Chugoku

Regions of Japan: Chugoku region in blue. (San'in region in dark blue, San'yo region in light blue.)

Satellite photo of Chugoku, Shikoku, Kansai/Kinki regions of Japan.

The Chugoku region (中国地方; Chūgoku-chihō) is the westernmost region of Honshu, Japan's largest island. Meaning "middle country," Chugoku is between the Kansai region and Kyushu.

It consists of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori, and Shimane Prefectures.

Along with the Kansai region, this area is commonly called "Nishi Nihon" or western Japan.

Chugoku also has the subregions of San'yo (sunny side of mountain) and San'in (shadow side of mountain). The San'yo region faces the Seto Inland Sea with Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi Prefectures. While the San'in region faces the Sea Of Japan with Tottori and Shimane Prefectures. The areas of Kyoto, Hyogo, and Yamaguchi Prefectures facing the Sea of Japan may also be included in San'in.

Other regions of Japan: Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kanto | Chubu (Hokuriku, Koshin'etsu, Tokai) | Kansai | Chugoku (San'yo and San'in) | Shikoku | Kyushu | Okinawa