List of provinces of Japan

1855 map of Japan provinces

The List of Provinces of Japan changed over time. The number and borders of provinces evolved from the 7th century through the Meiji Period. In the 1870s, the provinces were replaced by prefectures.^[1]

The traditional way of parsing the land of Japan was "five provinces and seven circuits" (go-shichidō).^[2]

Five Provinces

The traditional five core provinces of Japan were called goki.^[2]

Kinai

Izumi Kawachi Settsu

Yamashiro　 Yamato Yoshino (716-738)

Shichido

The traditional seven core circuits of Japan were called shichidō.^[2]

Tōkaidō

Awa Hitachi Iga　 Ise　 Izu　 Kai　 Kazusa Mikawa

Musashi Owari　 Sagami　 Shima　　 Shimōsa Suruga　 Tōtōmi

Tōsandō

Dewa Hida Iwaki (718-724) Iwaki (1868-1872) Iwase (718-724) Iwashiro (1868-1872) Kōzuke Mino Mutsu

Mutsu (1868-1872) Ōmi Rikuchū (1868-1872) Rikuzen (1868-1872) Shinano Suwa (721-731) Ugo (1868-1872) Uzen (1868-1872)

Hokurikudō

Echigo Echizen Etchū Kaga

Noto Sado　 Wakasa

San'indō

Hōki Inaba　　 Izumo　 Iwami

Oki Tajima　 Tamba　 Tango

San'yōdō

Aki　 Bingo Bitchū Bizen

Harima　 Mimasaka Nagato Suō

Nankaidō

Awa Awaji Iyo

Kii Sanuki　 Tosa

Saikaidō

Chikugo　 Chikuzen　 Bungo Buzen Higo Hizen

Hyūga Iki Ōsumi Satsuma　 Tane (702-824) Tsushima

1895 map of provinces of Empire of Japan

Other

• Koshi Province

Hokkaidō

The island was changed from Ezo to Hokkaidō, and 11 provinces were established in 1869-1882.^[3]

• Chishima
• Hidaka
• Iburi
• Ishikari
• Kitami
• Kushiro
• Nemuro
• Oshima
• Shiribeshi
• Teshio
• Tokachi

Related pages

1856 map of Musashi Province

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan

References

1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780.
2. Nussbaum, "Go-shichidō" at p. 255.
3. After the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), Japan added north of Urup Island, including Urup (得撫郡), Shimushiru (新知郡), and Shumushu (占守郡) Districts.

Other websites

• Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903