The geography and administrative subdivisions of Japan have evolved and changed during the course of its history. These were sometimes grouped according to geographic position.[1][2]
- Yamashiro
- Yamato (northern Nara without Yoshino)
- Yoshino (created from Yamato in 716, later rejoined back in 738)
- Kawachi
- Izumi (created in 716 from Kawachi, then rejoined back in 740, later re-split in 757)
- southern/southwestern Osaka
- Settsu
- northeastern Hyōgo including Kōbe city
- northern/northwestern Osaka including Osaka city
Tōkaidō literally means 'Eastern Sea Way'.[3] The term also identifies a series of roads connecting the 15 provincial capitals of the region.[4]
- Iga (created in 680 from Ise)
- Ise
- central/northern/southern Mie
- Shima (created at the beginning of the 8th century from Ise)
- Owari
- Mikawa
- Tōtōmi
- Suruga
- Izu (created 680 from Suruga)
- Kai
- Sagami
- Musashi (transferred in 771 from Tōsandō)
- Awa (created in 718 from Kazusa, then rejoined back in 741, later re-split in 781)
- Kazusa (broke off from Fusa in the 7th century)
- Shimōsa (broke off from Fusa in the 7th century)
- Hitachi
The Tōsandō is a region which straddles the central mountains of northern Honshū.[5] The descriptive name also refers to a series of roads connecting the provincial capitals.[4] Tōsandō included Musashi Province after 711.[5]
- Ōmi
- Mino
- Hida
- Shinano
- Suwa (created in 721 from Shinano, later rejoined back in 731)
- Kōzuke (broke off from Kenu during the 4th century)
- Shimotsuke (broke off from Kenu during the 4th century)
- Uzen (broke off from Dewa during the Meiji Restoration in 1868)
- Ugo (broke off from Dewa during the Meiji Restoration in 1868)
- Mutsu (created in the 7th century from Hitachi)
- Iwashiro (created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu)
- Iwaki (created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu)
- Rikuchū (created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu)
- Rikuzen (created during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 from Mutsu)
- Wakasa
- Echizen (broke off from Koshi during the end of the 7th century)
- Kaga (created in 823 from Echizen)
- Noto (created in 718 from Echizen, then occupied in 741 by Etchū, later re-split in 757 from Etchū)
- Etchū (broke off from Koshi during the end of the 7th century)
- Echigo (broke off from Koshi during the end of the 7th century)
- Sado (occupied in 743 by Echigo, later re-split in 752)
- Harima
- southern/southwestern Hyōgo
- Mimasaka (created in 713 from Bizen)
- Bizen (broke off from Kibi during the 2nd half of the 7th century)
- Bitchū (broke off from Kibi during the 2nd half of the 7th century)
- Bingo (broke off from Kibi during the 2nd half of the 7th century)
- Aki
- Suō
- Nagato
- Buzen (broke off from Toyo at the end of the 7th century)
- Bungo (broke off from Toyo at the end of the 7th century)
- Chikuzen (broke off from Tsukushi no later than the end of the 7th century)
- Chikugo (broke off from Tsukushi no later than the end of the 7th century)
- Hizen (broke off from Hi no later than the end of the 7th century)
- Higo (broke off from Hi no later than the end of the 7th century)
- Hyūga
- Ōsumi (created in 702 from Hyūga)
- Tane (created in 702 from Hyūga, later occupied in 824 by Ōsumi)
- Satsuma (created in 702 from Hyūga)
- Iki (officially Iki-shima)
- Tsushima (officially Tsushima-jima)
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books; excerpt, "Japan's former provinces were converted into prefectures by the Meiji government ... [and] grouped, according to geographic position, into the 'five provinces of the Kinai' and 'seven circuits'."
- ^ Henry Smith's Home Page http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/19th/kuni_vs_ken.gif
- ^ Nussbaum, "Tōkaidō" at p. 973, p. 973, at Google Books.
- ^ a b Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 57., p. 57, at Google Books
- ^ a b Nussbaum, "Tōsandō" at p. 988, p. 988, at Google Books.