Chgoku

Chgoku is a term that can refer to different things, but in English usage it is most often a misspelling or variant of Chūgoku, the Japanese region located on the western part of Honshu. The standard romanization in Japanese is Chūgoku, and the region is known in Japanese as 中国地方. The Chūgoku region comprises five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi.

Geography and administration

The Chūgoku region is situated in western Honshu and is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north and the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea to the south. Its landscape includes coastal plains, rivers, and mountains, with climate that varies from coastal to inland areas. The prefectural capitals are Hiroshima (Hiroshima Prefecture), Okayama (Okayama Prefecture), Matsue (Shimane Prefecture), Tottori (Tottori Prefecture), and Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi Prefecture). Major cities include Hiroshima and Okayama, which serve as regional economic hubs.

Economy and culture

The region has a mixed economy that combines manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Hiroshima and Okayama host diverse industries and research institutions, while Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi rely more on agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Cultural highlights include historic sites such as Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima (Hiroshima Prefecture), Izumo Taisha in Shimane, and the Korakuen Garden in Okayama. The area is also known for traditional crafts, local festivals, and accessible natural scenery along the coast and inland mountains.

Notes

Because “Chgoku” is not the standard spelling, most references use “Chūgoku” or “Chugoku” to denote the region, with the potential for confusion with other uses of similar terms.