Prefecture of the Month

Japan has 47 prefectures (similar to the States in America) in 8 regions, and each one deserves the spotlight. Each month, this page will be dedicated to a different prefecture.

February:
Ishikawa Prefecture

Located in the Chubu region, Ishikawa Prefecture sits in central Honshu along the coast of the Sea of Japan. The prefecture's official date of creation is in 1872, which was very shortly after Japan ended its two hundred year isolation. The capital of Ishikawa is Kanazawa. This historic city is known for its beautiful castle and Kenroku-en -- a garden that used to be part of the castle grounds. The surrounding buildings and streets still create the feeling of pre-modern Japan in the time of the samurai. There are many dormant volcanos in Japan, and one of the most famous ones resides in Ishikawa. Mount Haku, or Hakusan as it's commonly called, sits on the border of Ishikawa and the neighboring prefecture Gifu, and is part of a group of mountains referred to as the Three Holy Mountains. The tip of Ishikawa juts into the Sea of Japan and is known as the Noto-Hanto, or Noto Peninsula, and is known for its scenic coastal views. 

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