan area in the world.

Saitama

Saitama Prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo area. Saitama city is the capital and biggest city. Kawagoe city is known for a well-preserved Edo-era precincts and there are over 7 million residents living in Saitama prefecture.

Tottori

Tottori prefecture is the least populous prefecture with under 600,000 people. Tottori city is the capital and largest city and the prefecture is famous for Japan’s largest sand dunes.

Wakayama

Wakayama Prefecture has a population of almost 1 million. Wakayama is the capital and largest city and is home to a number of major cultural sites. Wakayama is also a popular place for hikers and hot spring enthusiasts. Kansai International Airport is the gateway to Wakayama prefecture.