Hyogo

About Hyogo

Hyogo Prefecture in western Kinki area 8,400.82 square kilometers 12th largest biggest in Kinki population about 5.30 million July 1 2026 density 631 per square kilometer capital Kobe City about 1.49 million density 2738. Geography uniquely bordered by Japan Sea north and Seto Inland Sea and Osaka Bay south only Honshu prefecture touching both seas except Aomori Yamaguchi extremities you must pass through Hyogo traveling Honshu entire length land route essential for rail and road. The Chugoku mountains run east-west central creating 168.5 kilometers north-south elongation biggest distance 111 kilometers width with ice no peaks. Islands including Awaji 592 km ranking global enclosed richness plus satellite spots. Honjo Oki straits Naruto Kaikyo whirlpools Tandem channels and Akashi Kaikyo longest road accessibility. Historically spanning former provinces Harima Tajima Awaji entire plus western Settsu southwestern Tamba plus small portions Mimasaka and Bizen due two cross-border annexations from Okayama total seven provinces across four old circuits Kinai Sanin Sanyo Nankai hence nickname Hyogo-slavia many cultural dialects foods adapt. Name originates from weapons storehouse Tuwamono-gura in Emperor Tenji period around 660 at Hyogo-tsu port in Yabe District Settsu first prefectural office placed there 1868 short lasted 3-4 months shifting Sakamoto then Kobe leaving name similar Tokyo governor present. It was established as Hyogo Prefecture May 23 1868 with Ito Hirobumi later Prime Minister first governor aged early twenties integrated after 1871 abolition han final shape 1876 third Hyogo merging Harima Tajima Tamba Awaji funded by tax revenue from rich Harima agricultural area 600 hundred villages 500 koku to develop Kobe Port opened 1868 Jan 1 under US-Japan Treaty Ansei to acquire foreign currency urgent modernization leading to treaty foreigners. The Japan Standard Time meridian 135 degrees east passes through Akashi City hosting planetarium Akashi Municipal Astronomical Observatory and sundial. Climate diverges north cold Japan Sea with heavy snow covering mountains receive foehn extreme summer heat over 38 days Japan comparison strong windy part sometimes 1 meter snow 50 cm in half day causing transport shut down while southern coastal is mild Seto climate warm winter 5 deg average but hot summer tropical nights along Kobe Sannomiya humidity due urban. The county averages economic index near national average with dense Kobe Hanshin and depopulated mountain Tamba average giving mini Japan nickname. Industry features Hanshin and Harima coastal heavy chemical industrial belts most factories in Kinki 3,000 steel Kobe Steel Nippon Steel crab abundant fabrication ships Mitsubishi Heavy Kawasaki, while central northern agriculture forestry fisheries rural depopulation heavy snow limited jobs. Tajima raises Tajima cattle closed breeding source of Kobe beef Matsuzaka Omi black brown famous delicate meat. Nada Gogo district Higashinada produces 30 percent sake Japan due water Miyamizu sweet water rice Yamada Nishiki ferment aging. Natural parks cover 21 percent including Setouchi and Sanin Kaigan plus Hyonosen-Ushiroyama Nagisan National quasi and prefectural parks many..