Hokkaido (Japanese: 北海道, Hepburn: Hokkaidō; pronounced [hok.kaꜜi.doː] ⓘ, lit. 'Northern Sea Circuit'; Ainu: Aynu Mosir, lit. 'Land of the Ainu')[2] is the second-largest and northernmost of Japan's four main islands. Together with its surrounding islands, it comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region.[3] The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The two islands are connected by railway via the Seikan Tunnel.
Aomori Prefecture (青森県, Aomori-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [a.oꜜ.mo.ɾʲi, a.o.mo.ɾʲiꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, Iwate Prefecture to the southeast, Akita Prefecture to the southwest, the Sea of Japan to the west, and Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait to the north. Aomori Prefecture is the eighth-largest prefecture, with an area of 9,645.64 km2 (3,724.20 sq mi), and the 31st-most populous prefecture, with more than 1.18 million people. Mount Iwaki, an active stratovolcano, is the prefecture's highest point, at 1,624.7 m (5,330 ft).
Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [iꜜ.wa.te, i.wa.teꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[3] It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture (behind Hokkaido) at 15,275 square kilometres (5,898 sq mi), with a population of 1,165,886 (as of July 1, 2023). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the west, and Miyagi Prefecture to the south.
Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県, Miyagi-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [mʲiꜜ.ja.ɡʲi, -ŋʲi, mʲi.ja.ɡʲiꜜ.keɴ, -ŋʲiꜜ-][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[3] Miyagi Prefecture has a population of 2,265,724 (1 August 2023) and has a geographic area of 7,282 km2 (2,812 sq mi). Miyagi Prefecture borders Iwate Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the northwest, Yamagata Prefecture to the west, and Fukushima Prefecture to the south.
Akita Prefecture (秋田県, Akita-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [aꜜ.kʲi̥.ta, a.kʲi̥.taꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[3] Its population is estimated 915,691 as of 1 August 2023 and its geographic area is 11,637 km2 (4,493 sq mi). Akita Prefecture is bordered by Aomori Prefecture to the north, Iwate Prefecture to the east, Miyagi Prefecture to the southeast, and Yamagata Prefecture to the south.
Yamagata Prefecture (山形県, Yamagata-ken[a]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[3] It has a population of 1,005,926 (1 February 2025) and an area of 9,325 km2 (3,600 sq mi). Its neighbours are Akita Prefecture to the north, Miyagi Prefecture to the east, Fukushima Prefecture to the south, and Niigata Prefecture to the southwest.
Fukushima Prefecture (福島県, Fukushima-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯ̥.kɯꜜ.ɕi.ma, -kɯ.ɕi.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[3] Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,771,100 (as of 1 July 2023[update]) and has a geographic area of 13,783.90 square kilometres (5,321.99 sq mi). Fukushima Prefecture borders Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture to the north, Niigata Prefecture to the west, Gunma Prefecture to the southwest, and Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture to the south.
Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県, Ibaraki-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [i.baꜜ.ɾa.kʲi, i.ba.ɾa.kʲi̥ꜜ.keɴ, i.ba.ɾaꜜ.kʲi̥.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[4] Ibaraki Prefecture has a population of 2,828,086 (1 July 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,097.19 square kilometres (2,354.14 square miles). Ibaraki Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Tochigi Prefecture to the northwest, Saitama Prefecture to the southwest, Chiba Prefecture to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the east.
Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県, Tochigi-ken[a]) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[3] Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,897,649 (1 June 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,408 km2 (2,474 sq mi). Tochigi Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the west, Saitama Prefecture to the south, and Ibaraki Prefecture to the southeast.
Gunma Prefecture (群馬県, Gunma-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɡɯꜜm.ma, ɡɯm.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[3] Gunma Prefecture has a population of 1,937,626 (1 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 6,362 square kilometres (2,456 sq mi). Gunma Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Saitama Prefecture to the south, and Tochigi Prefecture to the east.
aitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [saꜜi.ta.ma, sai.ta.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[3] Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (January 1, 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture to the north, Nagano Prefecture to the west, Yamanashi Prefecture to the southwest, Tokyo to the south, Chiba Prefecture to the southeast, and Ibaraki Prefecture to the northeast.
Chiba Prefecture (千葉県, Chiba-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [tɕiꜜ.ba, tɕi.baꜜ, tɕi.baꜜkeɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[3] Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 5,157 km2 (1,991 sq mi). Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama Prefecture to the northwest, and Tokyo to the west.
Tokyo,[a] officially the Tokyo Metropolis,[b] is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024[update].
Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県, Kanagawa-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ka.naꜜ.ɡa.wa, -ŋa.wa, -na.ɡa.waꜜ.keɴ, -ŋa.waꜜ-][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu.[3] Kanagawa Prefecture is the second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-densest at 3,800 inhabitants per square kilometre (9,800/sq mi). Its geographic area of 2,415 km2 (932 sq mi) makes it fifth-smallest. Kanagawa Prefecture borders Tokyo to the north, Yamanashi Prefecture to the northwest and Shizuoka Prefecture to the west.
iigata Prefecture (新潟県, Niigata-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɲiː.ɡa.ta, -taꜜ.keɴ, ɲiː.ŋa-][2]) is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan.[3] Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,071,066 (as of 1 October 2025) and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at 12,584.18 km2 (4,858.78 sq mi). Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to the northeast.
Toyama Prefecture (富山県, Toyama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [toꜜ.ja.ma, to.ja.maꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu.[4] Toyama Prefecture has a population of 993,848 (1 January 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,247.61 km2 (1,640.01 sq mi). Toyama Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture to the south, Nagano Prefecture to the east, and Niigata Prefecture to the northeast.
Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県, Ishikawa-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [i.ɕi̥.ka.wa, -waꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu island.[4] Ishikawa Prefecture has a population of 1,096,721 (1 January 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,191 km2 (1618 sq mi). Ishikawa Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the east, Gifu Prefecture to the southeast, and Fukui Prefecture to the south.
Fukui Prefecture (福井県, Fukui-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯ̥.kɯ(ꜜ)(.)i, -kɯ.iꜜ.keɴ, -kɯꜜi.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[4] Fukui Prefecture has a population of 737,229 (1 January 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the east, Shiga Prefecture to the south, and Kyoto Prefecture to the southwest.
Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken[a]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu.[3] Yamanashi Prefecture has a population of 787,592 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,465 km2 (1,724 sq mi). Yamanashi Prefecture borders Saitama Prefecture to the northeast, Nagano Prefecture to the northwest, Shizuoka Prefecture to the southwest, Kanagawa Prefecture to the southeast, and Tokyo to the east.
agano Prefecture (長野県, Nagano-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [naꜜɡano, naɡanoꜜkeɴ])[2] is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu.[3] It has a population of 2,007,682 as of 1 July 2023[update] and a geographic area of 13,561.56 square kilometres (5,236.15 sq mi). It borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the northeast, Saitama Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the southeast, Shizuoka Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture to the south, and Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture to the west.
Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県, Gifu-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɡʲi.ɸɯ, ɡʲi.ɸɯ̥ꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu.[3]: 246 [4]: 126 Gifu Prefecture has a population of 2,040,000 (as of April 1, 2025[update])[5] and has a geographic area of 10,621 square kilometres (4,101 sq mi). Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture to the northwest, Fukui Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture to the west, Mie Prefecture to the southwest, Aichi Prefecture to the south, and Nagano Prefecture to the east.
hizuoka Prefecture (静岡県, Shizuoka-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕi.(d)zɯꜜ.o.ka, ɕi.(d)zɯ.o.kaꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu.[4] As of September 2023,[update] Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of 7,777.42 km2 (3,002.88 sq mi). Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the northeast, Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Aichi Prefecture to the west.
Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [aꜜi.tɕi, ai.tɕi̥ꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[3]: 11, 126 Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 (as of 1 January 2025[update]) and a geographic area of 5,172.92 square kilometres (1,997.28 sq mi) with a population density of 1,442 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,730/sq mi). Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east. Nagoya is the capital and largest city of the prefecture.
Mie Prefecture (三重県, Mie-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [mʲiꜜ.e, mʲi.eꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3] Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 (as of 1 June 2019[update]) and has a geographic area of 5,774 square kilometers (2,229 sq mi). Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to the northwest, Nara Prefecture to the west, Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest, and Aichi Prefecture to the east.
higa Prefecture (滋賀県, Shiga-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕiꜜ.ɡa, -ŋa, ɕi.ɡaꜜ.keɴ, -ŋaꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3] Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,398,972 as of 1 February 2025 and has a geographic area of 4,017 km2 (1,551 sq mi). Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the northeast, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, and Kyoto Prefecture to the west.
Kyoto Prefecture (京都府, Kyōto-fu; Japanese pronunciation: [kʲoꜜː.to, kʲoː.toꜜ.ɸɯ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3]: 477, 587 It has a population of 2.58 million and has a geographic area of 4,612 square kilometres (1,781 sq mi). It borders Fukui Prefecture to the northeast, Shiga Prefecture to the east, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the west.
Osaka Prefecture (大阪府, Ōsaka-fu; pronounced [oː.sa.ka, oː.sa.kaꜜ.ɸɯ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3] Osaka Prefecture has a population of 8,778,035 (as of 1 April 2022[update]) and has a geographic area of 1,905 square kilometres (736 sq mi). Osaka Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture to the northwest, Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Nara Prefecture to the southeast, and Wakayama Prefecture to the south.
Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県, Hyōgo-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [çoꜜː.ɡo, -ŋo, çoː.ɡoꜜ.keɴ, -ŋoꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[4] Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 (as of 1 June 2019[update]) and a geographic area of 8,400 square kilometres (3,200 square miles). Hyōgo Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the east, Osaka Prefecture to the southeast, and Okayama and Tottori prefectures to the west.
ara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [naꜜ.ɾa, na.ɾaꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[4] As of 2020,[update] Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805[5] and has a geographic area of 3,691 square kilometres (1,425 sq mi). Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the northwest, Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest, and Mie Prefecture to the east.
akayama Prefecture (和歌山県, Wakayama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [wa.kaꜜ.ja.ma, wa.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3]: 1026 Wakayama Prefecture has a population of 876,030 (as of 1 February 2025[update]) and a geographic area of 4,724 square kilometres (1,824 sq mi). Wakayama Prefecture borders Osaka Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture and Nara Prefecture to the northeast.
Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県, Tottori-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [tot.to.ɾʲi, tot.to.ɾʲiꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[3] Tottori Prefecture is the least populous prefecture of Japan at 538,525 (2023) and has a geographic area of 3,507.13 square kilometres (1,354.11 mi2). Tottori Prefecture borders Shimane Prefecture to the west, Hiroshima Prefecture to the southwest, Okayama Prefecture to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the east.
himane Prefecture (島根県, Shimane-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕiꜜ.ma.ne, ɕi.ma.neꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[3] Shimane Prefecture is the second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 665,205 (February 1, 2021) and has a geographic area of 6,708.26 km2. Shimane Prefecture borders Yamaguchi Prefecture to the southwest, Hiroshima Prefecture to the south, and Tottori Prefecture to the east.
Okayama Prefecture (岡山県, Okayama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [o.kaꜜ.ja.ma, o.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[3] Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,815,165 (1 October 2025) and has a geographic area of 7,114 km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefecture borders Tottori Prefecture to the north, Hyōgo Prefecture to the east, and Hiroshima Prefecture to the west.
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]
Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県, Yamaguchi-ken[a]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[3] Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 km2 (2,359 sq mi). Yamaguchi Prefecture borders Shimane Prefecture to the north and Hiroshima Prefecture to the northeast.
Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県, Tokushima-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [to.kɯ̥ꜜ.ɕi.ma, tokɯ̥.ɕiꜜ.ma, to.kɯ̥.ɕi.maꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[3] Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 682,439 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,146 km2 (1,601 sq mi). Tokushima Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the north, Ehime Prefecture to the west, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southwest.
Kagawa Prefecture (香川県, Kagawa-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [kaꜜ.ɡa.wa, -ŋa.wa, ka.ɡa.waꜜ.keɴ, -ŋa.waꜜ-][4]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[5] Kagawa Prefecture has a population of 949,358 (as of 2020)[2] and is the smallest prefecture by geographic area at 1,877 square kilometres (725 sq mi).[1] Kagawa Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the southwest and Tokushima Prefecture to the south.
hime Prefecture (愛媛県, Ehime-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [eꜜ.çi.me, e.çi.meꜜ.keɴ][4]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[5] Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,334,841[6] and a geographic area of 5,676 km2 (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tokushima Prefecture to the east, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southeast. Ehime Prefecture Prefecture also borders Hiroshima Prefecture for 74 metres (243 ft) on Hyōtanjima.[7]
Kōchi Prefecture (高知県, Kōchi-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [koꜜː.tɕi, koː.tɕi̥ꜜ.keɴ], locally [koː.tɕi][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[3] Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 669,516 (1 April 2023) and has a geographic area of 7,103 km2 (2,742 sq mi). Kōchi Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the northwest and Tokushima Prefecture to the northeast.
Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県, Fukuoka-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯ̥.kɯꜜ.o.ka, -kɯ.o.kaꜜ.keɴ][3]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[4] Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 km2 (1,925 sq mi).[5] Fukuoka Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the southwest, Kumamoto Prefecture to the south, and Ōita Prefecture to the southeast.
aga Prefecture (佐賀県, Saga-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [saꜜ.ɡa, -ŋa, sa.ɡaꜜ.keɴ, -ŋaꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu.[3] Saga Prefecture has a population of roughly 780,000 and has a geographic area of 2,439 square kilometres (942 sq mi). Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest.
agasaki Prefecture (長崎県, Nagasaki-ken[a]) is a prefecture of Japan, mainly located on the island of Kyūshū, although it also includes a number of islands off Kyūshū's northwest coast - including Tsushima and Iki. Nagasaki Prefecture has a population of 1,246,481 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,130 km2 (1,594 sq mi). Nagasaki Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the northeast.
Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [kɯ.ma.mo.to, -toꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[3] Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,683,115 (as of 1 October 2025[update]) and has a geographic area of 7,409 square kilometres (2,861 sq mi). Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyazaki Prefecture to the southeast, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.
Ōita Prefecture (大分県, Ōita-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [oꜜː.i.ta, oː-, oː.i.taꜜ.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[3] Ōita Prefecture has a population of 1,081,646 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 6,340 km2 (2,450 sq mi)). Ōita Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northwest, Kumamoto Prefecture to the southwest, and Miyazaki Prefecture to the south.
Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県, Miyazaki-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [mʲi.jaꜜ.(d)za.kʲi, -ja.(d)za.kʲi̥ꜜ.keɴ, -(d)zaꜜ.kʲi̥.keɴ][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[3] Miyazaki Prefecture has a population of 1,028,215 as of 1 January 2025 and has a geographic area of 7,735 km2 (2,986 sq mi). Miyazaki Prefecture borders Ōita Prefecture to the north, Kumamoto Prefecture to the northwest, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the southwest.
Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県, Kagoshima-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ka.ɡo.ɕi.ma, -maꜜ.keɴ, ka.ŋo-][2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands.[3] Kagoshima Prefecture has a population of 1,527,019 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 9,187 km2 (3,547 sq mi). Kagoshima Prefecture borders Kumamoto Prefecture to the north and Miyazaki Prefecture to the northeast.
Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese: 沖縄県, Hepburn: Okinawa-ken; pronounced [o.kʲi.na.wa(ꜜ.keɴ)];[2] Okinawan: ウチナーチン, romanized: Uchinaachin[3]) is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan.[4] It consists of three main island groups—the Okinawa Islands, the Sakishima Islands, and the Daitō Islands—spread across a maritime zone approximately 1,000 kilometers east to west and 400 kilometers north to south. Despite a modest land area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi), Okinawa's territorial extent over surrounding seas makes its total area nearly half the combined size of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.[5] Of its 160 islands, 49 are inhabited.[6] The largest and most populous island is Okinawa Island, which hosts the capital city, Naha, as well as major urban centers such as Okinawa, Uruma, and Urasoe.[7] The prefecture has a subtropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year.[8] People from the Nansei Islands, including Okinawa, the Sakishima Islands,[9][10] and parts of Kagoshima Prefecture,[11] are often collectively referred to as Ryukyuans.[12] However, there are significant cultural and customary differences between individual islands and even between local communities.[13][14][15]