authentic japan food and culture guide

I'm just a regular Japanese person living in Japan. My English isn't great, and I might use some strange expressions. But as someone who was born and raised in this country, I truly want people all over the world to know about Japan's wonderful culture, delicious food, and rich history.

On this site, I'll introduce Japan as I see it, not as a professional interpreter or guide. My words may not be perfect, but they're all full of my love for Japan and a warm "welcome" to all of you.

So, why don't we, the Japanese people, go on a journey to discover the real Japan together?

Map of Japan: 47 prefectures and famous places

🗾 The 47 Prefectures of Japan

When you look at a map of Japan, you see the country is divided into many regions, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. These are the "47 Prefectures (47 Todōfuken)".
You might wonder: Why do they have different names like To, Dō, Fu, and Ken? And when did Japan get this distinctive shape?
let's explore the roots of the 47 Prefectures, focusing on the three major turning points in their history!

Goodbye Samurai Rule! The Great Reform of 1871

For a long time during the Edo Period (1603–1868), Japan was divided into around 270 small territories called "Han" (domains), each ruled by a powerful samurai leader, the Daimyō.
When a new central government was established around 1868 (the Meiji Restoration), they decided this old system had to go. This massive reform was called "Haihan Chiken" (Abolition of Domains and Establishment of Prefectures).
What Happened? $\rightarrow$ All the feudal Han were abolished, and the lands were directly controlled by the new government.
The Result? The first "Ken" (prefectures) were born! However, there were over 300 of them, which was too many and highly inefficient. The government immediately began a process of mergers and consolidation.

The Map Takes Shape! The 47 Prototypes are Established (Around 1888)

The government realized that managing over 300 small prefectures was impossible. Over the next two decades, they repeatedly merged (combined) and separated (split) regions to find a balance, much like solving a very complicated puzzle.
This intensive consolidation led to the borders stabilizing near the end of the Meiji Era.
The Resulting Structure $\rightarrow$ By around 1888, the division settled into "3 Fu, 43 Ken, and 1 Chō (Hokkaido Agency)"—a total of 47 administrative units. This is the prototype of the current 47 Prefectures.
The major historical cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo were kept as "Fu" due to their importance.

Formalizing the Names! The Modern System (1947)

After World War II, Japan established a modern democratic system. The Local Autonomy Law of 1947 formally defined the highest level of local government, officially establishing the names we use today.

Type of Unit	Number	Places	Historical Reason
To (Metropolis)	1	Tokyo-to	A special designation created for the capital city (formerly Tokyo-fu).
Dō (Circuit/Territory)	1	Hokkaidō	Named for its vast size and history as an undeveloped frontier region.
Fu (Urban Prefecture)	2	Kyoto-fu, Osaka-fu	Retained from the initial designation of historically important cities.
Ken (Prefecture)	43	(All others)	The standard designation for most administrative regions.

🌟 In Summary: A History 150 Years in the Making

The 47 Prefectures of Japan are not random lines on a map—they are the result of a massive, systematic effort during the Meiji Restoration to abolish the old feudal system and establish a unified central government.
It took roughly 20 years of trial and error to organize the many territories into the 47 distinct, manageable regions you see on the map today!
Next time you travel across Japan, remember that each prefecture is a piece of history that dates back to this great political reorganization!
Would you like to know more details about a specific prefecture, or perhaps about the differences in how the prefectures are governed today?