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Hyōgo Prefecture

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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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
Official logo of Hyōgo Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Hyōgo Kenminka[note 1][1]
[mapframe not available on SimWiki]
Interactive map of Hyōgo Prefecture
Coordinates: 34°41′26.94″N 135°10′59.08″E / 34.6908167°N 135.1830778°E / 34.6908167; 135.1830778
CountryFile:Flag of Japan.svg Japan
RegionKansai
IslandHonshu, Awaji
CapitalKobe
SubdivisionsDistricts: 8, Municipalities: 41
Government
 • GovernorMotohiko Saitō
Area
 • Total
8,400.94 km2 (3,243.62 sq mi)
 • Rank12th
Population
 (1 February 2025)
 • Total
5,325,228
 • Rank7th
 • Density634/km2 (1,640/sq mi)
GDP
[2]
 • TotalJP¥ 23,462 billion
US$ 173.3 billion (2022)
ISO 3166 codeJP-28
LegislatureHyogo Prefectural Assembly
Websiteweb.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/fl/english/
Symbols of Japan
BirdOriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana)
FlowerNojigiku (Chrysanthemum japonense)
TreeCamphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)

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) 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.

Kobe 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.[5] 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 Kobe metropolitan area and Osaka 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

Present-day Hyōgo Prefecture includes the former provinces of Harima, Tajima, Awaji, and parts of Tanba and Settsu.[6]

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 Nishinomiya and Ashiya and the neighboring Osaka Prefecture, killing nearly 6,500 people.

Geography

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:[7]

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. 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, 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.[8]

Current municipalities

Cities

30 cities are located in Hyōgo Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Aioi 相生市 90.40 28,208
Akashi 明石市 49.42 305,925
Akō 赤穂市 126.85 45,747
Amagasaki 尼崎市 50.72 455,555
Asago 朝来市 403.06 28,971
Ashiya 芦屋市 18.47 92,976
Awaji 淡路市 184.32 42,597
Himeji 姫路市 534.35 525,682
Itami 伊丹市 25.00 197,215
Kakogawa 加古川市 138.48 255,523
Kasai 加西市 150.98 42,494
Katō 加東市 157.55 39,628
Kawanishi 川西市 53.44 155,165
Kobe (capital) 神戸市 557.02 1,522,188
Miki 三木市 176.51 75,009
Minamiawaji 南あわじ市 229.01 45,489
Nishinomiya 西宮市 99.96 484,368
Nishiwaki 西脇市 132.44 39,001
Ono 小野市 92.94 47,609
Sanda 三田市 210.32 108,452
Shisō 宍粟市 658.54 35,639
Sumoto 洲本市 182.38 42,094
Takarazuka 宝塚市 101.80 221,846
Takasago 高砂市 34.38 86,030
Tamba 丹波市 493.21 62,152
Tamba-Sasayama 丹波篠山市 377.59 40,050
Tatsuno たつの市 210.87 74,414
Toyooka 豊岡市 697.55 74,268
Yabu 養父市 422.91 22,177

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Fukusaki 福崎町 45.79 18,742 Kanzaki District
Harima 播磨町 9.13 34,735 Kako District
Ichikawa 市川町 82.67 11,275 Kanzaki District
Inagawa 猪名川町 90.33 29,579 Kawabe District
Inami 稲美町 34.92 30,622 Kako District
Kami 香美町 368.77 16,256 Mikata District
Kamigōri 上郡町 150.26 14,179 Akō District
Kamikawa 神河町 202.23 10,794 Kanzaki District
Sayō 佐用町 307.44 15,701 Sayō District
Shin'onsen 新温泉町 241.01 12,814 Mikata District
Taishi 太子町 22.61 33,753 Ibo District
Taka 多可町 185.19 19,589 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.[9] However, the merger has not taken place.

Economy

As in all prefectures nationwide, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries play a big role in the economy of Hyogo Prefecture.[10] 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,[11] 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.

Culture

National Treasures of Japan

Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan

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

The sports teams listed below are based in Hyōgo.

Baseball

Basketball

Football (soccer)

Rugby

Volleyball

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.[12]

Festivals and events

  • 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

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

Airport

Kansai International Airport in nearby Osaka Prefecture is also used by air travellers from the prefecture as it provides most domestic and international travel.

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.[13][14]

In 1981, a sister state agreement was drawn up between Hyogo and the state of Western Australia in Australia.[15] To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this agreement in 1992, the Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre was established in Perth.[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Hyōgo Prefectural Government has expressed the view that the "Prefectural song does not exist" and denied the fact that currently, this song has been enacted in 1947.

Citations

  1. ↑ 金旻革 (2015-01-01). "布く新憲法 ゆくては明かるし…幻の兵庫県民歌". Kobe Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  2. ↑ "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 日本語). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  3. ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, ed. (24 May 2016). NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典 (in 日本語). NHK Publishing.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Nussbaum, "Kobe" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 537, p. 537, at Google Books.
  6. ↑ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  7. ↑ Statistics Bureau of Japan
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ City.ako.hyogo.jp Archived 2006-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science". Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  12. ↑ "JAL Guide to Japan – Matsuba Crab". Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  13. ↑ Camden, Jim (August 20, 2013). "Washington, Japan celebrate 50 years". Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Celebrating 50 years with Hyogo, Japan". Washington State Library. August 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Sister Cities – City of Perth". Archived from the original on 2015-05-30.
  16. ↑ Hyogo.com.au Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine

General references

Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hyōgo Prefecture.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hyōgo.
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