Overview

Japanese Prefecture Codes

The Japanese Prefecture Code is a two-digit numerical code system defined by JIS X 0401 for identifying Japan's 47 prefectures. It was introduced in 1968 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) to streamline administrative processes. The codes are assigned from 01 to 47, generally following a geographical order from northeast to southwest, with Hokkaido as 01 and Okinawa as 47. This coding system has been adopted as ISO 3166-2:JP and is widely used as an international standard for identifying Japanese regions.

JIS standard administrative division local government ISO 3166-2 Ministry of Internal Affairs

code	slug	name	description	region
01	hokkaido	Hokkaido	Japan's northernmost and largest prefecture by area.	Hokkaido Region
02	aomori	Aomori	Located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, famous for being Japan's top apple producer.	Tohoku Region
03	iwate	Iwate	The largest prefecture in Honshu by area, with rich natural beauty and historical culture.	Tohoku Region
04	miyagi	Miyagi	Home to Sendai City, the central city of the Tohoku region.	Tohoku Region
05	akita	Akita	Known as a major rice-producing area with traditional cultures such as Namahage.	Tohoku Region
06	yamagata	Yamagata	Japan's top cherry producer, home to sacred mountains including Dewa Sanzan.	Tohoku Region
07	fukushima	Fukushima	The largest prefecture in Tohoku by area, known for the historical culture of Aizu region.	Tohoku Region
08	ibaraki	Ibaraki	Among the top in agricultural output nationwide, home to Tsukuba Science City.	Kanto Region
09	tochigi	Tochigi	Home to Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Japan's top strawberry producer.	Kanto Region
10	gunma	Gunma	Known for numerous hot spring resorts including Kusatsu Onsen and a thriving automobile industry.	Kanto Region
11	saitama	Saitama	Adjacent to Tokyo, forming a major metropolitan area with the 5th largest population in Japan.	Kanto Region
12	chiba	Chiba	Home to Narita International Airport and Tokyo Disney Resort.	Kanto Region
13	tokyo	Tokyo	Japan's capital and the center of politics, economy, and culture.	Kanto Region
14	kanagawa	Kanagawa	Home to two designated cities: Yokohama and Kawasaki.	Kanto Region
15	niigata	Niigata	One of Japan's leading rice-producing areas, known for Koshihikari rice.	Chubu Region
16	toyama	Toyama	Known for the Tateyama Mountain Range and its pharmaceutical industry.	Chubu Region
17	ishikawa	Ishikawa	Rich in the history of Kaga domain and thriving traditional crafts.	Chubu Region
18	fukui	Fukui	Known for dinosaur fossil discoveries and eyeglass frame production.	Chubu Region
19	yamanashi	Yamanashi	Located at the northern foot of Mount Fuji, known for grape and wine production.	Chubu Region
20	nagano	Nagano	Home to the Japanese Alps and thriving highland vegetable cultivation.	Chubu Region
21	gifu	Gifu	Known for historical landscapes including Hida-Takayama and Shirakawa-go.	Chubu Region
22	shizuoka	Shizuoka	Facing Mount Fuji and Japan's top tea producer.	Chubu Region
23	aichi	Aichi	Home to Toyota Motor Corporation and one of Japan's leading industrial prefectures.	Chubu Region
24	mie	Mie	Home to Ise Grand Shrine and known as the birthplace of pearl cultivation.	Kinki Region
25	shiga	Shiga	Home to Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.	Kinki Region
26	kyoto	Kyoto	An ancient capital with over a thousand years of history and numerous World Heritage Sites.	Kinki Region
27	osaka	Osaka	Forms the largest metropolitan area in western Japan and thrives as a commercial center.	Kinki Region
28	hyogo	Hyogo	Home to Kobe Port, stretching from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea.	Kinki Region
29	nara	Nara	Site of Japan's first capital, rich in ancient historical sites.	Kinki Region
30	wakayama	Wakayama	Home to sacred sites including Mount Koya and Kumano Kodo, known for mandarin orange production.	Kinki Region
31	tottori	Tottori	Known for Tottori Sand Dunes and the least populated prefecture in Japan.	Chugoku Region
32	shimane	Shimane	Home to Izumo Grand Shrine, known as the setting of Japanese mythology.	Chugoku Region
33	okayama	Okayama	Known as the 'Land of Sunshine' and considered the birthplace of the Momotaro legend.	Chugoku Region
34	hiroshima	Hiroshima	Home to two World Heritage Sites: the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine.	Chugoku Region
35	yamaguchi	Yamaguchi	Located at the westernmost tip of Honshu, famous for fugu (pufferfish) cuisine.	Chugoku Region
36	tokushima	Tokushima	Known for Awa Odori dance and Japan's top sudachi citrus producer.	Shikoku Region
37	kagawa	Kagawa	Famous for Sanuki udon noodles and Japan's smallest prefecture by area.	Shikoku Region
38	ehime	Ehime	Top mandarin orange producer and home to Dogo Onsen hot spring.	Shikoku Region
39	kochi	Kochi	Birthplace of Sakamoto Ryoma, famous for katsuo no tataki (seared bonito).	Shikoku Region
40	fukuoka	Fukuoka	Forms Kyushu's largest metropolitan area, known for Hakata ramen.	Kyushu Region
41	saga	Saga	Known for ceramics such as Arita ware and Imari ware.	Kyushu Region
42	nagasaki	Nagasaki	An exotic port city with World Heritage Hidden Christian Sites.	Kyushu Region
43	kumamoto	Kumamoto	Home to Kumamoto Castle and Mount Aso, known for mascot Kumamon.	Kyushu Region
44	oita	Oita	Japan's top hot spring prefecture in both number of sources and output volume.	Kyushu Region
45	miyazaki	Miyazaki	Known for its warm climate, tropical atmosphere, and thriving mango production.	Kyushu Region
46	kagoshima	Kagoshima	Home to Sakurajima volcano, known for Kurobuta pork and shochu.	Kyushu Region
47	okinawa	Okinawa	Japan's southernmost prefecture, known for Ryukyu culture and beautiful seas.	Kyushu Region

A two-digit code system based on JIS X 0401 for identifying Japan's 47 prefectures.