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Coordinates: 34°41′26.94″N 135°10′59.08″E / 34.6908167°N 135.1830778°E / 34.6908167; 135.1830778
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{{nihongo|'''Hyōgo Prefecture'''|兵庫県|Hyōgo-ken}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Kansai region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hyōgo prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', pp. 363-365|page=363}}; "Kansai" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 477|page=477}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 ({{as of|2019|06|01|lc=y}}) and has a geographic area of {{convert|8400|km2|lk=on}}. Hyōgo Prefecture borders [[Kyoto Prefecture]] to the east, [[Osaka Prefecture]] to the southeast, and [[Okayama Prefecture]] and [[Tottori Prefecture]] to the west.
{{nihongo|'''Hyōgo Prefecture'''|兵庫県|Hyōgo-ken}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Kansai region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hyōgo prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', pp. 363-365|page=363}}; "Kansai" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 477|page=477}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 ({{as of|2019|06|01|lc=y}}) and has a geographic area of {{convert|8400|km2|lk=on}}. Hyōgo Prefecture borders [[Kyoto Prefecture]] to the east, [[Osaka Prefecture]] to the southeast, and [[Okayama Prefecture]] and [[Tottori Prefecture]] to the west.


[[Kōbe]] is the capital and largest city of Hyōgo Prefecture, and the [[List of cities in Japan|sixth-largest city]] in Japan, with other major cities including [[Himeji]], [[Nishinomiya]], and [[Amagasaki]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Kobe" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 537|page=537}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture's mainland stretches from the [[Sea of Japan]] to the [[Seto Inland Sea]], where [[Awaji Island]] and a small [[archipelago]] of islands belonging to the prefecture are located. Hyōgo Prefecture is a major economic center, [[transportation hub]], and tourist destination in western Japan, with 20% of the prefecture's land area designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]]. Hyōgo Prefecture forms part of the [[Keihanshin]] metropolitan area, the second-most-populated [[List of metropolitan areas in Japan|urban region in Japan]] after the [[Greater Tokyo area]] and one of the world's most productive regions by [[Gross domestic product|GDP]].
[[Kōbe]] is the capital and largest city of Hyōgo Prefecture, and the [[List of cities in Japan|seventh-largest city]] in Japan, with other major cities including [[Himeji]], [[Nishinomiya]], and [[Amagasaki]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Kobe" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 537|page=537}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture's mainland stretches from the [[Sea of Japan]] to the [[Seto Inland Sea]], where [[Awaji Island]] and a small [[archipelago]] of islands belonging to the prefecture are located. Hyōgo Prefecture is a major economic center, [[transportation hub]], and tourist destination in western Japan, with 20% of the prefecture's land area designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]]. Hyōgo Prefecture forms part of the [[Keihanshin]] metropolitan area, the second-most-populated [[List of metropolitan areas in Japan|urban region in Japan]] after the [[Greater Tokyo area]] and one of the world's most productive regions by [[Gross domestic product|GDP]].


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 00:04, 3 May 2021

This article is about the prefecture. For the ward in the city of Kobe, see Hyōgo-ku, Kobe.
Hyōgo Prefecture
兵庫県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese兵庫県
 • RōmajiHyōgo-ken
Flag of Hyōgo Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Hyōgo Prefecture
Symbol
Location of Hyōgo Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionKansai
IslandHonshu
CapitalKobe
SubdivisionsDistricts: 8, Municipalities: 41
Government
 • GovernorToshizō Ido
Area
 • Total8,400.94 km2 (3,243.62 sq mi)
 • Rank12th
Population
 (1 June 2019)
 • Total5,469,762
 • Rank7th
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-28
Websiteweb.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/fl/english/
Symbols of Japan
BirdOriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana)
FlowerNojigiku (Chrysanthemum japonense)
TreeCamphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
Himeji Castle in Himeji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県, Hyōgo-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[1] Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 (as of 1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,400 square kilometres (3,200 sq mi). Hyōgo Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the east, Osaka Prefecture to the southeast, and Okayama Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture to the west.

Kōbe is the capital and largest city of Hyōgo Prefecture, and the seventh-largest city in Japan, with other major cities including Himeji, Nishinomiya, and Amagasaki.[2] Hyōgo Prefecture's mainland stretches from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea, where Awaji Island and a small archipelago of islands belonging to the prefecture are located. Hyōgo Prefecture is a major economic center, transportation hub, and tourist destination in western Japan, with 20% of the prefecture's land area designated as Natural Parks. Hyōgo Prefecture forms part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, the second-most-populated urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world's most productive regions by GDP.

History

Map of Hyogo Prefecture with former provincial boundaries and current prefectural offices.
1.□Kobe city (divided between Harima and Settsu)
2.■Settsu (Hanshin South office)
3.■Settsu (Hanshin North office)
4.■Harima East office
5.■Harima North office
6.■Harima Central office
7.■Harima West office
9.■Tanba office
8.■Tajima office
10.■Awaji office
Areas beyond Harima West belonged to Mimasaka (north) and Bizen (south)

Present-day Hyōgo Prefecture includes the former provinces of Harima, Tajima, Awaji, and parts of Tanba and Settsu.[3]

In 1180, near the end of the Heian period, Emperor Antoku, Taira no Kiyomori, and the Imperial court moved briefly to Fukuhara, in what is now the city of Kobe. There the capital remained for five months.

Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in the city of Himeji.

Southern Hyōgo Prefecture was severely devastated by the 6.9 Mw Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995, which destroyed major parts of Kobe and Awaji, as well as Takarazuka and neighboring Osaka Prefecture, killing nearly 6,500 people. In 2020 Hyōgo became one of the worst affected prefectures for the COVID-19 virus in Western Japan.

Geography

Map of Hyōgo Prefecture.
     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town
Kobe
Takarazuka
Sumoto
Tatsuno
Shiso
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18901,551,367—    
19031,833,957+1.30%
19132,143,791+1.57%
19202,301,799+1.02%
19252,454,679+1.29%
19302,646,301+1.51%
19352,923,249+2.01%
19403,221,232+1.96%
19452,821,892−2.61%
19503,309,935+3.24%
19553,620,947+1.81%
19603,906,487+1.53%
19654,309,944+1.99%
19704,667,928+1.61%
19754,992,140+1.35%
19805,144,892+0.60%
19855,278,050+0.51%
19905,405,040+0.48%
19955,401,877−0.01%
20005,550,574+0.54%
20055,590,601+0.14%
20105,588,133−0.01%
20155,536,989−0.18%
source:[4]

Hyōgo has coastlines on two seas: to the north, the Sea of Japan, to the south, the Seto Inland Sea. On Awaji Island, Hyōgo borders the Pacific Ocean coastline in the Kii Channel. The northern portion is sparsely populated, except for the city of Toyooka, and the central highlands are only populated by tiny villages. Most of Hyōgo's population lives on the southern coast, which is part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. Awaji is an island that separates the Inland Sea and Osaka Bay, lying between Honshu and Shikoku.

Summertime weather throughout Hyōgo is hot and humid. As for winter conditions in Hyōgo, the north of Hyōgo tends to receive abundant snow, whilst the south receives only the occasional flurry.

Hyōgo borders on Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture.

As of 31 March 2008, 20% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Sanin Kaigan and Setonaikai National Parks; Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park; and Asago Gunzan, Harima Chūbu Kyūryō, Inagawa Keikoku, Izushi-Itoi, Kasagatayama-Sengamine, Kiyomizu-Tōjōko-Tachikui, Onzui-Chikusa, Seiban Kyūryō, Seppiko-Mineyama, Tajima Sangaku, and Taki Renzan Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]

Cities

See also: List of cities in Hyōgo Prefecture by population

Twenty-nine cities are located in Hyōgo Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Aioi 相生市 90.4 30,250
Akashi 明石市 49.22 294,312
Akō 赤穂市 126.88 48,788
Amagasaki 尼崎市 49.77 450,765
Asago 朝来市 402.98 31,248
Ashiya 芦屋市 18.47 94,116
Awaji 淡路市 184.05 43,110
Himeji 姫路市 534.43 530,517
Itami 伊丹市 25.09 197,335
Kakogawa 加古川市 138.51 266,433
Kasai 加西市 150.22 45,126
Katō 加東市 157.49 40,194
Kawanishi 川西市 53.44 159,723
Kobe (capital) 神戸市 557.02 1,524,601
Miki 三木市 176.58 76,370
Minamiawaji 南あわじ市 229.17 45,961
Nishinomiya 西宮市 99.96 488,335
Nishiwaki 西脇市 132.47 41,336
Ono 小野市 93.68 49,025
Sanda 三田市 210.22 113,726
Shisō 宍粟市 658.6 39,008
Sumoto 洲本市 182.47 45,090
Takarazuka 宝塚市 101.89 225,228
Takasago 高砂市 34.38 92,444
Tamba-Sasayama 丹波篠山市 377.61 42,395
Tanba 丹波市 493.21 65,753
Tatsuno たつの市 210.93 77,968
Toyooka 豊岡市 697.55 78,571
Yabu 養父市 422.7 24,489

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Fukusaki 福崎町 45.82 19,516 Kanzaki District
Harima 播磨町 9.13 34,590 Kako District
Ichikawa 市川町 82.7 12,583 Kanzaki District
Inagawa 猪名川町 90.41 31,381 Kawabe District
Inami 稲美町 34.96 31,372 Kako District
Kami 香美町 369.08 18,396 Mikata District
Kamigōri 上郡町 150.28 15,448 Akō District
Kamikawa 神河町 202.27 11,735 Kanzaki District
Sayō 佐用町 307.51 17,505 Sayō District
Shin'onsen 新温泉町 241 15,539 Mikata District
Taishi 太子町 22.61 34,105 Ibo District
Taka 多可町 185.15 20,713 Taka District

Islands

Two major artificial islands are located Hyōgo Prefecture:

National parks

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Hyōgo Prefecture

Future mergers

The city of Akō and the only town in Akō District (Kamigōri), were scheduled to merge and the city would still retain the name Akō. Akō District would be defunct if the merger was successful.[6] However, the merger hasn't taken place.

Economy

As in all prefectures nationwide, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries play a big role in the economy of Hyogo Prefecture.[7] Hyōgo Prefecture also has an IT industry, many heavy industries, metal and medical, Kobe Port being one of the largest ports in Japan. Kobe Port also hosts one of the world's fastest supercomputers,[8] and Hyogo Prefecture passed laws to keep Kobe Port free of nuclear weapons (a nuclear-free zone) since the year 1975.

Hyōgo is a part of the Hanshin Industrial Region. There are two research institutes of Riken, natural sciences research institute in Japan, in Kobe and Harima. "SPring-8", a synchrotron radiation facility, is in Harima.

Kobe Port

Culture

National Treasures of Japan

Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan

  • Kitano-chō Yamamoto-dōri
    Kitano-chō Yamamoto-dōri
  • Izushi
    Izushi
  • Sasayama
    Sasayama

Museums

Education

Universities

Amagasaki

Takarazuka

Sanda

Nishinomiya

Ashiya

Kobe

Kato

Akashi

Kakogawa

Himeji

Akō

High schools

There are 163 public and 52 private high schools within Hyogo prefecture. Of the public high schools, some are administered by the Hyogo prefectural government, whilst the others are administered by local municipalities.

Sports

Kyocera Dome Osaka.

The sports teams listed below are based in Hyōgo.

Football (soccer)

Baseball

Volleyball

Rugby

Basketball

Tourism

A popular troupe of Takarazuka Revue plays in Takarazuka.

Arima Onsen in the south of the province in Kita-ku, Kobe is one of the Three Ancient Springs in Japan. The north of Hyogo Prefecture has sightseeing spots such as Kinosaki Onsen, Izushi, and Yumura Onsen. Takeda Castle in Asago is often referred to locally as the "Machu Picchu of Japan". The matsuba crab and Tajima beef are both national delicacies.[9]

Festival and events

Dekansho Bon Dancing Festival
Castle Festival in Himeji
  • Miyuki Street New Year's midnight traditional sale, Himeji
  • Nishinomiya Shrine's Ebisu Festival in January
  • Yanagihara Ebisu Festival in January, Kobe
  • Tada Shrine's Genji Festival in April, Kawanishi
  • Kobe Festival and Parade in May
  • Aioi Peron Festival in May
  • Himeji Yukata Festival in June
  • Dekansho Bon Dancing Festival in August, Sasayama
  • Nada Fighting Festival, Himeji
  • Kobe Luminarie in December
  • Ako Chushingura Parade

Transportation

Rail

People movers

Road

Expressways

National highways

  • Route 2
  • Route 9
  • Route 28
  • Route 29
  • Route 43
  • Route 171
  • Route 173
  • Route 174 (Sannomiya-Kobe Port)
  • Route 175
  • Route 176
  • Route 178
  • Route 179
  • Route 250
  • Route 312
  • Route 372
  • Route 373
  • Route 426
  • Route 427
  • Route 428
  • Route 429
  • Route 436
  • Route 477
  • Route 482
  • Route 483

Ports

  • Kobe Port – Mainly international container hub port
  • Akashi Port
  • Shikama Port – Mainly Shōdo Island route ferry

Airport

Notable people

Sister regions

Hyogo entered a sister state relationship with Washington state in the United States on October 22, 1963, the first such arrangement between Japan and the United States.[10][11]

In 1981, a sister state agreement was drawn up between Hyogo and the state of Western Australia in Australia.[12] To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this agreement in 1992, the Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre was established in Perth.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hyōgo prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 363-365, p. 363, at Google Books; "Kansai" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 477, p. 477, at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Kobe" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 537, p. 537, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ^ Statistics Bureau of Japan
  5. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  6. ^ City.ako.hyogo.jp Archived 2006-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "XII Income of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries" (PDF). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  8. ^ "RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science". Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  9. ^ "JAL Guide to Japan – Matsuba Crab". Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  10. ^ Camden, Jim (August 20, 2013). "Washington, Japan celebrate 50 years". Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  11. ^ "Celebrating 50 years with Hyogo, Japan". Washington State Library. August 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sister Cities – City of Perth". Archived from the original on 2015-05-30.
  13. ^ Hyogo.com.au Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hyogo prefecture.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hyogo.

34°41′26.94″N 135°10′59.08″E / 34.6908167°N 135.1830778°E / 34.6908167; 135.1830778

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