View source for Prefectures of Japan

{{Short description|First-level administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Prefecture<br />{{nobold|{{lang|ja|都道府県}}}}<br />{{lang|ja-latn|Todōfuken}}
| alt_name           = 
| map                = [[File:Regions and Prefectures of Japan.svg|330px]]
| category           = First level [[administrative division]] of a [[unitary state]]
| territory          = [[Japan]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 47 Prefectures
| number_date        =
| population_range   = '''Lowest:''' 525,000 ([[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]]) <br>'''Highest:''' 14,261,000 ([[Tōkyō]])
| area_range         = '''Lowest:''' {{Convert|1861.7|sqkm|abbr=on}} ([[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]])<br>'''Highest:''' {{Convert|83453.6|sqkm|abbr=on}} ([[Hokkaido]])
| government         = Prefecture Government, [[Government of Japan|Central Government]]
| subdivision        = contiguous: [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]]<br />partial: [[Subprefectures of Japan|Subprefectures]]<br />historical/partial: [[Districts of Japan|districts]]
}}

[[Japan]] is divided into 47 [[prefecture]]s ({{nihongo2|都道府県}}, {{lang|ja-latn|todōfuken}}, {{IPA|ja|todoːɸɯ̥ꜜkeɴ||TomJ-Prefectures.ogg}}), which rank immediately below the national government and form the country's first level of [[jurisdiction]] and [[Administrative divisions of Japan|administrative division]]. They include 43  prefectures proper ({{nihongo2 |県}}, ''[[#Ken|ken]]''), two [[Fu (administrative division)|urban prefectures]] ({{nihongo2 |府}}, ''[[#Fu|fu]]'': [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]), one regional prefecture ({{nihongo2 |道}}, ''[[#Dō|dō]]'': [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]) and one metropolis ({{nihongo2 |都}}, ''[[#To|to]]'': [[Tokyo]]). <!--The following already implicit?: Prefectures are {{clarify span|governmental bodies}} larger than [[Cities of Japan|cities]], [[Towns of Japan|towns]], and [[Villages of Japan|villages]].-->
In 1868, the [[Meiji Restoration|Meiji]] ''[[Fuhanken sanchisei]]'' administration created the first prefectures (urban ''fu'' and rural ''ken'') to replace the urban and rural administrators (''[[bugyō]]'', ''[[daikan]]'', etc.) in the [[Tenryō|parts of the country previously controlled directly by the shogunate]] and a few territories of rebels/shogunate loyalists who had not submitted to the new government such as [[Aizu domain|Aizu]]/[[Aizuwakamatsu|Wakamatsu]]. In 1871, all remaining feudal domains ''([[Han system|han]])'' were also transformed into prefectures, so that prefectures subdivided the whole country. In several waves of territorial consolidation, today's 47 prefectures were formed by the turn of the century. In many instances, these are contiguous with the ancient ritsuryō [[provinces of Japan]].<ref name="nussbaum780">[[Louis-Frédéric|Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric]], 2002: [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA780 "Provinces and prefectures"] in ''Japan encyclopedia'', p.&nbsp;780.</ref>

Each prefecture's chief executive is a [[Direct election|directly elected]] {{nihongo|[[Governor (Japan)|governor]]|知事|chiji}}. [[Local ordinance|Ordinance]]s and budgets are enacted by a [[unicameral]] {{nihongo|assembly|議会|gikai}} whose members are elected for four-year terms.

Under a set of 1888–1890 laws on local government<ref>{{nihongo|{{ill|prefectural code|ja|府県制}}|府県制|fukensei}}, {{nihongo|{{ill|district code|ja|郡制}}|郡制|gunsei}}, {{nihongo|{{ill|City code (Japan)|ja|市制|lt=city code}}|市制|shisei}}, {{nihongo|{{ill|town and village code|ja|町村制}}|町村制|chōsonsei}}</ref> until the 1920s, each prefecture (then only 3 ''-fu'' and 42 ''-ken''; ''Hokkaidō'' and ''Okinawa-ken'' were subject to different laws until the 20th century) was subdivided into {{nihongo|cities|市|shi}} and {{nihongo|districts|郡|gun}} and each district into {{nihongo|towns|町|chō/machi}} and {{nihongo|villages|村|son/mura}}. [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]] has 14 [[Subprefectures of Hokkaido|subprefectures]] that act as  {{nihongo|General Subprefectural Bureaus|総合振興局|sōgō-shinkō-kyoku, "Comprehensive Promotion Bureau"}} and {{nihongo|Subprefectural Bureaus|振興局|shinkō-kyoku, "Promotion Bureau"}} of the prefecture. Some other prefectures also have branch offices that carry out prefectural administrative functions outside the capital. [[Tokyo]], the [[capital of Japan]], is a merged city-prefecture; a metropolis, it has features of both cities and prefectures.

Each prefecture has its own [[Mon (emblem)|mon]] for identification, the equivalent of a coat of arms in the West.

== Background ==
{{Administrative divisions of Japan}}

The West's use of "prefecture" to label these Japanese regions stems from 16th-century Portuguese explorers and [[Nanban trade|traders]] use of "prefeitura" to describe the [[fief]]doms they encountered there.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Its original sense in Portuguese, however, was closer to "[[Municipalities of Portugal|municipality]]" than "[[Provinces of Portugal|province]]". Today, in turn, Japan uses its word ''ken'' ({{lang|ja|県}}), meaning "prefecture", to identify [[Districts of Portugal|Portuguese districts]] while in Brazil the word "Prefeitura" is used to refer to a [[city hall]].

Those fiefs were headed by a local warlord or family. Though the fiefs have long since been dismantled, merged, and reorganized multiple times, and been granted legislative governance and oversight, the rough translation stuck.

The [[Government of Meiji Japan|Meiji government]] established the current system in July 1871 with the [[abolition of the han system]] and establishment of the {{Nihongo|prefecture system|廃藩置県|haihan-chiken}}. Although there were initially over 300 prefectures, many of them being former [[Han (administrative division)|han]] territories, this number was reduced to 72 in the latter part of 1871, and 47 in 1888. The [[Local Autonomy Law]] of 1947 gave more political power to prefectures, and installed prefectural governors and parliaments.

In 2003, [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] [[Junichiro Koizumi]] proposed that the government [[Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan|consolidates the current prefectures]] into about 10 regional states (so-called ''[[dōshūsei]]''). The plan called for each region to have greater autonomy than existing prefectures. This process would reduce the number of subprefecture administrative regions and cut administrative costs.<ref>Mabuchi, Masaru, [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/wbi37175.pdf "Municipal Amalgamation in Japan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106103204/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/wbi37175.pdf |date=2015-11-06 }}, World Bank, 2001.</ref> The Japanese government also considered a plan to merge several groups of prefectures, creating a subnational administrative division system consisting of between nine and 13 states, and giving these states more local autonomy than the prefectures currently enjoy.<ref>[http://www.nira.go.jp/publ/seiken/ev18n10/ev18n10-s.html "''Doshusei'' Regional System"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926160741/http://www.nira.go.jp/publ/seiken/ev18n10/ev18n10-s.html |date=2006-09-26 }} National Association for Research Advancement.</ref> As of August 2012, this plan was abandoned.

== Powers ==
{{main|Government of Japan#Local government}}
Japan is a [[unitary state]]. The central government delegates many functions (such as [[Education in Japan|education]] and the [[Law enforcement in Japan|police force]]) to the prefectures and [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]], but retains the overall right to control them. Although local government expenditure accounts for 70 percent of overall [[government expenditure]], the central government controls local budgets, [[tax rate]]s, and borrowing.<ref>Mochida, "Local Government Organization and Finance: Japan", in {{cite book |title=Local Governance in Industrial Countries |first=Anwar |last=Shah |year=2006 |publisher=World Bank |url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/WBIPROGRAMS/PSGLP/0,,contentMDK:21215193~pagePK:64156158~piPK:64152884~theSitePK:461606~isCURL:Y,00.html |access-date=2013-12-01 |archive-date=2014-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108175935/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/WBIPROGRAMS/PSGLP/0,,contentMDK:21215193~pagePK:64156158~piPK:64152884~theSitePK:461606~isCURL:Y,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prefectural government functions include the organization of the prefectural police force, the supervision of schools and the maintenance of prefectural schools (mainly high schools), prefectural hospitals, [[prefectural road]]s, the supervision of prefectural waterways and regional urban planning. Their responsibilities include tasks delegated to them by the national government such as maintaining most ordinary national roads (except in designated major cities), and prefectures coordinate and support their municipalities in their functions. De facto, prefectures as well as municipalities have often been less autonomous than the formal extent of the local autonomy law suggests, because of national funding and policies. Most of municipalities depend heavily on central government funding – a dependency recently further exacerbated in many regions by the declining population which hits rural areas harder and earlier (cities can offset it partly through migration from the countryside). In many policy areas, the basic framework is set tightly by national laws, and prefectures and municipalities are only autonomous within that framework.

== Types of prefecture ==
Historically, during the [[Edo period]], the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] established {{Nihongo|''bugyō''-ruled zones|奉行支配地}} around the nine largest cities in Japan, and 302 {{Nihongo|township-ruled zones|郡代支配地}} elsewhere. When the Meiji government began to create the prefectural system in 1868, the nine bugyō-ruled zones became {{Nihongo|''fu''|府}}, while the township-ruled zones and the rest of the bugyō-ruled zones became {{Nihongo|''ken''|県}}. Later, in 1871, the government designated [[Tokyo]], [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]], and [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]] as ''fu'', and relegated the other ''fu'' to the status of ''ken.'' During [[World War II]], in 1943, Tokyo became a ''to,'' a new type of pseudo-prefecture.

Despite the differences in terminology, there is little functional difference between the four types of local governments. The subnational governments are sometimes collectively referred to as {{nihongo|''todōfuken''|[[wikt:都道府県|都道府県]]||{{IPA|ja|todoːɸɯ̥ꜜkeɴ|}}}} in Japanese, which is a combination of the four terms.

===''To''===
[[Tokyo]], [[capital city]] of Japan is referred to as {{Nihongo|''to''|都||{{IPA|ja|toꜜ|}}}}, which is often translated as "metropolis". The Japanese government translates {{Nihongo|''Tōkyō-to''|東京都||{{IPA|ja|toːkʲoꜜːto|}}}} as "Tokyo Metropolis" in almost all cases, and the government is officially called the "Tokyo Metropolitan Government".

Following the capitulation of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] in 1868, ''Tōkyō-fu'' (an urban prefecture like Kyoto and Osaka) was set up and encompassed the former city area of Edo under the [[Fuhanken sanchisei]]. After the [[abolition of the han system]] in the first wave of prefectural mergers in 1871/72, several surrounding areas (parts of [[Urawa prefecture|Urawa]], [[Kosuge prefecture|Kosuge]], [[Shinagawa prefecture|Shinagawa]] and [[Hikone domain|Hikone prefecture]]s) were merged into Tokyo, and under the system of (numbered) "large districts and small districts" ''(daiku-shōku)'', it was subdivided into eleven large districts further subdivided into 103 small districts, six of the large districts (97 small districts) covered the former city area of Edo.<ref>National Archives of Japan: [http://www.archives.go.jp/exhibition/digital/henbou/contents/11.html 『明治東京全図』] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102061207/https://www.archives.go.jp/exhibition/digital/henbou/contents/11.html |date=2023-01-02 }}</ref> When the ancient ritsuryō districts were reactivated as administrative units in 1878, Tokyo was subdivided into 15 [urban] districts ''(-[[Cities of Japan (1878–1889)|ku]])'' and initially six [rural] districts (''-[[Districts of Japan|gun]]''; nine after the [[Western Tokyo|Tama transfer]] from [[Kanagawa prefecture|Kanagawa]] in 1893, eight after the merger of [[Higashitama district, Tokyo|East Tama]] and [[Minamitoshima district, Tokyo|South Toshima]] into [[Toyotama district, Tokyo|Toyotama]] in 1896). Both urban and rural districts, like everywhere in the country, were further subdivided into urban units/towns/neighbourhoods ''(-chō/-machi)'' and rural units/villages ''(-mura/-son)''. The yet unincorporated communities on the Izu (previously part of [[Shizuoka prefecture|Shizuoka]]) and Ogasawara (previously directly Home Ministry-administrated) island groups became also part of Tokyo in the 19th century. When the modern municipalities – [district-independent] cities and [rural] districts containing towns and villages – were introduced under the [[Yamagata Aritomo|Yamagata]]-[[Albert Mosse|Mosse]] laws on local government and the simultaneous Great Meiji merger was performed in 1889, the 15 ''-ku'' became wards of [[Tokyo City]], initially Tokyo's only independent city ''(-shi)'', the six rural districts of Tokyo were consolidated in 85 towns and villages.<ref>Tokyo Metropolitan Archives: [http://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.jp/01soumu/archives/0714tokyo_ku.htm 大東京35区物語～15区から23区へ～東京23区の歴史] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117143917/http://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.jp/01soumu/archives/0714tokyo_ku.htm |date=2007-11-17 }}</ref> In 1893, the three Tama districts and their 91 towns and villages became part of Tokyo. As Tokyo city's suburbs grew rapidly in the early 20th century, many towns and villages in Tokyo were merged or promoted over the years. In 1932, five complete districts with their 82 towns and villages were merged into Tokyo City and organised in 20 new wards. Also, by 1940, there were two more cities in Tokyo: [[Hachiōji, Tokyo|Hachiōji City]] and [[Tachikawa, Tokyo|Tachikawa City]].

In 1943, Tokyo City was abolished, ''Tōkyō-fu'' became ''Tōkyō-to'', and Tokyo-shi's 35 wards remained Tokyo-to's 35 wards, but submunicipal authorities of Tokyo-shi's wards which previously fell directly under the municipality, with the municipality now abolished, fell directly under prefectural or now "Metropolitan" authority. All other cities, towns and villages in Tokyo-fu stayed cities, towns and villages in Tokyo-to. The reorganisation's aim was to consolidate the administration of the area around the capital by eliminating the extra level of authority in Tokyo. Also, the governor was no longer called ''chiji'', but ''chōkan'' (~"head/chief [usually: of a central government agency]") as in Hokkaidō). The central government wanted to have greater control over all local governments due to Japan's deteriorating position in World War II – for example, all mayors in the country became appointive as in the Meiji era – and over Tokyo in particular, due to the possibility of emergency in the metropolis.

After the war, Japan was forced to decentralise Tokyo again, following the general terms of democratisation outlined in the [[Potsdam Declaration]]. Many of Tokyo's special governmental characteristics disappeared during this time, and the wards took on an increasingly municipal status in the decades following the surrender. Administratively, today's special wards are almost indistinguishable from other municipalities.

The postwar reforms also changed the map of Tokyo significantly: In 1947, the 35 wards were reorganised into the [[23 special wards]], because many of its citizens had either died during the war, left the city, or been drafted and did not return.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} In the occupation reforms, special wards, each with their own elected assemblies (''kugikai'') and mayors (''kuchō''), were intended to be equal to other municipalities even if some restrictions still applied. (For example, there was during the occupation [[Tokyo Metropolitan Police|a dedicated municipal police agency for the 23 special wards/former Tokyo City]], yet the special wards public safety commission was not named by the special ward governments, but by the government of the whole "Metropolis". In 1954, independent municipal police forces were abolished generally in the whole country, and the prefectural/"Metropolitan" police of Tokyo is again responsible for the whole prefecture/"Metropolis" and like all prefectural police forces controlled by the prefectural/"Metropolitan" public safety commission whose members are appointed by the prefectural/"Metropolitan" governor and assembly.) But, as part of the "reverse course" of the 1950s some of these new rights were removed, the most obvious measure being the denial of directly elected mayors. Some of these restrictions were removed again over the decades. But it was not until the year 2000 that the special wards were fully recognised as municipal-level entities.

Independently from these steps, as Tokyo's urban growth again took up pace during the postwar economic miracle and most of the main island part of Tokyo "Metropolis" became increasingly core part of the [[Tokyo metropolitan area]], many of the other municipalities in Tokyo have transferred some of their authority to the Metropolitan government. For example, the [[Tokyo Fire Department]] which was only responsible for the 23 special wards until 1960 has until today taken over the municipal fire departments in almost all of Tokyo. A joint governmental structure for the whole Tokyo metropolitan area (and not only the western suburbs of the special wards which are part of the Tokyo prefecture/Metropolis") as advocated by some politicians such as former Kanagawa governor [[Shigefumi Matsuzawa]]<ref>The Japan Times, 4 December 2003: [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/12/04/national/few-warm-to-greater-tokyo-assembly-idea/ Few warm to greater-Tokyo assembly idea. Kanagawa chief pushes new administrative body to deal with regional issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527004316/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/12/04/national/few-warm-to-greater-tokyo-assembly-idea/ |date=2022-05-27 }}</ref> has not been established (see also [[Dōshūsei]]). Existing cross-prefectural fora of cooperation between local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area are the Kantō regional governors' association ''(Kantō chihō chijikai)''<ref>Kanagawa prefectural government: [http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/cnt/f7700/ 関東地方知事会] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915083558/http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/cnt/f7700/ |date=2017-09-15 }}</ref><ref>Saitama prefectural government: [https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0101/kanto/ 関東地方知事会] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531202438/https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0101/kanto/ |date=2023-05-31 }}</ref> and the "[[Shutoken]] summit" (formally "conference of chief executives of nine prefectures and cities", ''9 to-ken-shi shunō kaigi'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9tokenshi-syunoukaigi.jp/|title=九都県市首脳会議|website=www.9tokenshi-syunoukaigi.jp|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2023-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610010549/http://9tokenshi-syunoukaigi.jp/|url-status=live}}</ref> But, these are not themselves local public entities under the local autonomy law and national or local government functions cannot be directly transferred to them, unlike the "[[Union of Kansai governments]]" ''(Kansai kōiki-rengō)''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kouiki-kansai.jp/|title=ホーム-関西広域連合|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2023-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816104057/https://www.kouiki-kansai.jp/|url-status=live}}</ref> which has been established by several prefectural governments in the Kansai region.

There are some differences in terminology between Tokyo and other prefectures: police and fire departments are called {{Nihongo|''chō''|庁}} instead of {{Nihongo|''honbu''|本部}}, for instance. But the only functional difference between Tōkyō-to and other prefectures is that Tokyo administers wards as well as cities. Today, since the special wards have almost the same degree of independence as Japanese cities, the difference in administration between Tokyo and other prefectures is fairly minor.

In Osaka, several prominent politicians led by [[Tōru Hashimoto]], then mayor of [[Osaka|Osaka City]] and former governor of [[Osaka Prefecture]], proposed an [[Osaka Metropolis plan]], under which Osaka City, and possibly other neighboring cities, would be replaced by special wards similar to Tokyo's. The plan was narrowly defeated in [[2015 Osaka Metropolis Plan referendum|a 2015 referendum]], and again [[2020 Osaka Metropolis Plan referendum|in 2020]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Osaka metropolis plan rejected by slim margin in 2nd referendum |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/11/602c90c5b457-voting-begins-in-2nd-referendum-on-osaka-metropolis-plan.html |access-date=14 July 2021 |agency=Kyodo News |date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728124533/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/11/602c90c5b457-voting-begins-in-2nd-referendum-on-osaka-metropolis-plan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Dō''===
[[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]] is referred to as a {{Nihongo|''dō''|道||{{IPA|ja|doꜜː|}}}} or [[Circuit (administrative division)|circuit]]. This term was originally used to refer to Japanese regions consisting of several [[Provinces of Japan|provinces]] (e.g. the [[Tōkaidō (region)|Tōkaidō]] east-coast region, and [[Saikaido]] west-coast region). This was also a historical usage of the character in China. (In Korea, this historical usage is still used today and was kept during the [[Korea under Japanese rule|period of Japanese rule]].)

{{Nihongo|''Hokkai-dō''|北海道||{{IPA|ja|hokkaꜜidoː|}}}}, the only remaining ''dō'' today, was not one of the original seven ''dō'' (it was known as [[Ezo]] in the pre-modern era). Its current name is believed to originate from [[Matsuura Takeshirō|Matsuura Takeshiro]], an early Japanese explorer of the island. Since Hokkaidō did not fit into the existing ''dō'' classifications, a new ''dō'' was created to cover it.

The Meiji government originally classified Hokkaidō as a {{Nihongo|"Settlement Envoyship"|開拓使|kaitakushi}}, and later divided the island into three prefectures (Sapporo, Hakodate, and Nemuro). These were consolidated into a single {{Nihongo|Hokkaido Department|北海道庁|Hokkaido-chō}} in 1886, at prefectural level but organized more along the lines of a territory. In 1947, the department was dissolved, and Hokkaidō became a full-fledged prefecture. The ''-ken'' suffix was never added to its name, so the ''-dō'' suffix came to be understood to mean "prefecture".

When Hokkaidō was incorporated, transportation on the island was still underdeveloped, so the prefecture was split into several {{Nihongo|"subprefectures"|支庁 |shichō}} that could fulfill administrative duties of the prefectural government and keep tight control over the developing island. These subprefectures still exist today, although they have much less power than they possessed before and during World War II. They now exist primarily to handle paperwork and other bureaucratic functions.

"Hokkaidō Prefecture" is, technically speaking, a redundant term because ''dō'' itself indicates a prefecture, although it is occasionally used to differentiate the government from the island itself. The prefecture's government calls itself the "Hokkaidō Government" rather than the "Hokkaidō Prefectural Government".

===''Fu''===
[[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]] Prefectures are referred to as {{Nihongo|''fu''|府||pronounced {{IPA|ja|ɸɯꜜ|}} when a separate word, but {{IPA|ja|ꜜɸɯ|}} when part of the full name of a prefecture, e.g. {{IPA|ja|kʲoꜜːto|}} and {{IPA|ja|ɸɯꜜ|}} become {{IPA|ja|kʲoːtoꜜɸɯ|}}}}. The Classical Chinese character from which this is derived implies a core urban zone of national importance. Before World War II, different laws applied to ''fu'' and ''ken,'' but this distinction was abolished after the war, and the two types of prefecture are now functionally the same.

===''Ken''===
43 of the 47 prefectures are referred to as {{Nihongo|''ken''|県||pronounced {{IPA|ja|keꜜɴ|}} when a separate word but {{IPA|ja|ꜜkeɴ|}} when part of the full name of a prefecture, e.g. {{IPA|ja|aꜜitɕi|}} and {{IPA|ja|keꜜɴ|}} become {{IPA|ja|aitɕi̥ꜜkeɴ|}}}}. The Classical Chinese character from which this is derived carries a rural or provincial connotation, and an analogous character is used to refer to the [[counties of China]], [[County (Taiwan)|counties of Taiwan]] and [[District (Vietnam)|districts of Vietnam]].

== Lists of prefectures ==

<imagemap>File:Regions and Prefectures of Japan.svg|550px|thumb|Prefectures of Japan with coloured regions

poly 421 1 549 43 569 93 492 177 412 197 382 220 366 203 358 161 408 13 413 7 [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]
poly 382 264 388 261 411 261 415 257 420 257 421 260 421 264 422 266 426 266 431 264 433 260 439 259 445 256 431 205 409 203 387 221 372 255 [[Aomori Prefecture|Aomori]]
poly 382 266 389 263 409 263 413 262 415 258 418 258 420 260 420 265 421 267 418 271 418 296 415 300 415 312 420 318 423 324 423 329 418 332 415 333 399 327 387 327 373 291 [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]]
poly 455 335 446 337 443 336 434 331 425 329 425 322 420 314 417 311 417 302 419 297 419 272 422 268 428 268 432 265 435 261 440 260 446 257 454 264 467 281 470 300 466 319 [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]]
poly 387 328 366 341 367 355 380 357 391 365 394 368 394 374 389 377 388 381 388 385 392 389 394 390 407 390 411 388 414 384 409 380 409 376 416 367 417 363 418 346 416 343 415 335 399 329 388 329 [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]]
poly 417 335 424 331 433 332 444 339 454 337 462 357 440 381 431 382 425 380 419 380 415 383 411 379 411 376 418 367 420 347 418 342 417 340 416 338 [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]
poly 378 357 339 372 332 387 317 441 325 449 328 447 330 444 334 447 336 447 337 445 344 444 349 436 353 435 356 437 361 445 362 446 365 446 369 442 371 436 375 432 380 433 379 430 375 425 374 416 375 411 379 409 382 409 387 405 387 396 391 391 387 387 386 379 392 372 393 372 393 368 [[Niigata Prefecture|Niigata]]
poly 381 433 380 428 376 424 376 415 379 411 385 410 389 405 389 397 392 391 409 392 416 384 421 381 425 382 431 384 441 383 447 393 450 419 444 431 438 429 435 429 431 431 429 434 427 434 413 421 406 420 402 423 396 430 391 433 389 434 383 434 [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]
poly 422 432 427 436 431 435 432 431 436 430 443 433 451 480 448 480 445 478 442 475 437 474 429 477 426 481 422 481 413 475 408 474 402 469 408 468 419 459 423 454 [[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]
poly 384 436 391 435 398 430 404 422 406 422 410 422 413 424 421 431 420 437 421 454 415 460 409 465 407 466 400 468 391 459 390 456 390 450 389 447 386 445 386 438 [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]
poly 409 476 414 477 420 482 426 483 430 478 438 475 442 477 446 481 449 482 451 481 453 485 442 490 440 495 440 513 423 530 417 529 413 503 413 493 412 486 411 480 [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
poly 362 448 365 448 370 443 372 436 375 434 380 434 385 439 385 445 388 450 389 450 389 457 391 461 399 468 384 468 374 478 370 482 369 486 363 480 362 476 362 468 360 466 355 465 352 461 353 457 [[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma]]
poly 381 493 381 489 384 488 388 488 392 490 394 491 398 491 402 490 406 490 410 488 410 483 408 476 400 469 385 469 371 483 370 487 374 491 [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
poly 382 493 382 491 383 489 387 489 392 491 393 492 399 492 401 491 406 491 410 489 411 490 412 494 407 498 401 498 399 499 388 499 386 496 [[Tokyo|Tōkyō]]
poly 393 500 400 500 403 499 408 499 413 510 412 518 389 521 385 520 383 517 383 512 380 510 378 510 379 507 393 507 [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
rect 423 538 457 551 [[Tokyo|Tōkyō]]
rect 386 551 438 565 [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
circle 551 737 119 [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]
poly 352 493 364 493 367 491 368 487 373 492 381 494 384 496 387 499 392 499 392 507 378 507 377 510 376 511 369 511 366 513 364 515 364 520 362 521 359 519 351 508 351 506 343 506 343 499 352 499 [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]]
poly 338 529 345 520 348 514 349 511 350 510 353 513 359 521 362 522 365 521 365 515 369 512 377 512 378 511 380 511 382 513 382 518 385 521 389 522 393 526 393 540 383 551 356 556 325 557 325 547 328 541 335 534 [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]
poly 325 450 330 446 334 449 338 447 343 446 346 444 350 437 352 436 355 437 361 447 352 456 351 462 354 466 359 467 360 468 361 470 361 479 363 483 367 486 366 490 363 492 351 492 351 499 343 499 343 506 350 506 350 508 348 510 347 513 338 527 336 528 326 527 326 512 321 503 316 499 316 497 321 492 322 486 322 477 321 473 321 471 323 470 323 454 [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]
poly 294 447 316 441 324 450 322 453 322 469 320 471 301 471 297 476 296 476 293 475 291 475 290 466 287 459 287 458 290 458 291 449 [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]]
poly 291 476 293 476 295 478 298 478 302 472 320 472 321 479 321 488 320 492 315 496 315 500 320 504 324 512 325 514 325 524 324 527 313 527 307 523 296 523 293 526 292 530 289 534 288 534 283 534 280 529 279 524 272 511 274 508 279 505 285 505 291 501 291 497 286 493 286 489 291 483 [[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]]
poly 290 535 293 530 294 526 297 524 305 524 312 528 328 528 336 529 334 533 327 540 324 547 324 557 308 561 298 552 296 542 [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]]
poly 268 477 247 477 247 462 276 461 276 431 299 415 307 418 305 425 294 446 291 447 289 451 289 458 287 458 289 464 290 482 285 488 280 488 [[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]]
poly 267 478 280 489 285 489 285 493 289 497 289 499 289 500 285 504 278 504 272 508 270 512 261 521 257 523 253 527 247 527 243 524 243 521 256 492 [[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]]
poly 271 512 277 524 280 532 280 544 278 547 275 549 271 549 268 551 264 556 258 542 257 541 256 531 254 528 261 522 [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]
poly 280 533 284 535 288 535 294 542 297 555 307 568 306 577 271 606 265 604 262 600 262 598 270 591 272 586 272 564 265 557 269 552 277 550 281 544 [[Mie Prefecture|Mie]]
poly 217 518 225 508 237 509 242 520 242 524 246 528 252 528 255 533 256 535 256 542 263 556 263 558 255 556 247 547 241 547 235 538 231 536 225 535 222 533 223 531 226 528 226 526 220 522 [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyōto]]
poly 242 548 246 548 252 555 252 573 253 575 239 575 243 566 244 564 243 553 [[Osaka Prefecture|Ōsaka]]
poly 253 556 257 559 263 559 264 558 270 564 271 580 272 580 272 587 268 592 261 598 261 600 256 600 251 597 251 589 252 586 252 579 255 579 253 572 [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]
rect 222 616 253 628 [[Osaka Prefecture|Ōsaka]]
poly 238 576 241 576 253 576 254 579 252 579 252 585 250 589 250 597 253 600 256 601 261 601 265 605 271 607 271 618 260 623 260 631 285 631 285 644 228 644 228 631 254 631 254 617 253 616 242 614 230 600 229 581 [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]
poly 198 518 202 515 215 517 219 523 224 526 224 528 221 532 222 535 226 537 231 537 235 540 237 545 240 548 242 555 242 565 230 567 227 578 223 587 216 587 214 577 222 567 221 565 200 563 197 557 197 553 195 549 197 544 204 535 204 527 [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
poly 156 529 163 521 197 519 203 528 203 534 200 538 191 538 186 534 181 534 178 537 169 537 163 542 155 549 152 550 149 547 149 544 152 541 157 535 [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]]
poly 154 551 157 549 169 539 172 538 178 538 182 535 185 535 190 539 199 539 194 545 194 551 197 554 197 561 200 565 185 578 167 579 162 569 159 562 156 558 155 553 [[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]]
poly 92 574 89 558 89 549 142 523 149 523 155 531 155 536 148 543 148 548 151 551 138 551 133 557 129 564 126 565 119 565 109 573 106 580 104 587 102 588 96 585 92 580 [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]]
poly 106 582 110 574 119 566 128 566 130 564 139 552 153 552 155 554 155 558 159 564 159 566 166 579 164 582 158 582 150 589 133 596 116 592 112 590 110 585 [[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]]
poly 91 574 91 581 96 587 101 589 104 589 106 583 109 586 111 590 117 593 113 616 75 613 59 602 62 588 [[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]]
poly 158 582 177 582 185 579 204 582 203 587 198 591 186 594 181 595 174 600 171 596 158 592 [[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]]
poly 175 601 182 596 198 592 205 586 213 586 218 597 229 598 229 607 217 607 202 620 197 615 187 607 181 607 175 604 [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]
poly 132 658 138 653 138 650 136 647 136 644 145 636 145 629 150 625 155 616 155 614 166 608 174 605 181 608 187 608 202 622 196 635 162 635 152 662 137 667 [[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]]
poly 118 610 133 610 139 597 147 594 171 597 174 601 174 604 166 607 155 612 151 621 145 627 143 629 143 636 135 642 134 647 137 651 136 653 131 658 120 663 119 658 126 641 124 636 107 635 108 628 118 622 [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]
poly 77 624 67 608 62 605 34 619 29 634 32 636 51 636 52 638 51 641 42 651 46 657 52 652 60 650 63 648 63 637 68 632 72 631 [[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]]
poly 64 649 64 638 69 633 74 631 79 625 91 620 97 621 102 632 113 657 110 662 100 662 98 665 96 665 93 664 88 664 84 661 80 655 79 648 78 646 73 646 70 649 69 652 66 652 [[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]]
poly 84 663 87 665 94 665 98 666 102 663 109 663 104 681 103 688 120 688 120 700 96 700 94 735 87 737 83 731 83 723 79 719 71 713 64 702 74 698 77 693 76 683 73 679 73 676 [[Miyazaki Prefecture|Miyazaki]]
poly 27 633 31 637 50 637 51 638 50 640 38 653 36 657 26 653 21 648 20 641 18 633 23 632 [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]]
poly 19 641 19 648 25 654 49 662 49 673 37 678 17 679 6 671 7 641 12 638 [[Nagasaki Prefecture|Nagasaki]]
poly 46 658 53 653 62 650 64 650 66 653 69 653 70 651 74 647 76 647 78 649 78 654 83 662 72 676 72 680 74 684 75 686 75 694 73 698 63 701 58 697 43 698 22 693 22 682 25 681 48 681 48 674 51 672 51 663 [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]
poly 13 707 43 699 57 699 62 702 70 714 81 723 82 733 80 744 64 753 39 744 35 721 12 720 [[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]

</imagemap>
{{clear|left}}
The different systems of parsing [[framing (social sciences)|frame]] the ways in which Japanese prefectures are perceived:

===By Japanese ISO===
<!--Linked from [[Japan]] (Fg2, 28 June 2006)-->
The prefectures are traditionally grouped into eight [[Regions of Japan|regions]] (地方, ''chihō'').<ref name="nussbaum780"/> Those regions are not formally specified, they do not have elected officials, nor are they corporate bodies.  This ordering is mirrored in Japan's [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO) coding.<ref>See [[ISO 3166]]</ref> From north to south (numbering in [[ISO 3166-2:JP]] order), the prefectures of Japan and their commonly associated regions are:

{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]] {{ordered list|[[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]}}
* [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] {{ordered list|start=2|[[Aomori Prefecture|Aomori]]|[[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]]|[[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]|[[Akita Prefecture|Akita]]|[[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]]|[[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]}}
* [[Kantō region|Kantō]] {{ordered list|start=8|[[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]|[[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]|[[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma]]|[[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]|[[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]|[[Tokyo|Tōkyō]]|[[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]}}
* [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] {{ordered list|start=15|[[Niigata Prefecture|Niigata]]|[[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]]|[[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]]|[[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]]|[[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]]|[[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]|[[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]]|[[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]|[[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]]}}
* [[Kansai region|Kansai]]{{Efn|It is sometimes expressed as '''"Kinki"'''.}}　　 {{ordered list|start=24|[[Mie Prefecture|Mie]]|[[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]|[[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyōto]]|[[Osaka Prefecture|Ōsaka]]|[[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]|[[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]|[[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]}}
* [[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] {{ordered list|start=31|[[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]]|[[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]]|[[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]]|[[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]]|[[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]]}}
* [[Shikoku]] {{ordered list|start=36|[[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]|[[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]]|[[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]|[[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]]}}
* [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]] {{ordered list|start=40|[[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]]|[[Saga Prefecture|Saga]]|[[Nagasaki Prefecture|Nagasaki]]|[[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]|[[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]]|[[Miyazaki Prefecture|Miyazaki]]|[[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]|[[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]}}
{{div col end}}

===By English name===
:''The default alphabetic order in this sortable table can be altered to mirror the traditional Japanese regions and ISO parsing.''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Prefecture]]
! colspan="2" | [[Prefectural capital|Capital]]
! [[List of regions in Japan|Region]]
! [[Japanese Archipelago|Major Island]]
! [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|Population]]<br>(estimated 1 April 2023)
! [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|Population]]<br> (census conducted 1 October 2020)
! Population change
! [[List of Japanese prefectures ranked by area|Area<br>(km<sup>2</sup>]])<br><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=1 October 2020|title=全国都道府県市区町村別面積調 (10月1日時点)|trans-title=Areas of prefectures, cities, towns and villages (1 October)|url=https://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MENCHO/backnumber/GSI-menseki20201001.pdf|access-date=18 March 2021|website=Geospatial Information Authority of Japan|publisher=Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism|page=5|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304100204/https://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MENCHO/backnumber/GSI-menseki20201001.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
! [[Population density|Density]]<br>(per km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[Districts of Japan|Distr.]]
! {{vert header|[[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]}}
! [[ISO 3166-2:JP|ISO]]
! [[Telephone numbers in Japan|Area<br />code]]
|-
| {{flag|Aichi}}
| {{nihongo2|愛知県}}
| [[Nagoya]]
| {{nihongo2|名古屋市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|7475630|7542415}}
| align="right" | 5,173.07
| align="right" | 1,458
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 54
| align="right" | JP-23
| align="right" | 052
|-
| {{flag|Akita}}
| {{nihongo2|秋田県}}
| [[Akita City|Akita]]
| {{nihongo2|秋田市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|918811|959502}}
| align="right" | 11,637.52
| align="right" | 82.4
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 25
| align="right" | JP-05
| align="right" | 018
|-
| {{flag|Aomori}}
| {{nihongo2|青森県}}
| [[Aomori]]
| {{nihongo2|青森市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1190685|1237984}}
| align="right" | 9,645.64
| align="right" | 128.3
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 40
| align="right" | JP-02
| align="right" | 017
|-
| {{flag|Chiba|Chiba Prefecture}}
| {{nihongo2|千葉県}}
| [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba]]
| {{nihongo2|千葉市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|6269572|6284480}}
| align="right" | 5,157.57
| align="right" | 1,218.5
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 54
| align="right" | JP-12
| align="right" | 043
|-
| {{flag|Ehime}}
| {{nihongo2|愛媛県}}
| [[Matsuyama]]
| {{nihongo2|松山市}}
| bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]]
| [[Shikoku]]
| {{change|invert=on|1296061|1334841}}
| align="right" | 5,676.19
| align="right" | 235.2
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 20
| align="right" | JP-38
| align="right" | 089
|-
| {{flag|Fukui}}
| {{nihongo2|福井県}}
| [[Fukui, Fukui|Fukui]]
| {{nihongo2|福井市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|746733|766863}}
| align="right" | 4,190.52
| align="right" | 183
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 17
| align="right" | JP-18
| align="right" | 077
|-
| {{flag|Fukuoka}}
| {{nihongo2|福岡県}}
| [[Fukuoka]]
| {{nihongo2|福岡市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|5101340|5135214}}
| align="right" | 4,986.51
| align="right" | 1,029.8
| align="right" | 12
| align="right" | 60
| align="right" | JP-40
| align="right" | 092
|-
| {{flag|Fukushima}}
| {{nihongo2|福島県}}
| [[Fukushima, Fukushima|Fukushima]]
| {{nihongo2|福島市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1773723|1833152}}
| align="right" | 13,784.14
| align="right" | 133
| align="right" | 13
| align="right" | 59
| align="right" | JP-07
| align="right" | 024
|-
| {{flag|Gifu}}
| {{nihongo2|岐阜県}}
| [[Gifu]]
| {{nihongo2|岐阜市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1933019|1978742}}
| align="right" | 10,621.29
| align="right" | 186.3
| align="right" | 9
| align="right" | 42
| align="right" | JP-21
| align="right" | 058
|-
| {{flag|Gunma}}
| {{nihongo2|群馬県}}
| [[Maebashi]]
| {{nihongo2|前橋市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1902834|1939110}}
| align="right" | 6,362.28
| align="right" | 304.8
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 35
| align="right" | JP-10
| align="right" | 027
|-
| {{flag|Hiroshima}}
| {{nihongo2|広島県}}
| [[Hiroshima]]
| {{nihongo2|広島市}}
| bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2745295|2799702}}
| align="right" | 8,479.65
| align="right" | 330.2
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 23
| align="right" | JP-34
| align="right" | 082
|-
| {{flag|Hokkaido}}
| {{nihongo2|北海道}}
| [[Sapporo]]
| {{nihongo2|札幌市}}
| bgcolor=#ef7979|[[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]
| [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]
| {{change|invert=on|5114809|5224614}}
| align="right" | 83,424.44
| align="right" | 66.6
| align="right" | 66
| align="right" | 180
| align="right" | JP-01
| align="right" | 011–016
|-
| {{flag|Hyōgo}}
| {{nihongo2|兵庫県}}
| [[Kobe|Kōbe]]
| {{nihongo2|神戸市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|5378405|5465002}}
| align="right" | 8,401.02
| align="right" | 650.5
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 41
| align="right" | JP-28
| align="right" | 073
|-
| {{flag|Ibaraki}}
| {{nihongo2|茨城県}}
| [[Mito, Ibaraki|Mito]]
| {{nihongo2|水戸市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2828848|2867009}}
| align="right" | 6,097.39
| align="right" | 470.2
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 44
| align="right" | JP-08
| align="right" | 029
|-
| {{flag|Ishikawa}}
| {{nihongo2|石川県}}
| [[Kanazawa]]
| {{nihongo2|金沢市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1111483|1132526}}
| align="right" | 4,190.94
| align="right" | 270.5
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 19
| align="right" | JP-17
| align="right" | 076
|-
| {{flag|Iwate}}
| {{nihongo2|岩手県}}
| [[Morioka]]
| {{nihongo2|盛岡市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1168771|1210534}}
| align="right" | 15,275.01
| align="right" | 79.2
| align="right" | 10
| align="right" | 33
| align="right" | JP-03
| align="right" | 019
|-
| {{flag|Kagawa}}
| {{nihongo2|香川県}}
| [[Takamatsu, Kagawa|Takamatsu]]
| {{nihongo2|高松市}}
| bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]]
| [[Shikoku]]
| {{change|invert=on|926866|950244}}
| align="right" | 1,876.78
| align="right" | 506.3
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 17
| align="right" | JP-37
| align="right" | 087
|-
| {{flag|Kagoshima}}
| {{nihongo2|鹿児島県}}
| [[Kagoshima]]
| {{nihongo2|鹿児島市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1553060|1588256}}
| align="right" | 9,187.06
| align="right" | 172.9
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 43
| align="right" | JP-46
| align="right" | 099
|-
| {{flag|Kanagawa}}
| {{nihongo2|神奈川県}}
| [[Yokohama]]
| {{nihongo2|横浜市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|9222108|9237337}}
| align="right" | 2,416.11
| align="right" | 3,823.2
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 33
| align="right" | JP-14
| align="right" | 045
|-
| {{flag|Kōchi}}
| {{nihongo2|高知県}}
| [[Kōchi, Kōchi|{{hs|Kochi}}Kōchi]]
| {{nihongo2|高知市}}
| bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]]
| [[Shikoku]]
| {{change|invert=on|669516|691527}}
| align="right" | 7,103.63
| align="right" | 97.3
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 34
| align="right" | JP-39
| align="right" | 088
|-
| {{flag|Kumamoto}}
| {{nihongo2|熊本県}}
| [[Kumamoto]]
| {{nihongo2|熊本市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1708761|1738301}}
| align="right" | 7,409.46
| align="right" | 234.6
| align="right" | 9
| align="right" | 45
| align="right" | JP-43
| align="right" | 096
|-
| {{flag|Kyōto}}
| {{nihongo2|京都府}}
| [[Kyoto|Kyōto]]
| {{nihongo2|京都市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2537860|2578087}}
| align="right" | 4,612.20
| align="right" | 559
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 26
| align="right" | JP-26
| align="right" | 075
|-
| {{flag|Mie}}
| {{nihongo2|三重県}}
| [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]]
| {{nihongo2|津市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1731863|1770254}}
| align="right" | 5,774.49
| align="right" | 306.6
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 29
| align="right" | JP-24
| align="right" | 059
|-
| {{flag|Miyagi}}
| {{nihongo2|宮城県}}
| [[Sendai]]
| {{nihongo2|仙台市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2264921|2301996}}
| align="right" | 7,282.29
| align="right" | 316.1
| align="right" | 10
| align="right" | 35
| align="right" | JP-04
| align="right" | 022
|-
| {{flag|Miyazaki}}
| {{nihongo2|宮崎県}}
| [[Miyazaki, Miyazaki|Miyazaki]]
| {{nihongo2|宮崎市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1043524|1069576}}
| align="right" | 7,735.22
| align="right" | 138.3
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 26
| align="right" | JP-45
| align="right" | 098
|-
| {{flag|Nagano}}
| {{nihongo2|長野県}}
| [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]]
| {{nihongo2|長野市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2007647|2048011}}
| align="right" | 13,561.56
| align="right" | 151
| align="right" | 14
| align="right" | 77
| align="right" | JP-20
| align="right" | 026
|-
| {{flag|Nagasaki}}
| {{nihongo2|長崎県}}
| [[Nagasaki]]
| {{nihongo2|長崎市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1270358|1312317}}
| align="right" | 4,130.98
| align="right" | 317.7
| align="right" | 4
| align="right" | 21
| align="right" | JP-42
| align="right" | 095
|-
| {{flag|Nara}}
| {{nihongo2|奈良県}}
| [[Nara, Nara|Nara]]
| {{nihongo2|奈良市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1298946|1324473}}
| align="right" | 3,690.94
| align="right" | 358.8
| align="right" | 7
| align="right" | 39
| align="right" | JP-29
| align="right" | 074
|-
| {{flag|Niigata}}
| {{nihongo2|新潟県}}
| [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]]
| {{nihongo2|新潟市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|2135036|2201272}}
| align="right" | 12,583.96
| align="right" | 174.9
| align="right" | 9
| align="right" | 30
| align="right" | JP-15
| align="right" | 025
|-
| {{flag|Ōita}}
| {{nihongo2|大分県}}
| [[Ōita, Ōita|{{hs|Oita}}Ōita]]
| {{nihongo2|大分市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1098383|1123852}}
| align="right" | 6,340.76
| align="right" | 177.2
| align="right" | 3
| align="right" | 18
| align="right" | JP-44
| align="right" | 097
|-
| {{flag|Okayama}}
| {{nihongo2|岡山県}}
| [[Okayama]]
| {{nihongo2|岡山市}}
|bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1850210|1888432}}
| align="right" | 7,114.33
| align="right" | 265.4
| align="right" | 10
| align="right" | 27
| align="right" | JP-33
| align="right" | 086
|-
| {{flag|Okinawa}}
| {{nihongo2|沖縄県}}
| [[Naha]]
| {{nihongo2|那覇市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Ryukyu Islands|Ryūkyū Islands]]
| [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryūkyū Islands]]
| {{change|invert=on|1462871|1467480}}
| align="right" | 2,282.59
| align="right" | 642.9
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 41
| align="right" | JP-47
| align="right" | 098
|-
| {{flag|Ōsaka}}
| {{nihongo2|大阪府}}
| [[Osaka|Ōsaka]]
| {{nihongo2|大阪市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|8770650|8837685}}
| align="right" | 1,905.32
| align="right" | 4,638.4
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 43
| align="right" | JP-27
| align="right" | 06x
|-
| {{flag|Saga}}
| {{nihongo2|佐賀県}}
| [[Saga, Saga|Saga]]
| {{nihongo2|佐賀市}}
| bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| [[Kyushu|Kyūshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|795157|811442}}
| align="right" | 2,440.69
| align="right" | 332.5
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 20
| align="right" | JP-41
| align="right" | 095
|-
| {{flag|Saitama}}
| {{nihongo2|埼玉県}}
| [[Saitama, Saitama|Saitama]]
| {{nihongo2|さいたま市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|7328073|7344765}}
| align="right" | 3,797.75
| align="right" | 1,934
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 63
| align="right" | JP-11
| align="right" | 048
|-
| {{flag|Shiga}}
| {{nihongo2|滋賀県}}
| [[Ōtsu, Shiga|Ōtsu]]
| {{nihongo2|大津市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1405299|1413610}}
| align="right" | 4,017.38
| align="right" | 351.9
| align="right" | 3
| align="right" | 19
| align="right" | JP-25
| align="right" | 077
|-
| {{flag|Shimane}}
| {{nihongo2|島根県}}
| [[Matsue, Shimane|Matsue]]
| {{nihongo2|松江市}}
| bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|650900|671126}}
| align="right" | 6,707.89
| align="right" | 100.1
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 19
| align="right" | JP-32
| align="right" | 085
|-
| {{flag|Shizuoka}}
| {{nihongo2|静岡県}}
| [[Shizuoka City|Shizuoka]]
| {{nihongo2|静岡市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|3561252|3633202}}
| align="right" | 7,777.35
| align="right" | 467.2
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 35
| align="right" | JP-22
| align="right" | 054
|-
| {{flag|Tochigi}}
| {{nihongo2|栃木県}}
| [[Utsunomiya]]
| {{nihongo2|宇都宮市}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1898513|1933146}}
| align="right" | 6,408.09
| align="right" | 301.7
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 26
| align="right" | JP-09
| align="right" | 028
|-
| {{flag|Tokushima}}
| {{nihongo2|徳島県}}
| [[Tokushima, Tokushima|Tokushima]]
| {{nihongo2|徳島市}}
| bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]]
| [[Shikoku]]
| {{change|invert=on|697733|719559}}
| align="right" | 4,146.75
| align="right" | 173.5
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 24
| align="right" | JP-36
| align="right" | 088
|-
| {{flag|Tōkyō}}
| {{nihongo2|東京都}}
| [[Special wards of Tokyo|Tōkyō]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chijihon.metro.tokyo.jp/sonota/syozaiti.htm |script-title=ja:都庁は新宿区 |publisher=Tokyo Metropolitan Government |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419085331/http://www.chijihon.metro.tokyo.jp/sonota/syozaiti.htm |archive-date=19 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} Shinjuku is the location of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office. But Tokyo is not a "municipality". Therefore, for the sake of convenience, the notation of prefectural is "Tokyo".</ref>
| {{nihongo2|東京都}}
| bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|14063564|14047594}}
| align="right" | 2,194.03
| align="right" | 6,402.6
| align="right" | 1
| align="right" | 39
| align="right" | JP-13
| align="right" | 03x/042
|-
| {{flag|Tottori}}
| {{nihongo2|鳥取県}}
| [[Tottori, Tottori|Tottori]]
| {{nihongo2|鳥取市}}
| bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|539190|553407}}
| align="right" | 3,507.14
| align="right" | 157.8
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 19
| align="right" | JP-31
| align="right" | 085
|-
| {{flag|Toyama}}
| {{nihongo2|富山県}}
| [[Toyama City|Toyama]]
| {{nihongo2|富山市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1009050|1034814}}
| align="right" | 4,247.58
| align="right" | 243.6
| align="right" | 2
| align="right" | 15
| align="right" | JP-16
| align="right" | 076
|-
| {{flag|Wakayama}}
| {{nihongo2|和歌山県}}
| [[Wakayama, Wakayama|Wakayama]]
| {{nihongo2|和歌山市}}
| bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|895931|922584}}
| align="right" | 4,724.65
| align="right" | 195.3
| align="right" | 6
| align="right" | 30
| align="right" | JP-30
| align="right" | 075
|-
| {{flag|Yamagata}}
| {{nihongo2|山形県}}
| [[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]]
| {{nihongo2|山形市}}
| bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1031642|1068027}}
| align="right" | 9,323.15
| align="right" | 114.6
| align="right" | 8
| align="right" | 35
| align="right" | JP-06
| align="right" | 023
|-
| {{flag|Yamaguchi}}
| {{nihongo2|山口県}}
| [[Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi|Yamaguchi]]
| {{nihongo2|山口市}}
| bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|1301480|1342059}}
| align="right" | 6,112.54
| align="right" | 219.6
| align="right" | 4
| align="right" | 19
| align="right" | JP-35
| align="right" | 083
|-
| {{flag|Yamanashi}}
| {{nihongo2|山梨県}}
| [[Kōfu]]
| {{nihongo2|甲府市}}
| bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Honshu|Honshū]]
| {{change|invert=on|796231|809974}}
| align="right" | 4,465.27
| align="right" | 181.4
| align="right" | 5
| align="right" | 27
| align="right" | JP-19
| align="right" | 055
|}

== Former prefectures ==
===1870s===
{{hatnote|See [[:ja:廃藩置県|this Japanese Wikipedia article]] for all the changes in that period. See also the English Wikipedia [[List of Japanese prefectures by population#Historical demography of prefectures of Japan]] for lists of prefectures since the late 1860s.}}

===1880s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Prefecture!!Japanese!!Year of<br />Abolition||Fate
|-
|Kanazawa||{{nihongo2|金沢県}}||1869||Renamed as Ishikawa
|-
|Sendai||{{nihongo2|仙台県}}||1871||Renamed as Miyagi
|-
|Morioka||{{nihongo2|盛岡県}}||1872||Renamed as Iwate
|-
|[[Nagoya Prefecture|Nagoya]]||{{nihongo2|名古屋県}}||1872||Renamed as Aichi
|-
|[[Nukata Prefecture|Nukata]]||{{nihongo2|額田県}}||1872||Merged into Aichi
|-
|Nanao||{{nihongo2|七尾県}}||1872||Merged into Ishikawa and Shinkawa
|-
|Iruma||{{nihongo2|入間県}}||1873||Merged into Kumagaya and Kanagawa
|-
|Inba||{{nihongo2|印旛県}}||1873||Merged into Chiba
|-
|Kisarazu||{{nihongo2|木更津県}}||1873||Merged into Chiba
|-
|Utsunomiya||{{nihongo2|宇都宮県}}||1873||Merged into Tochigi
|-
|Asuwa||{{nihongo2|足羽県}}||1873||Merged into Tsuruga
|-
|Kashiwazaki||{{nihongo2|柏崎県}}||1873||Merged into Niigata
|-
|Ichinoseki→Mizusawa→Iwai||{{nihongo2|一関県→水沢県→磐井県}}||1875||Merged into Iwate and Miyagi
|-
|Okitama||{{nihongo2|置賜県}}||1875||Merged into Yamagata
|-
|Niihari||{{nihongo2|新治県}}||1875||Merged into Ibaraki and Chiba
|-
|Sakata→Tsuruoka||{{nihongo2|酒田県→鶴岡県}}||1876||Merged into Yamagata
|-
|Taira→Iwasaki||{{nihongo2|平県→磐前県}}||1876||Merged into Fukushima and Miyagi
|-
|Wakamatsu||{{nihongo2|若松県}}||1876||Merged into Fukushima
|-
|Chikuma||{{nihongo2|筑摩県}}||1876||Merged into Nagano and Gifu
|-
|Tsuruga||{{nihongo2|敦賀県}}||1876||Merged into Ishikawa and Shiga
|-
|Niikawa||{{nihongo2|新川県}}||1876||Merged into Ishikawa
|-
|Sakai||{{nihongo2|堺県}}||1881||Merged into Osaka
|-
|Ashigara||{{nihongo2|足柄県}}||1876||Merged into Kanagawa and Shizuoka
|-
|Kumagaya||{{nihongo2|熊谷県}}||1876||Merged into Gunma and Saitama
|-
|Aikawa||{{nihongo2|相川県}}||1876||Merged into Niigata
|-
|Hamamatsu||{{nihongo2|浜松県}}||1876||Merged into Shizuoka
|-
|Hakodate||{{nihongo2|函館県}}||1886||Merged into Hokkaidō
|-
|Sapporo||{{nihongo2|札幌県}}||1886||Merged into Hokkaidō
|-
|Nemuro||{{nihongo2|根室県}}||1886||Merged into Hokkaidō
|-
|[[Tokyo Prefecture|Tokyo]]||{{nihongo2|東京府}}||1943||Reorganized as Tokyo Metropolis (東京都)
|}

===Lost after World War II===

Here are some territories that were lost after World War II. This does not include all the territories of the [[Empire of Japan]] such as [[Manchukuo]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!rowspan=2|Territory!!colspan=3|Prefecture!!rowspan=2|Allied occupation!!colspan=3|Current  status<ref>Post-war administrative division changes are not reflected in this table. The capital of the former Japanese administration is not necessarily the capital of the present-day equivalent.</ref>
|-
!Name!!Japanese!!Capital!!Country!!Name!!Capital
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Mainland Japan|Mainland]]
|[[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]||{{nihongo2|沖縄県}}||Naha
|{{flag|United States|1912}}<ref>Administered by the [[United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands]]. Returned to Japan in 1972</ref>||{{JPN}}
|{{flag|Okinawa}}||[[Naha]]
|-
|[[Karafuto Prefecture|Karafuto]]||{{nihongo2|樺太庁}}||Toyohara
|rowspan=7|{{flag|Soviet Union|1936}}||{{RUS}}
|part of {{flag|Sakhalin}}||[[Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk]]
|-
|rowspan=14|[[Korea under Japanese rule|Korea]]
|[[Heianhoku-dō|Heianhoku]]||{{nihongo2|平安北道}}||Shingishū
|rowspan=6|{{PRK}}
|[[North Pyongan Province|North Pyongan]]||[[Sinuiju]]
|-
|[[Heian'nan-dō|Heian'nan]]||{{nihongo2|平安南道}}||Heijō||[[South Pyongan Province|South Pyongan]]||[[Pyongyang]]
|-
|[[Kankyōhoku-dō|Kankyōhoku]]||{{nihongo2|咸鏡北道}}||Seishin||[[North Hamgyong Province|North Hamgyong]]||[[Chongjin]]
|-
|[[Kankyōnan-dō|Kankyōnan]]||{{nihongo2|咸鏡南道}}||Kankō||[[South Hamgyong Province|South Hamgyong]]||[[Hamhung]]
|-
|[[Kōkai-dō|Kōkai]]||{{nihongo2|黃海道}}||Kaishū||[[Hwanghae Province|Hwanghae]]||[[Haeju]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Kōgen-dō|Kōgen]]<ref name="Korea">Due to the [[division of Korea]], Kōgen (Kangwon/Gangwon), Keiki (Gyeonggi) and Kōkai (Hwanghae) are divided between North Korea and South Korea. While each Korea has its own Kangwon/Gangwon Province, the North Korean portion of Gyeonggi and the South Korean portion of Hwanghae have been absorbed into other provinces.</ref>||rowspan=2|{{nihongo2|江原道}}||rowspan=2|Shunsen||[[Kangwon Province (North Korea)|Kangwon]]||rowspan=2|[[Chuncheon]]<ref>Shunsen (Chuncheon) is in present-day South Korea.</ref>
|-
|rowspan=8|{{flag|United States|1912}}||rowspan=8|{{KOR}}||[[Gangwon Province (South Korea)|Gangwon]]
|-
|[[Chūseihoku-dō|Chūseihoku]]||{{nihongo2|忠清北道}}||Seishū||[[North Chungcheong Province|North Chungcheong]]||[[Cheongju]]
|-
|[[Chūseinan-dō|Chūseinan]]||{{nihongo2|忠清南道}}||Taiden||[[South Chungcheong Province|South Chungcheong]]||[[Daejeon]]
|-
|[[Keiki-dō|Keiki]]||{{nihongo2|京畿道}}||Keijō||[[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi]]||[[Seoul]]
|-
|[[Keishōhoku-dō|Keishōhoku]]||{{nihongo2|慶尚北道}}||Taikyū||[[North Gyeongsang Province|North Gyeongsang]]||[[Daegu]]
|-
|[[Keishōnan-dō|Keishōnan]]||{{nihongo2|慶尚南道}}||Fuzan||[[South Gyeongsang Province|South Gyeongsang]]||[[Busan]]
|-
|[[Zenrahoku-dō|Zenrahoku]]||{{nihongo2|全羅北道}}||Zenshū||[[North Jeolla Province|North Jeolla]]||[[Jeonju]]
|-
|[[Zenranan-dō|Zenranan]]||{{nihongo2|全羅南道}}||Kōshū||[[South Jeolla Province|South Jeolla]]||[[Gwangju]]
|-
|rowspan=8|[[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Taiwan]]<br><small>([[Political divisions of Taiwan (1895–1945)|History]])</small>
|[[Hōko Prefecture|Hōko]]||{{nihongo2|澎湖庁}}||Makō
|rowspan=8|{{ROC-1928}}||rowspan=8|{{ROC-TW}}<ref name="StatusofTaiwan">After World War II, the islands of Taiwan and Penghu were placed under the administration of the Republic of China under [[General Order No. 1]], although they nominally remained part of Japan. Before the post-war treaties were to be signed by the ROC and Japan, the ROC government was defeated in the [[Chinese Civil War]] to the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) and decamped to the island of Taiwan. Japan relinquished the claims to Taiwan and Penghu in the [[Treaty of San Francisco]] on 28 April 1952, but the sovereignty of the islands remained undetermined to this day. Excluding Kinmen and Matsu, which form the rump Fujian Province, Taiwan and Penghu are still today governed by the Republic of China in a post-war capacity recognized by a few states as the sole legitimate government of "China". See also [[Political status of Taiwan]] and [[Theory of the Undetermined Status of Taiwan]].</ref>
|[[Penghu]]||[[Magong]]
|-
|[[Karenkō Prefecture|Karenkō]]||{{nihongo2|花蓮港庁}}||Karenkō||[[Hualien County|Hualien]]||[[Hualien City|Hualien]]
|-
|[[Shinchiku Prefecture|Shinchiku]]||{{nihongo2|新竹州}}||Shinchiku||[[Hsinchu County|Hsinchu]]||[[Hsinchu]]
|-
|[[Taichū Prefecture|Taichū]]||{{nihongo2|台中州}}||Taichū||[[Taichung]]||[[Taichung]]
|-
|[[Taihoku Prefecture|Taihoku]]||{{nihongo2|台北州}}||Taihoku||[[Greater Taipei]]||[[Taipei]]
|-
|[[Tainan Prefecture|Tainan]]||{{nihongo2|台南州}}||Tainan||[[Tainan]]||[[Tainan]]
|-
|[[Taitō Prefecture|Taitō]]||{{nihongo2|台東庁}}||Taitō||[[Taitung County|Taitung]]||[[Taitung City|Taitung]]
|-
|[[Takao Prefecture|Takao]]||{{nihongo2|高雄州}}||Takao||[[Kaohsiung]]||[[Kaohsiung]]
|-
|colspan=2|[[Kwantung Leased Territory|Kantō]]<ref>Leased from [[Qing dynasty]], subsequently [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] and [[Manchukuo]].</ref>
|{{nihongo2|関東州}}||Dairen
|{{flag|Soviet Union|1936}}<ref>After World War II, the Soviet Union occupied the territory. The Soviet Union turned it over to the People's Republic of China in 1955.</ref>||{{PRC}}
|colspan=2|part of [[Dalian]], [[Liaoning]]
|-
|colspan=2 rowspan=4|[[South Pacific Mandate|Nan'yō]]<ref>[[League of Nations mandate]]</ref>||rowspan=4|{{nihongo2|南洋庁}}||rowspan=4|[[Koror City|Korōru]]
|rowspan=4|{{flag|United States|1912}}<ref>Then administered by the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]]</ref>
|colspan=2|{{PLW}}||[[Ngerulmud]]
|-
|colspan=2|{{MHL}}||[[Majuro]]
|-
|colspan=2|{{FSM}}||[[Palikir]]
|-
|{{USA}}||{{flag|Northern Mariana Islands}}||[[Saipan]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of Japanese prefectural name etymologies]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by area]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by population]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by GDP]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by GDP per capita]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by Human Development Index]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by life expectancy]]
* [[List of Japanese prefectures by highest mountain]]
* [[List of prefectural capitals in Japan]]
* [[List of Prefecture songs of Japan]]
* [[ISO 3166-2 codes for Japan]]
* [[List of prefectural governors in Japan]]
* [[Flags of Japanese prefectures]]
* [[Provinces of Japan]]

===General===
* [[List of regions of Japan]]
* [[Government of Japan]]
== Annotations ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Prefectures of Japan}}
* [http://www.nga.gr.jp/english/index.html National Governors' Association website]
* [http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanmaps/l/blprefecturemap.htm Map of Japan showing prefectures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303153926/http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanmaps/l/blprefecturemap.htm |date=2012-03-03 }}
* [http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~toda-m/geo-hist/prefrank.html Japanese essay on types of prefectures]
* [http://citymayors.com/government/jap_locgov.html CityMayors.com profile of prefectures]

{{Japan topics}}
{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Asian countries}}

[[Category:Prefectures of Japan| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Japan| 1]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Japan|Prefectures]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Asia|Japan 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Prefectures, Japan]]
[[Category:Japan geography-related lists]]