Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture (岡山県, Okayama-ken) is a Japanese prefecture in the Chūgoku region of the island of Honshū.^[1] The capital city is Okayama.^[2]

Okayama 岡山県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Romaji	Okayama-ken
Flag Symbol
Location of Okayama in Japan
Coordinates: 34°42′N 133°51′E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku
Island	Honshū
Capital	Okayama
Government
• Governor	Masahiro Ishii
Area
• Total	7,112.32 km2 (2,746.08 sq mi)
• Rank	15th
Population  (October 2005)
• Total	1,957,056
• Rank	21st
• Density	280/km2 (710/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-33
Prefectural flower	Peach blossom (Prunus persica var. vulgaris)
Prefectural tree	Red pine (Pinus densiflora)
Prefectural bird	Lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)
Number of districts	10
Number of municipalities	27
Website	www.pref.okayama.jp/ kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/

History

During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.^[3]

Geography

Okayama Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture its the west, Tottori Prefecture on its north and Hiroshima Prefecture on its east. It faces Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku to the west across the Seto Inland Sea. The prefecture includes 90 islands.

Cities

There are 15 cities in Okayama Prefecture:

• Akaiwa
• Asakuchi
• Bizen
• Ibara
• Kurashiki
• Maniwa
• Mimasaka
• Niimi
• Okayama (capital)
• Setouchi
• Sōja
• Takahashi
• Tamano
• Tsuyama

National Parks

National Parks are established in about 11% of the total land area of the prefecture.^[4]

Shrines and Temples

Kibitsuhiko jinja and Kibitsu jinja are the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.^[5]

Geography

The islands of the prefecture, includes Inujima, Kasaoka Islands, Manabeshima, Shiraishi Island, Shiwaku Islands, and Tsuru Shima.

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan
• Fagiano Okayama
• Okayama Prefectural Museum