Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県) is opposite Shikoku on the south side of Honshu between Yamaguchi Prefecture (the western most prefecture on Honshu) and Okayama Prefecture. Its sheltered location on the Seto Inland Sea gives it one of the mildest climates in Japan south of Hokkaido.

Most cities and towns in Hiroshima are built on the flood plains of rivers and on tidal flats. The prefecture's tallest mountains are on the coast and the rest of the inland portion is mountainous and slopes away to Shimane Prefecture in the north. Much of the coastal economy is tied to shipbuilding and fishing.
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Cities and Towns: Hiroshima, Fukuyama, Kure, Mihara, Miyoshi, Onomichi, Takehara, Kawajiri

The Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海) is almost entirely enclosed from the ocean by Honshu, the mainland of Japan, and Shikoku in the south. This warm and calm sea is a highly productive aqua culture area. Oysters have been an important product of this area ever since the development in the 16th century of shoreline oyster farms and later floating farming rafts. The Inland Sea is considered one of Japan's most beautiful locations.

1. Hiroshima City

Hiroshima Prefecture's largest city and capital is known worldwide for the tragedy that occurred in it but today's Hiroshima City is far removed from its past historic events. It is a forward looking and energetic city with world-class museums, gardens, temples, professional baseball, shopping and more.

Read more: Hiroshima City

2. Fukuyama City

Fukuyama City, the rose city, is located at the eastern edge of the prefecture's coastline on the Ashida river delta. Tomo-no-Ura, Fukuyama Castle Museum and the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History are among the city's attractions.

Read more: Fukuyama City

3. Kure City

Kure City is a little over twenty minutes southeast of Hiroshima on express trains and buses. The Yamato Museum opened in 2005 as a tribute to the skills and efforts of the people of Kure.

Read more: Kure City

Other Major Cities: Hatsukaichi, Mihara, Miyoshi, Onomichi, Shobara, Takehara

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

The Carp are the most popular sports team in Hiroshima. They were once a powerful team in the Japanese Central League and have won their division 6 times and the championship 3 times. But, for the past 10 years, they've had trouble staying out of last place. They are named after the nickname for Hiroshima Castle.

Colors: Red, White / Sponsor: Toyo / Plays at: MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, Hiroshima City

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Hiroshima's J-League soccer team is a recent but welcome addition to the sport scene in the city. Their stadium is in Hiroshima's northern Asaminami-ku suburb and is best reached on the Astram Line.

Colors: Purple / Sponsor: Sanfrecce / Plays at: Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima City

The design of Hiroshima Prefecture's flag is based on the shape of the first letter of Hiroshima in Japanese. It's round shape symbolizes the harmony and unity of its citizens and the overlapping double symbols represents the area's rapid development. It was decided upon on July 16, 1968.

Hiroshima Prefecture's major airport is in Mihara City and is over an hour by car from Hiroshima City. Hiroshima Airport is almost exclusively a domestic airport but most large airports in Japan have direct flights to it.

The Sanyo Shinkansen line travels through Hiroshima Prefecture and there are train stations in Hiroshima, Mihara and Fukuyama that all Shinkansen trains stop at. Local train lines extend to all of neighboring prefectures. All trains in the prefecture except for the inner-city train lines in Hiroshima City are run by JR West.

Long distance buses travel to Hiroshima Prefecture from as far away as Tokyo. These buses are sometimes cheaper than traveling by train but take much longer than traveling by express train.

The largest port is in Hiroshima City but many ports along the coastline on Hiroshima reach many islands in the inland sea and other cities on Shikoku. Hiroshima Prefecture can be reached from Korea by ferry.

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