Introduction of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Yamaguchi Multilingual Consultation Center（PDF：2.76MB）

Outline of Yamaguchi Prefecture

　Located at the westernmost tip of Honshu (mainland Japan), Yamaguchi Prefecture, with the Western Chugoku Mountain Range running through, is open to the sea on three sides. The prefecture is blessed with unique natural landscapes like its scenery of the calm Seto Inland Sea, the eroded coastal beauty of the Sea of ​​Japan, and Japan’s largest karst plateau, Akiyoshidai. Due to the topography, there are many forests and slopes, and forests occupy 70% of the prefecture’s land.
　Yamaguchi Prefecture can be broadly divided into three regions: the Seto Inland Sea area, the inland mountain area, and the Japan Sea coast area.
　Yamaguchi Prefecture boasts a mild climate and is largely spared from earthquake, flood and storm damage. It enjoys the reputation of being a very comfortable place to live.
　The population is approximately 1.35 million people, and the area is approximately 6,100 km2. There are 19 municipalities in the prefecture and the prefectural government capital is located in Yamaguchi City.
　The Seto Inland Sea side is lined with cities that have a population of 100,000 to 200,000, and the urban structure is such that the population is dispersed throughout the prefecture.

History of Yamaguchi

　Yamaguchi Prefecture has inherited a culture that values ​​the development of human resources.
　In the middle of the 19th century, the Choshu clan (now Yamaguchi Prefecture) was the home to talented individuals such as Yoshida Shoin and Takasugi Shinsaku. They became a central figure in promoting the Meiji Restoration (*) and played a major role in the establishment of modern Japan.
　Including the first Prime Minister, Ito Hirobumi, we have produced eight prime ministers, the largest number in Japan.
　(*)Meiji Restoration: A series of reforms carried out to over through the samurai government of the Edo Shogunate and modernize Japan.

Industry of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Industry

　Since the 1910s, many manufacturers of chemicals, machinery, metals, etc. started business on coast of the Seto Inland Sea, developing Yamaguchi into one of Japan’s leading industrial prefectures.
　Yamaguchi’s prefectural gross domestic product of the secondary sector is 10% higher than the national average； and centering around the Seto Inland coastal region, there is an agglomeration of manufacturers that boast top shares in fields of chemicals and machinery, as well as many manufactures that do business at the global level.
　The shipment value of manufactured products per business establishment is the highest in Japan, and we manufacture and supply high-value-added materials and products both domestically and internationally.
　We are promoting the development and agglomeration of high-value-added growth industries, and in recent years, the agglomeration of these companies has been progressing, especially in the medical-related industry.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

　Traditionally, rice cultivation has flourished in Yamaguchi； and the diverse natural environments from coastal areas to mountainous areas have also allowed various agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, beef, and shiitake mushrooms to be produced.
　Thanks to the geographical condition of being open to the sea on three sides, the fishing industry has thrived； and the catches of tilefish, pike conger, and turban shell are among the highest in the country.
　Furthermore, sake and seafood products made from these ingredients are also very popular both in and outside the prefecture.

Access to Yamaguchi Prefecture

　There are 2 airports, both about a 90 min flight from Tokyo. In addition, there are 5 Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stations making Yamaguchi easily accessible from Tokyo, Osaka, and the Kyushu region.
　The roads are well maintained and the two highways running from east to west make traveling to the prefecture’s major cities smooth.

• ［Turism］YAMAGUCHI Travei Guide＜外部リンク＞
• ［Airport］YAMAGUCHI-UBE Airport＜外部リンク＞
• ［Airport］IWAKUNI-KINTAIKYO Airport＜外部リンク＞
• ［Railway］JR WEST＜外部リンク＞
• ［Drive］NEXCO West’s＜外部リンク＞