It was in Echizen that Rennyo, the spiritual leader of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, established his temple after he was chased out of Kyoto in the late 1400s.Įtchu, located in the west of Honshu, is a coastal province plagued by frequent flooding. Washi is used to make clothing and household items, as well as for all the other traditional uses of paper. Located on the west coast of Honshu, Echizen is a wealthy province famous for the production of ceramics and washi, Japanese paper. It was also in Echigo that nishikigoi, the colourful variety of the common carp that are now commonplace as pets, were first produced through selective breeding. Kenshin had lived in Echigo all his life and was originally called Nagao Kagetora, but he changed his name when he was adopted into the Uesugi clan. During the Sengoku Jidai, Echigo was ruled by Uesugi Kenshin, a great warlord who became famous for his long rivalry with Takeda Shingen. Buzen’s capital suffered heavy pollution following major industrialisation during 20th Century, and it now stands at the forefront of anti-pollution measures in Japan.Įchigo is a moderately wealthy province located to the north of Honshu. Its provincial delicacy, yakiudon, is a type of thick noodle that is very popular throughout Japan. He invited Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier to Bungo to promote his religious beliefs and to help strengthen relations with Europe.īuzen is a small, moderately wealthy province located on the northern tip of Kyushu. The daimyo also admired European culture, and converted to Christianity. Bungo's coastal position, combined with its daimyo's advocacy of foreign exchange, made Bungo an important centre for foreign trade. Today it has a thriving textile industry, and the distinction of being the source of the first Japanese jeans!īungo, the home of the Otomo clan, is a moderately fertile province located on the north-western end of Kyushu. It is also famous for its simple, unglazed pottery, which is adorned with distinctive markings from the kilning process. Its mild climate is well suited to agriculture, and the province produces sweet, white peaches. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was leading an Oda invasion of Bitchu when Oda Nobunaga was betrayed and killed in Kyoto.īizen is a fertile province located in the west of Honshu. Towards the end of the 16th century, it would become a significant stronghold for the Mori, protecting their homelands to the west from incursions by the mighty warlord, Oda Nobunaga. The castle would become an important base for Imperial Japanese Navy in the Meiji period.īitchu is a rather poor province situated on the south coast of Honshu. When the Mori conquered the province during the Sengoku Jidai, they constructed Mihara castle, also called Ukishiro “the floating castle”, to monitor traffic through the Seto Inland Sea. Goods are shipped throughout Japan and to foreign powers. Located on the south coast of Chugoku, Bingo is not outstandingly wealthy but has a strong naval tradition. Although the climate is not ideal for the cultivation of rice, or many other foodstuffs, conditions are perfect for growing onions! The sweet Awaji onion is famed throughout Japan. According to legend, Awaji was the first island of Japan to be created by the Shinto gods Izanagi and Izanami. The event has claims to be the largest dance festival in Japan today.Īwaji, the road to Awa, is a small island province situated between the island of Shikoku and the Honshu mainland. Awa Odori, a traditional type of dance, began here and is still celebrated in an annual three-day dance festival. The province has an abundance of indigo plants, which are cultivated and then used to dye cloth. Situated on the eastern end of Shikoku Island, Awa is a lush and fertile province boasting a variety of agriculture. The province was home to the Mori clan for many years, but their domain was lost following their defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara by the Tokugawa. The province has a long religious tradition and is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god Susanoo's progeny, and famed for the torii that stands in the sea before it. Below is the list of provinces with their descriptionsĪki is a fertile province located on the south coast of Chubu in western Honshu.