Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture

広島県
Hiroshima Prefecture 広島県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	広島県
• Rōmaji	Hiroshima-ken
	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)
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 Prefecture (広島県, Hiroshima-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.^[1] 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 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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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

Higashihiroshima

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Hiroshima Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns in each district:

Mergers

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:^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

Education

University

Transportation

Railway

People movers

Streetcars

Hiroshima Electric Railway

Roads

Expressways

Chugoku Expressway
Sanyo Expressway
Shimanami Expressway
Hamada Expressway
Onomichi Expressway
Hiroshima Expressway (West Nippon Expressway Company)
Hiroshima Expressway (urban 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