[For Elementary School Students] Fun and Effective Prefecture Quiz

Shimane Prefecture

Izumo Taisha is known for enshrining Okuninushi no Okami, famed from the myth of the White Hare of Inaba. It is also a nationally renowned shrine for prayers for good relationships and matchmaking.

Okinotorishima

The island located at the southernmost point of Japan is Okinotorishima, which belongs to Ogasawara Village, Tokyo. It lies about 1,700 km from central Tokyo and about 1,000 km from Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, and has drawn attention for its diverse fish and valuable marine minerals. By the way, among the other options, Yonaguni Island is known as Japan’s westernmost point, and Minamitorishima is known as Japan’s easternmost island, so keep those in mind for other quiz questions as well.

Fukushima Prefecture

Since Niigata Prefecture is located in the Chubu region and Tochigi Prefecture is 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 thanks to its climate, which is well-suited to agriculture. In addition, it is historically important as the setting of the Aizu War, famous for the Byakkotai, so please be sure to remember it.

47

You often see this in various quizzes, but it’s surprisingly hard to recall: there are 47 prefectures in total. Specifically, there is 1 metropolis (Tokyo), 1 circuit (Hokkaido), 2 urban prefectures (Osaka and Kyoto), and 43 prefectures. This number was set in 1972 when Okinawa was returned by the United States to Japan, so try remembering that together as well.

Aomori Prefecture

When asked which is the northernmost prefecture in Japan, you might be tempted to answer Hokkaido, but since the question specifies a “prefecture,” the correct answer is Aomori Prefecture. Located in the Tohoku region, Aomori sits at the northern tip of Honshu and is famous for its apple production and the Aomori Nebuta Festival. In recent years, “Ōma tuna” has also frequently made the news, making it a region you should definitely keep an eye on.

Ishikawa Prefecture

Fukui Prefecture has Fukui City and Toyama Prefecture has Toyama City as their respective prefectural capitals, but Ishikawa Prefecture has no place called Ishikawa City; its capital is Kanazawa City. Did you know that, historically, during the Meiji era, the Kaga Domain became the Kanazawa Domain and then Kanazawa Prefecture? It is said that Ishikawa Prefecture was later created to organize the complex map of the Hokuriku region, and Kanazawa City, located at its center, was designated as the prefectural capital.