Hiroshima Prefecture

"Hiroshima, Japan" redirects here. For the city, see Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.^[2] Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,479 km² (3,274 sq mi). 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 Prefecture 広島県
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	広島県
• Rōmaji	Hiroshima-ken
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Tomonoura Hiroshima Oyster Shipyard base in Kure Panoramic view of Senkoji and Onomichi Hiroshima Castle Sandan-kyō Torii Gate in Itsukushima Shrine
Flag Symbol
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Island	Honshu
Capital	Hiroshima
Subdivisions	Districts: 5, Municipalities: 23
Government
• Governor	Hidehiko Yuzaki (since November 2009)
Area
• Total	8,479.63 km2 (3,274.00 sq mi)
• Rank	11th
Population  (June 1, 2019)
• Total	2,811,410
• Rank	12th
• Density	330/km2 (860/sq mi)
• Dialects	Aki・Bingo
GDP [1]
• Total	JP¥ 11,969 billion US$ 109.8 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-34
Website	pref.hiroshima.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
Tree	Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

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.^[3] 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

See also: Historic Sites of Hiroshima Prefecture

The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province.^[4] 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

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture
     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town

Fukuyama

Onomichi

Higashihiroshima

Mihara

Hiroshima prefecture lies in the middle of Japan. 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Further information: Kunikane River

Cities

See also: List of cities in Hiroshima Prefecture by population

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Akitakata	安芸高田市	538.17	31,565
Etajima	江田島市	100.97	24,596
Fuchū	府中市	195.71	43,932
Fukuyama	福山市	518.14	468,812
Hatsukaichi	廿日市市	489.36	117,106
Higashihiroshima	東広島市	635.32	185,418
Hiroshima (capital)	広島市	906.68	1,199,391
Kure	呉市	352.8	228,030
Mihara	三原市	471.03	97,324
Miyoshi	三次市	778.19	53,616
Onomichi	尾道市	284.85	141,811
Ōtake	大竹市	78.57	27,684
Shōbara	庄原市	1,246.6	35,870
Takehara	竹原市	118.3	26,035

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	District	Type	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Akiōta	安芸太田町	342.25	6,585	Yamagata District	Town
Fuchū	府中町	10.45	52,056	Aki District
Jinsekikōgen	神石高原町	381.81	9,427	Jinseki District
Kaita	海田町	13.81	29,082	Aki District
Kitahiroshima	北広島町	645.86	19,115	Yamagata District
Kumano	熊野町	33.62	24,000	Aki District
Ōsakikamijima	大崎上島町	43.24	7,801	Toyota District
Saka	坂町	15.64	13,265	Aki District
Sera	世羅町	278.29	19,213	Sera District

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Hiroshima Prefecture

Economy

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1890	1,319,507	—
1903	1,508,713	+1.04%
1913	1,691,699	+1.15%
1920	1,541,905	−1.32%
1925	1,617,680	+0.96%
1930	1,692,136	+0.90%
1935	1,804,916	+1.30%
1940	1,869,504	+0.71%
1945	1,885,471	+0.17%
1950	2,081,967	+2.00%
1955	2,149,044	+0.64%
1960	2,184,043	+0.32%
1965	2,281,146	+0.87%
1970	2,436,135	+1.32%
1975	2,646,324	+1.67%
1980	2,739,161	+0.69%
1985	2,819,200	+0.58%
1990	2,849,847	+0.22%
1995	2,881,748	+0.22%
2000	2,878,915	−0.02%
2005	2,876,642	−0.02%
2010	2,860,750	−0.11%
2015	2,844,963	−0.11%
source:[7]

Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles (Mazda is headquartered there) 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Education

University

• Eikei University of Hiroshima
• Elisabeth University of Music
• Fukuyama City University
• Fukuyama Heisei University
• Fukuyama University
• Hijiyama University
• Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University
• Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University
• Hiroshima City University
• Hiroshima Institute of Technology
• Hiroshima Jogakuin University
• Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin University
• Hiroshima Shudo University
• Hiroshima University of Economics
• Hiroshima University
• Japan Coast Guard Academy
• Onomichi City University
• Prefectural University of Hiroshima
• Yasuda Women's University

Religion

Religious denominations in the Hiroshima Prefecture (1996)^[10]

1. Pure Land Buddhism 35.3 (35.0%)
2. Zen Buddhism 3.6 (3.56%)
3. Tendai or Shingon Buddhism 4.4 (4.36%)
4. Soka Gakkai 4.9 (4.85%)
5. Nichiren Buddhism 3 (2.97%)
6. Other Buddhist schools 1 (0.99%)
7. Christianity 2 (1.98%)
8. Shinto sects 2 (1.98%)
9. Folk Shinto or no religion 44.8 (44.4%)

Similar to the rest of Japan, most people in the Hiroshima Prefecture are Shinto or Buddhist. in 1996 51.2% of the population was Buddhist, 2% were affiliated with Shinto Sects, 44.8% practiced Folk Shinto, and 2% were Christian.^[10]

Transportation

Railway

• JR West
  • Fukuen Line
  • Geibi Line
  • Kabe Line
  • Kure Line
  • San'yō Main Line
  • San'yō Shinkansen

• Ibara Railway

People movers

• Astram Line
• Skyrail Service

Streetcars

Hiroshima Tramway

• Hiroshima Electric Railway

Roads

Expressways

• Chūgoku Expressway
• Hamada Expressway
• Hiroshima Expressway (urban expressway)
• Hiroshima Expressway (West Nippon Expressway Company)
• Shimanami Expressway
• Onomichi Expressway
• San'yō 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

• Fukuyama Port - International Container hub port
• Hiroshima Port - Ferry route to Miyajima, Edajima, Matsuyama, and Beppu, and also International Container hub port
• Kure Port - Ferry route to Edajima, Matsuyama
• Mihara Port
• Onomichi Port

Airports

• Hiroshima Airport

Sports

Mazda Stadium

Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, a home stadium of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina

Hiroshima Sun Plaza, a home arena of Hiroshima Dragonflies

The sports teams listed below are based in Hiroshima.

American Football

• Hiroshima Hawks (Hiroshima City)

Football

• Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Hiroshima city)
• Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina (Hiroshima city)^{[citation needed]}

Baseball

• Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Hiroshima city)

Volleyball

• JT Thunders (Hiroshima city)

Basketball

• Hiroshima Dragonflies
• Hiroshima Lightning (Defunct)

Handball

• Akitakada Handball Club (Akitakada)^{[citation needed]}
• Hiroshima Maple Reds (Hiroshima city)^{[citation needed]}

Cycling

• Victoire Hiroshima

Tourism

• Fukuyama Castle
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial
• Hiroshima Castle
• Itsukushima Shrine
• Jōdo-ji Temple
• Kure Portopia Park
• Mitaki Temple
• Miyajima Public Aquarium
• Momijidani Park
• Mount Misen
• Onomichi City Museum of Art
• Senkō-ji Temple
• Shukkei-en

• 
  Itsukushima Shrine and Torii Gate (Hatsukaichi)
• 
  Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Hiroshima City)
• 
  Taishaku Valley (Shobara)
• 
  Road of longing (Shokei no michi) in Takehara on October
• 
  Hiroshima Castle
• 
  Tomonoura (Fukuyama)

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^{[citation needed]}
• 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

International sister relations

• Hawaii, United States of America^[11]
• Sichuan Province, China^[12]