is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima-ken" in ; "Chūgoku" at . 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 also borders Ehime Prefecture for on Hyōtanjima.
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.Nussbaum, "Hiroshima" at . 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. Known globally for the atomic bombing of 1945, Hiroshima has since rebuilt into a major regional center of industry, education, and culture. Its demographic profile is particularly significant from a population-studies perspective: the city has undergone dramatic population reconstruction after WWII, experienced the demographic transitions associated with Japan’s rapid economic growth, and now faces the contemporary challenges of low fertility, population aging, and gradual population decline.
History
The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province.Nussbaum, "Province and prefecture" at . 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
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.Nussbaum, "Hiroshima Wan" at . 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: NameArea (km2)PopulationMapRōmajiKanji Akitakata安芸高田市538.1731,565 Etajima江田島市100.9724,596 Fuchū府中市195.7143,932 Fukuyama福山市518.14468,812 Hatsukaichi廿日市市489.36117,106 Higashihiroshima東広島市635.32185,418 Hiroshima (capital)広島市906.681,199,391 Kure呉市352.8228,030 Mihara三原市471.0397,324 Miyoshi三次市778.1953,616 Onomichi尾道市284.85141,811 Ōtake大竹市78.5727,684 Shōbara庄原市1,246.635,870 Takehara竹原市118.326,035
Towns These are the towns in each district: NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMapRōmajiKanji Akiōta安芸太田町342.256,585Yamagata DistrictTown Fuchū府中町10.4552,056Aki District Jinsekikōgen神石高原町381.819,427Jinseki District Kaita海田町13.8129,082Aki District Kitahiroshima北広島町645.8619,115Yamagata District Kumano熊野町33.6224,000Aki District Ōsakikamijima大崎上島町43.247,801Toyota District Saka坂町15.6413,265Aki District Sera世羅町278.2919,213Sera District
Mergers
Economy 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.
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 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
Similar to the rest of Japan, most people in the Hiroshima Prefecture are Shinto and 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.
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 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
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)
Baseball Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Hiroshima city)
Volleyball JT Thunders (Hiroshima city)
Basketball Hiroshima Dragonflies Hiroshima Lightning (Defunct)
Handball Akitakada Handball Club (Akitakada) Hiroshima Maple Reds (Hiroshima city)
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
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
International sister relations Hawaii, United States of America Sichuan Province, China
Notes
References Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 58053128
External links
Official Hiroshima Prefecture homepage Life in Hiroshima and other Japan-related Articles
National Archives of Japan ... Hiroshima map (1891) National Archives of Japan: Itsukushima kakei, illustrated scroll describing Itsukushima, text by Kaibara Ekiken (circa 1720) hiroshima-navi