Hiroshima Prefecture

Last updated
Hiroshima Prefecture
広島県
Japanese transcription(s)
   Japanese 広島県
   Rōmaji Hiroshima-ken
2017An Yun Jin Ting noMu Li (Shou Huo )02 442b1b10-0eb4-4dee-9eb3-56a69b0af0c5.jpg
Hiroshima Oyster
aieichiai marinyunaitetsudoWu Gong Chang .jpg
Shipyard base in Kure
Views from Senkoji Park 20190323-1.jpg
Panoramic view of Senkoji and Onomichi
Map of Japan with highlight on 34 Hiroshima prefecture.svg
Coordinates:
CountryFlag of Japan.svg Japan
Region Chūgoku (San'yō)
Island Honshu
Capital Hiroshima
Subdivisions Districts: 5, Municipalities: 23
Government
   Governor Mika Yokota (since November 2025)
Area
  Total
8,479.63 km2 (3,274.00 sq mi)
  Rank 11th
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
  Total
2,811,410
  Rank 12th
  Density331.549/km2 (858.707/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
SymbolsofJapan
Bird Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata)
Tree Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [çi.ɾo.ɕi.ma,-maꜜ.keɴ] [2] ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. [3] 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 74 metres (243 ft) on Hyōtanjima. [4]

Contents

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. [5] 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. [6] 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:

Geography

Map of Hiroshima Prefecture
Government Ordinance Designated City City Town Map of Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Map of Hiroshima Prefecture
     Government Ordinance Designated City     City     Town
Fukuyama Fukuyama-city photo.jpg
Fukuyama
Onomichi Onomichi city huukei.jpg
Onomichi
Higashihiroshima Saijyo-cho.jpg
Higashihiroshima
Mihara Mihara.jpg
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. [7] 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. [8]

Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

NameArea (km2)PopulationMap
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Akitakata, Hiroshima.svg Akitakata 安芸高田市538.1731,565 Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Etajima, Hiroshima.svg Etajima 江田島市100.9724,596 Etajima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fuchu city, Hiroshima.svg Fuchū 府中市195.7143,932 Fuchu in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fukuyama, Hiroshima.svg Fukuyama 福山市518.14468,812 Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hatsukaichi.svg Hatsukaichi 廿日市市489.36117,106 Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima.svg Higashihiroshima 東広島市635.32185,418 Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hiroshima, Hiroshima.svg Hiroshima (capital)広島市906.681,199,391 Hiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kure, Hiroshima.svg Kure 呉市352.8228,030 Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mihara, Hiroshima.svg Mihara 三原市471.0397,324 Mihara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Miyoshi, Hiroshima.svg Miyoshi 三次市778.1953,616 Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Onomichi, Hiroshima.svg Onomichi 尾道市284.85141,811 Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Otake, Hiroshima.svg Ōtake 大竹市78.5727,684 Otake in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Shobara, Hiroshima.svg Shōbara 庄原市1,246.635,870 Shobara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Takehara, Hiroshima.svg Takehara 竹原市118.326,035 Takehara in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMap
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Akiota, Hiroshima.svg Akiōta 安芸太田町342.256,585 Yamagata District Town Akiota in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fuchu Town, Hiroshima.svg Fuchū 府中町10.4552,056 Aki District Fuchu town in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Jinsekikogen, Hiroshima (Blue).svg Jinsekikōgen 神石高原町381.819,427 Jinseki District Jinsekikogen in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kaita, Hiroshima.svg Kaita 海田町13.8129,082 Aki District Kaita in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kitashiroshima, Hiroshima.svg Kitahiroshima 北広島町645.8619,115 Yamagata District Kitahiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kumano, Hiroshima.svg Kumano 熊野町33.6224,000 Aki District Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Osakikamijima, Hiroshima.svg Ōsakikamijima 大崎上島町43.247,801 Toyota District Osakikamijima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Saka, Hiroshima.svg Saka 坂町15.6413,265 Aki District Saka in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sera Hiroshima.svg Sera 世羅町278.2919,213 Sera District Sera in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg

Mergers

Economy

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18901,319,507    
19031,508,713+1.04%
19131,691,699+1.15%
19201,541,905−1.32%
19251,617,680+0.96%
19301,692,136+0.90%
19351,804,916+1.30%
19401,869,504+0.71%
19451,885,471+0.17%
19502,081,967+2.00%
19552,149,044+0.64%
19602,184,043+0.32%
19652,281,146+0.87%
19702,436,135+1.32%
19752,646,324+1.67%
19802,739,161+0.69%
19852,819,200+0.58%
19902,849,847+0.22%
19952,881,748+0.22%
20002,878,915−0.02%
20052,876,642−0.02%
20102,860,750−0.11%
20152,844,963−0.11%
source: [9]

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. [10]

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. [11]

Education

University

Religion

Religious denominations in the Hiroshima Prefecture (1996) [12]
  1. Pure Land Buddhism (35.3%)
  2. Zen Buddhism (3.60%)
  3. Tendai or Shingon Buddhism (4.40%)
  4. Soka Gakkai (4.90%)
  5. Nichiren Buddhism (3.00%)
  6. Other Buddhist schools (1.00%)
  7. Christianity (2.00%)
  8. Shinto sects (2.00%)
  9. Folk Shinto or no religion (44.8%)

Transportation

Railway

People movers

Streetcars

Hiroshima Tramway Hiroden 5200 20190623.JPG
Hiroshima Tramway

Roads

Expressways

National highways

Ports

Airports

Sports

Mazda Stadium MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima.jpg
Mazda Stadium
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, a home stadium of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina edeionpisuuinguGuang Dao huirudo.jpg
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, a home stadium of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina
Hiroshima Sun Plaza, a home arena of Hiroshima Dragonflies Hiroshima Sun Plaza 20240414.jpg
Hiroshima Sun Plaza, a home arena of Hiroshima Dragonflies

The sports teams listed below are based in Hiroshima.

American Football

Football

Baseball

Volleyball

Basketball

Handball

Cycling

Tourism

Famous festivals and events

International sister relations

Notes

  1. "2020年度国民経済計算(2015年基準・2008SNA) : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, ed. (24 May 2016). NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典 (in Japanese). NHK Publishing.
  3. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 320 at Google Books; "Chūgoku" at p. 127 at Google Books.
  4. 愛媛県~広島県の“隠れ県境”がまさかの日本最短!? 最長県境も愛媛県!? 意外と知らない県境の“魅力”と“可能性”. TBS News (in Japanese). 17 February 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  5. Nussbaum, "Hiroshima" at pp. 31920 at Google Books.
  6. Nussbaum, "Province and prefecture" at p. 780 at Google Books.
  7. Nussbaum, "Hiroshima Wan" at p. 320 at Google Books.
  8. "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. Statistics Bureau of Japan
  10. "平成27年度広島県民経済計算結果について" (PDF). 広島県.
  11. "平成 28 年経済センサス" (PDF). 広島県.
  12. 1 2 Religion in Japan by prefecture, 1996. English language bar table.
  13. "Hawaii's Sister-States". State of Hawai'i. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020.
  14. "県の外国との友好交流に関する問い合わせは" (in Japanese). Hiroshima Prefecture.

References

34°26′N132°45′E / 34.433°N 132.750°E / 34.433; 132.750