From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Okayama Prefecture
Prefecture of Japan
Prefecture of Japan
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Okayama Prefecture |
| native_name | 岡山県 |
| settlement_type | Prefecture |
| translit_lang1 | Japanese |
| translit_lang1_type | Japanese |
| translit_lang1_info | 岡山県 |
| translit_lang1_type1 | Rōmaji |
| translit_lang1_info1 | Okayama-ken |
| image_skyline | Christmas tree lighting (6471182605).jpg |
| image_caption | A street in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture at night |
| image_flag | Flag of Okayama Prefecture.svg |
| flag_size | 100px |
| image_blank_emblem | Emblem of Okayama Prefecture.svg |
| blank_emblem_size | 80px |
| blank_emblem_type | Symbol |
| image_map | Map of Japan with highlight on 33 Okayama prefecture.svg |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Japan |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | Chūgoku (Sanyō) |
| subdivision_type2 | Island |
| subdivision_name2 | Honshu |
| seat_type | Capital |
| seat | Okayama |
| parts_type | Subdivisions |
| parts_style | para |
| p1 | Districts: 10 |
| p2 | Municipalities: 27 |
| leader_title | Governor |
| leader_name | Ryūta Ibaragi |
| area_total_km2 | 7,114.50 |
| area_water_percent | 0.3 |
| area_rank | 17th |
| population_total | 1,815165 |
| population_as_of | 1 October 2025 |
| population_rank | 20th |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type2 | GDP |
| demographics2_footnotes | |
| demographics2_title1 | Total |
| demographics2_info1 | JP¥ 7,842 billion |
| US$ 71.9 billion (2019) | |
| iso_code | JP-33 |
| anthem | Okayama-ken no uta |
| website | |
| module | {{Infobox place symbols |
| embedded | yes |
| country | Japan |
| bird | Lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) |
| flower | Peach blossom (Prunus persica var. vulgaris) |
| tree | Red pine (Pinus densiflora) |
US$ 71.9 billion (2019) Okayama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,815,165 (1 October 2025) and has a geographic area of 7,114 km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefecture borders Tottori Prefecture to the north, Hyōgo Prefecture to the east, and Hiroshima Prefecture to the west.
Okayama is the capital and largest city of Okayama Prefecture, with other major cities including Kurashiki, Tsuyama, and Sōja. Okayama Prefecture's south is located on the Seto Inland Sea coast across from Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, which are connected by the Great Seto Bridge, while the north is characterized by the Chūgoku Mountains.
History
Prior to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the area of present-day Okayama Prefecture was divided between Bitchū, Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces. Okayama Prefecture was formed and named in 1871 as part of the large-scale administrative reforms of the early Meiji period (1868–1912), and the borders of the prefecture were set in 1876.
Geography
Okayama Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, and Hiroshima Prefecture. It faces Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea and includes 90 islands in the sea.
Okayama Prefecture is home to the historic town of Kurashiki. Most of the population is concentrated around Kurashiki and Okayama. The small villages in the northern mountain region are aging and declining in population - more than half of the prefecture's municipalities are officially designated as depopulated.
As of 1 April 2014, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Daisen-Oki and Setonaikai National Parks; the Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park; and seven Prefectural Natural Parks.
Cities
Fifteen cities are located in Okayama Prefecture:
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Map | Rōmaji | Kanji | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Flag of Akaiwa, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Akaiwa | 赤磐市 | 209.43 | 44,498 | [[File:Akaiwa in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Asakuchi, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Asakuchi | 浅口市 | 66.46 | 35,022 | [[File:Asakuchi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Bizen, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Bizen | 備前市 | 258.23 | 35,610 | [[File:Bizen in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Ibara, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Ibara | 井原市 | 243.36 | 41,460 | [[File:Ibara in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Kasaoka, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Kasaoka | 笠岡市 | 136.03 | 50,160 | [[File:Kasaoka in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Kurashiki | 倉敷市 | 355.63 | 483,576 | [[File:Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Maniwa, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Maniwa | 真庭市 | 828.43 | 44,265 | [[File:Maniwa in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Mimasaka, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Mimasaka | 美作市 | 429.19 | 28,502 | [[File:Mimasaka in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Niimi, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Niimi | 新見市 | 793.27 | 30,583 | [[File:Niimi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Okayama, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Okayama (capital) | 岡山市 | 789.92 | 720,841 | [[File:Okayama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Setouchi, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Setouchi | 瀬戸内市 | 125.51 | 37,934 | [[File:Setouchi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Sōja, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Sōja | 総社市 | 212 | 67,059 | [[File:Soja in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Takahashi, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Takahashi | 高梁市 | 547.01 | 31,556 | [[File:Takahashi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Tamano, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Tamano | 玉野市 | 103.61 | 60,101 | [[File:Tamano in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Tsuyama, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Tsuyama | 津山市 | 506.36 | 102,294 | [[File:Tsuyama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] |
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | District | Type | Map | Rōmaji | Kanji | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Flag of Hayashima Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Hayashima | 早島町 | 7.62 | 12,671 | Tsukubo District | Town | [[File:Hayashima in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Kagamino, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Kagamino | 鏡野町 | 419.69 | 14,651 | Tomata District | Town | [[File:Kagamino in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Kibichūō, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Kibichūō | 吉備中央町 | 268.73 | 11,989 | Kaga District | Town | [[File:Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Kumenan, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Kumenan | 久米南町 | 78.65 | 4,962 | Kume District | Town | [[File:Kumenan in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Misaki, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Misaki | 美咲町 | 232.15 | 17,776 | Kume District | Town | [[File:Misaki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Nagi, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Nagi | 奈義町 | 69.54 | 5,861 | Katsuta District | Town | [[File:Nagi in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Nishiawakura, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Nishiawakura | 西粟倉村 | 57.93 | 1,437 | Aida District | Village | [[File:Nishiawakura in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Satosho, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Satoshō | 里庄町 | 12.23 | 11,204 | Asakuchi District | Town | [[File:Satosho in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Shinjō, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Shinjō | 新庄村 | 67.1 | 951 | Maniwa District | Village | [[File:Shinjo in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Shoo, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Shōō | 勝央町 | 54.09 | 11,237 | Katsuta District | Town | [[File:Shouou in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Wake Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Wake | 和気町 | 144.21 | 14,191 | Wake District | Town | [[File:Wake in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] | |
| [[File:Flag of Yakage, Okayama.svg | frameless | 25x25px]] Yakage | 矢掛町 | 90.62 | 14,041 | Oda District | Town | [[File:Yakage in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg | frameless | 59x59px]] |
Mergers
Main article: List of mergers in Okayama Prefecture
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, and, Okayama prefecture has had continual negative population growth since 2005
| 1920 | 1,218,000 | 1930 | 1,284,000 | 1940 | 1,329,000 | 1950 | 1,661,000 | 1960 | 1,670,000 | 1970 | 1,707,000 | 1980 | 1,871,000 | 1990 | 1,926,000 | 2000 | 1,950,828 | 2010 | 1,945,276 | 2020 | 1,920,739
Education
Universities
- Okayama
- Notre Dame Seishin University
- Okayama Shoka University
- Okayama University
- Okayama University of Science
- Sanyo Gakuen University
- Shujitsu University
- Shujitsu Junior College
- Kurashiki
- Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare
- Kurashiki Sakuyo University
- Okayama Gakuin University
- Soja
- Okayama Prefectural University
- Tsuyama
- Mimasaka University
- Niimi
- Niimi Public University
High schools
- Okayama
- Kurashiki High School
- Okayama Asahi Senior High School
- Okayama Takahashi High School
- Okayama Ichinomiya Senior High School
- Okayama Hosen Senior High School
- Okayama Joto Senior High School
- Okayama Sakuyo High School
- Okayama Sozan Senior High School
Transportation
.jpg)
Rail
-
JR West
- Ako Line
- Geibi Line
- Inbi Line
- Hakubi Line
- Kibi Line
- Kishin Line
- Sanyo Shinkansen
- Sanyo Line
- Tsuyama Line
- Uno Line
-
JR West and JR Shikoku
- Honshi-bisan Line
- Seto-Ōhashi Line
-
Chizu Express
-
Ibara Railway
-
Mizushima Rinkai Railway
Tramways
- Okayama Electric Tramway
Roads
Expressways
- Chugoku Expressway
- Okayama Expressway
- Sanyo Expressway
- Seto Central Expressway
- Tottori Expressway
- Yonago Expressway
National highways
- Route 2 (Osaka-Kobe-Himeji-Bizen-Okayama-Kurashiki-Asakuchi-Onomichi-Hiroshima-Shūnan-Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu)
- Route 30 (Okayama-Uno-Takamatsu
- Route 53 (Okayama-Tsuyama-Tottori)
- Route 179
- Route 180 (Okayama-Takahashi-Niimi)
- Route 181 (Tsuyama-Maniwa-Yonago-Yasugi-Matsue)
- Route 182
- Route 183
- Route 250 (Okayama-Setouchi-Ako-Aioi-Takasago-Akashi)
- Route 313 (Fukuyama-Takahashi-Maniwa-Kurayoshi)
- Route 373
- Route 374
- Route 429
- Route 430
- Route 482 (Kyotango-Toyooka-Wakasa-Kagamino-Maniwa-Kōfu of Tottori
- Route 484
Airport
- Okayama Airport
Culture
- Bizen-yaki (Bizen pottery)
- Bizen Osafune/Bitchu Aoe swords
Association with Momotarō legend
Okayama Prefecture is closely associated with the folklore hero, Momotarō. This tale is said to have roots in the legendary story of Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto and Ura which explains that the Prince Ura of Kudara used to live in Kinojo (castle of the devil) and was a cause of trouble for the people living in the village. The emperor's government sent Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto (Momotarō) to defeat Ura. The city of Okayama holds an annual Momotarō-matsuri, or Momotarō Festival.
Arts
- Inryoji Temple
- Hayashibara Museum of Art
- Okayama Orient Museum
- Okayama Prefectural Museum
- Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art
- Okayama Symphony Hall
- Yumeji Art Museum
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Okayama.
Football
- Fagiano Okayama FC (Okayama city)
- Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC (Kurashiki)
Volleyball
- Okayama Seagulls (Okayama city)
Basketball
- Tryhoop Okayama (B3 League, Okayama city)
Tourism
Some tourist attractions are:
- Bikan Historical Area, Kurashiki
- Bisei Astronomical Observatory, Ibara Town (following dissolution of Bisei Town)
- Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Takahashi
- Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland, Kurashiki
- Kakuzan Park, Tsuyama
- Koraku-en Japanese garden in Okayama
- Ki Castle, Sōja
- Maki-do Cave, in Niimi
- Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki
- Okayama Castle, Okayama
- Shizutani School, Bizen
Notable people
- Yuko Arimori (born 1966), marathon runner
- Kenji Doihara (1883–1948), army officer
- Tesshō Genda (born 1948), voice actor
- Morihiro Hashimoto (1977–2017), darts player
- Naoki Hoshino (1892–1978), politician
- Koshi Inaba (born 1964), singer
- Masaki Kajishima (born 1962), creator of Tenchi Muyo!
- Shiro Kawase (1889–1946), admiral
- Sadahiko Miyake (1891–1956), general
- Chiura Obata (1885–1975), artist
- Mori Takashi, former member of Gentouki
- Yōji Takikawa (born 1949), pedagogist
- Mutsuo Toi (1917–1938), perpetrator of the Tsuyama massacre
- Inukai Tsuyoshi (1855–1932), former Prime Minister of Japan
- Jiro Watanabe (born 1955), boxer
- Takeo Yasuda (1889–1964), lieutenant general
- Eisuke Yoshiyuki (1906–1940), author
- Fujii Kaze (born 1997), singer
- Nishimura Riki, also known as Ni-ki of ENHYPEN (born 2005), K-pop idol, dancer, singer, rapper
- Issei Mamehara (born 2002), singer, dancer, member of JO1
Notes
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; .
References
- "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府".
- NHK Publishing. (24 May 2016)
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Okayama-ken" in {{Google books. p2QnPijAEmEC. ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 745. p2QnPijAEmEC. p. 127
- Nussbaum, "Okayama" at {{Google books. p2QnPijAEmEC. p. 745
- (2012). "Okayama Prefecture". Shogakukan.
- (2012). "岡山（県）". Shogakukan.
- Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books. p2QnPijAEmEC. p. 780
- [http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/gaiyou/gaiyou.html Okayama official website] {{webarchive. link. (2 January 2013 accessed November 2007)
- (1 April 2014). "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan).
- "Okayama (Japan): Prefecture, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
- "Japan Prefectures Population from 1920 and Area".
- "岡山県作陽高等学校".
- "Okayama History".
- "Yuko Arimori's profile".
- "ENHYPEN's profile".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Okayama Prefecture — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report