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Yamaguchi Prefecture

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Yamaguchi Prefecture is a special part of Japan. It sits at the western tip of Honshu, which is the largest island in the country.

Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait
Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait

The land meets two different bodies of water. These are the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea. A narrow path of water called the Kanmon Straits separates Yamaguchi from the island of Kyushu.

Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait
Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait

The prefecture covers an area of 6,112 square kilometers. It has about 1,377,631 people living there.

Yamaguchi prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Yamaguchi prefecture population pyramid in 2020

It shares borders with Shimane Prefecture to the north and Hiroshima Prefecture to the northeast.

Many different cities make up this region. Yamaguchi City is the capital of the prefecture. Shimonoseki is the largest city in the area.

Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait
Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait

Other important cities include Ube, Shunan, and Iwakuni.

View of Tokuyama
View of Tokuyama

Some of these cities are very busy with industry. In the harbors of the Seto Inland Sea, you can find many large plants. These plants make things like chemicals, machinery, and metal. In the past, the area was mostly used for farming. Now, it has become one of the most industrial parts of Japan.

The history of this place is very long and interesting. Long ago, the area was made of two provinces called Suō and Nagato. Powerful warrior clans like the Ouchi and the Mōri families once ruled here. The Ouchi family even made Yamaguchi known as the "Kyoto of the West." They did this because they brought in beautiful things from other lands. Later, the Mōri family took control of the whole Chūgoku region. In the year 1600, a famous battle called Sekigahara changed who held the land. After that, the Mōri family built a castle in the city of Hagi.

There are many wonderful sights for people to see today. One famous spot is the Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni.

20100724 Iwakuni 5274
20100724 Iwakuni 5274

This is a wooden bridge with five arches. Many people visit the river nearby to see cherry blossoms in April. Hagi is another very traditional city to visit.

Yoshida shoin seika ato
Yoshida shoin seika ato

In Hagi, even the post boxes are painted green or brown instead of red. You can also visit Akiyoshidai, which has the longest cave in all of Japan. It is part of a large natural park.

Yamaguchi is also a place where people travel to other countries. From the Shimonoseki Port International Terminal, you can catch a ferry. Some ferries go to Busan in South Korea. Other ferries travel to cities in China like Qingdao and Shanghai.

Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait
Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait

This makes the area a busy link between different lands. The prefecture is also home to many schools and universities. These places help people learn about many subjects. From big factories to quiet traditional streets, Yamaguchi has many different sides to discover.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait.JPG
Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait.JPG
File:20100724 Iwakuni 5274.jpg
20100724 Iwakuni 5274.jpg
File:View of Tokuyama.JPG
View of Tokuyama.JPG
File:Yoshida shoin seika ato.JPG
Yoshida shoin seika ato.JPG
File:Hofu City view 2012.JPG
Hofu City view 2012.JPG
File:Yamaguchi prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg
Yamaguchi prefecture population pyramid...
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