Areas of Japan nobody cares about
May 22nd, 2009 by James
Itai News has posted the results of an online survey that asked 3,000 Japanese people to name which of Japan’s 47 prefectures they least cared about:
- Shimane
- Fukui
- Saga
- Tokushima
- Tochigi
- Oita
- Yamaguchi
- Tottori
- Fukushima
- Yamagata
- Miyazaki
- Iwate
- Ishikawa
- Gunma
- Gifu
If you live in one of the above-mentioned prefectures and want to leave a comment, please feel free to do so. However, don’t be surprised if few people care about what you have to say.
[Hat tip to Marxy]
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Normally i could care less about leaving a comment, but Irony prevails! SHIMANE FTW!!
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Ishikawa before Toyama? Now I’m shocked xD
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I agree. I guess lots of people have forgotten that Toyama exists.
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This has to be the case. Toyama would be there, but they’ve completely forgotten it exists. Not shocking, really.
I am surprised that Miyazaki is on there. People have clearly never been to Miyazaki, for it is the best bloody place in the friggin’ country (at least to visit).
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Gifu is the best prefecture in Japan – The only prefecture that has a 外朝食 society. If you like to eat out for breakfast, Gifu is the place to be.
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let’s just say I don’t care at all about the comment above..
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You’re obviously not an eat-out-breakfast sort of person, then!
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Hokkaido would be on that list except that Hokkaido isn’t part of Japan.
True example
Weather announcer: It will be cold and rainy in northern Japan and snowing in Hokkaido.
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Hokkaido technically isn’t a prefecture, it’s the only place that ends with “do” as its official administration.
Hahaha, Tochigi got 5th on the list, but honestly, besides Nikko (for you history nuts, that’s where Tokugawa Ieyasu’s burial shrine is), there really is nothing there.
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Whilst technically you are a dick; semincolon here that ends with “duh”
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All the different aministration areas (ken, do, to and fu) are considered as Prefectures in English, so in fact it is a prefecture.
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Shimane-ken is the least populated prefecture of Japan so it kinda makes sense.
I went there on vacation and it really looks like ghost towns everywhere… beaches are awesome though!
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Hahaha, that’s like saying American’s don’t care the most for Wyoming because that is the least populated state. I like that logic.
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Actually Shimane is the SECOND least populated prefecture. Neighboring Tottori is the least.
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That may explain why there are driving schools there attracting tons of students from Tokyo with special driving courses during the summer vacation.
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Now I wanna go to Shimane-ken, since there are probably not too many people there, and lots of nice nature left. Where is it, in Hokaido?
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Shimane is just north of Hiroshima on the Sea of Japan, west of Tottori
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I like Miyazaki , but then again I have only been to Kagoshima and Miyazaki soooo ..
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Hokkaido? Uhh…..
I think Shimane as #1 makes sense though, I never hear the prefecture talked about. ever. I’m surprised to see Tochigi so high on the list, since some comedians have been using being from Tochigi/Tochigi accent part of their jokes these days. Though maybe that’s the point… no one cares so somehow it’s funnier that way?
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Gunma’s only #14?! We’re moving up in the world! Now if we can only get voted to NOT have the ugliest women in Japan like we have been before…
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Over in Tochigi-ken, people always talked about Gunma women being strong.
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What’s wrong with Tokushima? We got a town named after the most popular manga character at the moment. And the best Obon-odori in Japan.
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I guess being featured in a manga didn’t help shimane’s popularity at all, huh?
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Much rather stay in one of these rural places than Tokyo. I hear people in Hokkaido are more open to foreigners and outsiders than in other Honshu. Because Hokkaido is a land populated by immigrants from other places in Japan therefore outsiders can glide easier into the Hokkaido society.
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I visited Hokkaido only for Yuki-Matsuri, but it was very friendly and had a nice atmosphere. I was in Japan to study language, so reading and speaking Japanese wasn’t a problem, but the trains were more accommodating for English speakers than my train experiences in Tokyo. Also, there was less of an accent.
I think it also helps that everyone in Hokkaido is kind of weird, compared to Honshu, that is. I knew a handful of people from Hokkaido at the University I went to in Tochigi-ken, and they were always interesting people. I would wager that it’s because, in a way, Hokkaido is a lot more like western countries, where everything is sprawled out instead of compacted into huge cities, people drive cars all over, and you spent a lot of time indoors.
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Sapporo does have a lot of foreign influence in its planning and history, plus up until the Meiji period Hokkaido was treated really as another country to mainland Honshu and the rest of Japan. I have found that you meet and have conversations with really interesting people there because many people there don’t get to see/talk to a foreigner, especially one that can speak and understand Japanese.
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Right. No foreigners in Hokkaido. And those of us who are here can’t be bothered to learn Japanese cause we’re too busy running from to bears.
Stupid ass mainlanders.
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WOW. Yamanashi is so unpopular, it doesn’t even make the list!
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LOL
10 points for that joke!
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Yama-what?!?
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I climbed up Fuji and I can tell you this – There are no nashi at all on that yama. What a major let down that trip was.
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yeah, I climbed it too, from Kawaguchi 5th station.. found no nashi as well >_>
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Tochigi? But they’re famous for strawberries! And thunderstorms!
Not to mention Nikko, which is a world heritage site, hosts the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is the origin of the Hear, Speak, and See No Evil monkeys, the (in)famous I-Ro-Ha road, the long trail (日光街道) of giant cedar trees planted from Utsunomiya to Nikko to aid in pilgrimages. Nikko is also one of the largest tourist areas in Japan.
/I’m a Tochigi-ken…er.
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Kumamoto strawberries are way better tasting though…
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And don’t forget that Utsunomiya is the home of Gyoza and one of the best places to go Yakuza spotting
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i’m not suprised that Saga is ranked high on this
currently i live in Saga as an exchange student. Believe me there is nothing to do >_<
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There’s a tasty tofu restaurant! And some reconstructed ruins! And barbecues! And onsen! And rice. Lots of rice. Also rice. Don’t forget the rice.
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Fair enough, but I would like to point out that the tiny formerly unknown fishing village of Obama is located in #2 Fukui. There has to be nearly as many Japanese that care about that little village as care about whatever godforsaken locale promoted a cat to eki master.
On second thought, perhaps not. We love you Tama.
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Oita isn’t popular? I lived in Oita and it was wonderful! They’ve got hot springs and the sea and stone Buddhas and an entire mountain populated by monkeys and a fantastic aquarium. And great seafood…
And Gifu-ken and Miyazaki-ken are just stunning. Somebody please give me either one.
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All right! Another Gifu fan!
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Gifu FTW
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who cares.. now what about swine flu?
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Interesting – now I actually want to visit some of these places the next time I’m in Japan.
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Dear 3,000 Japanese people,
Thank you. Please stay away from Tokushima. This way I can enjoy the whirlpools of Naruto, the gorgeous gorges and their rafting oppertunities, the fantastic beaches and surfing, the Tanuki Matsuri, the start of the 88 temple pilgrimage, the unbelieveably kind people, the various outdoor activities (from paragliding to skiing), and the amazing hiking through some of the greenest areas of Japan without the crowds!
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I have lived in Fukui for the past 4 years. It’s not that interesting, but #2? We have like 10 nuclear power plants! And a lot of rice fields! Anyway it’s way cooler than northern Honshu, for shame…
That said most Japanese people outside of Hokuriku have no idea where it is.
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I’m surprised to see Gunma in there..
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I recently did a 7 prefecture hitchhiking tour of Kyushu. I had my best experience in Saga, but the best prefecture insofar as beauty was concerned was far and away Miyazaki. Hang in there guys!
Of course, no surprise my home Hyogo isn’t on there.
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Aside from having family in and around there, its sad to see Miyazaki on that list. I’ve been there, it’s not that forgetful – had fun there, met nice people.
But then again, it’s just a poll. (No worries)
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I lived in Fukui and Ishikawa for ten years. Fukui is a little frumpy, but it’s an awesome place to raise a family. Lots of hiking, fishing, sandy beaches and good food. Ishikawa is even better because it has Kanazawa, the most beautiful city in Japan.
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This poll doesn’t make much sense in its form, considering that the prefecture you would care less about is often one you don’t remember…
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Iwate is the least densely populated prefecture in Japan and that’s why I love it! You know which parts of Japan I least care about? Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya – big cities. If an earthquake hit and all the buildings fell down I wouldn’t even watch on TV. I’d just go outside and pick blueberries in my garden and enjoy the fresh air! Ahhh!
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Whoo, totally agree! Quiet, almost-deserted railways, almost-pristine countryside …
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That’s pretty harsh dude, considering an earthquake hitting Kobe was a serious, heart-wrenching disaster that actually did occur there.
That’s like saying I hate big cities like NY, if a plane flew into a building and killed a bunch of people there, I wouldn’t care, I’d go run through a field of daisies.
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Ibaraki’s not on there! Dude!
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Miyazaki is where I’m going for my year-long exchange program this coming fall. I’m already totally aware it’s not “big city Japan” by any means, but still… to be “uncared” for… awww… At least it’s not in the top 10 (barely).
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Yeah, they don’t care about Gunma, but you know, that’s part of what makes it so great! Don’t want people clogging up my 温泉 and 峠!
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Interesting article. Don’t get too offended Yamagatans!
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Awww, I love Shimane.
It has the sand museum.
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This list is so absurd and totally stupid! I don’t see how a bunch of ignorant Japanese who have probably never even heard of these places can say such things. The survey is flawed.
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I’ve been to Fukui twice… eiheiji, tojinbou, maruokajo. It’s a great place to see the contryside and it’s next door to the hyakumankoku han!
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Fukui is number 2? Guess Obama’s magic has its limitations…
Toyama would be on that list if it weren’t for all the pachinko parlors (or so I’ve been told). Apparently Toyama is where all people come to play pachinko away from it all…
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No love for the entire San-in region!
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