Hiroshima Prefecture

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Lore & Background

The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. 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. 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. 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.

Reader's Guide

Hiroshima Prefecture is one of the three prefectures of Japan with more than one UNESCO World Heritage Site. The two such sites are the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few remnants of prewar Hiroshima following the atomic bombing in 1945, and the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for filling with water and appearing to 'float' during high tide. Hiroshima's main industries include automobiles (Mazda is headquartered there) and tourism in those two World Heritage Sites. Components of the economy are primary industry, secondary industry, and tertiary industry, which compose 0.6%, 32.6%, and 66.2% in 2015. 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. The prefecture hosts numerous universities, including Hiroshima University, and sports teams such as Sanfrecce Hiroshima (football) and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (baseball).

Did You Know?

• Hiroshima Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture for 74 metres (243 ft) on Hyōtanjima.
• As of 1 April 2014, only 4% of Hiroshima Prefecture's land area was designated as Natural Parks, the lowest percentage of any prefecture.
• Hiroshima Prefecture is one of only three prefectures in Japan with more than one UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima is famed for filling with water and appearing to 'float' during high tide.
• Mazda, the automobile manufacturer, is headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture.