[General] Surprisingly unknown? Test your geography skills with a three-choice quiz on Japan’s prefectures

Hokkaido region

Even when divided by region, Hokkaido is the largest; it really makes you realize again just how vast Hokkaido is. The second largest is the Tohoku region, and the third is the Chubu region. Conversely, the region with the smallest area is Shikoku.

Tochigi Prefecture

Nikkō Tōshōgū is a Shinto shrine that enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun who founded the Edo shogunate, and it is located in Nikkō City, Tochigi Prefecture. Many of the current, richly ornate shrine buildings were rebuilt by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and include numerous structures such as the Yōmeimon Gate, which is a National Treasure. The site also abounds with highlights like the “Sleeping Cat,” considered a symbol of peace, and the famous Three Wise Monkeys carvings—“see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.”

Yamanashi Prefecture

Mount Kita is a 3,193-meter-high mountain located in Yamanashi Prefecture, situated in the city of Minami-Alps. Beloved by hikers, it is also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains. It may not be very well known to people other than mountain enthusiasts or those living in Yamanashi.

Fukushima Prefecture

Since Niigata Prefecture is located in the Chubu region and Tochigi Prefecture is located in the Kanto region, Fukushima Prefecture is the correct answer. Since 2011, it has also been strongly associated with the Great East Japan Earthquake, but it is known for having many specialty products because its climate is well-suited to growing crops. In addition, because it was the stage of the Aizu War, famous for the Byakkotai, it is also an important place historically, so please be sure to remember it.

Tokyo Metropolis

You might be inclined to take the land area into consideration, but the answer was Tokyo, the capital of Japan. According to the rankings from the 2020 national census, Tokyo was first, Kanagawa Prefecture second, and Osaka Prefecture third.

Kagawa Prefecture

To promote Sanuki udon, its local specialty, Kagawa Prefecture has officially used the nickname “Udon Prefecture” since 2011. The prefecture is dotted with an exceptionally large number of udon shops, boasting one of the highest numbers of udon restaurants per capita in Japan. Attracted by the affordable prices and the delicious, firm, chewy texture, many tourists visit from all over the country—truly making it a sacred land for Japanese udon.

Hiroshima Prefecture

Itsukushima Shrine is located in Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1996. The vivid vermilion great torii gate and shrine buildings standing over the sea are distinctive, and at high tide you can witness a dreamlike scene that looks as if they are floating on the water.