Japan's Prefectures - Seasoned Traveler Level Quiz | Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Let's start with a visit to Japan's smallest prefecture. Despite its size, it's the mecca for udon noodles, and is the first place where olives were successfully grown in Japan. Which prefecture are we hitting first?

Answer: Kagawa

Actually, Osaka was the smallest prefecture until the Kansai International Airport was constructed on an artificial island, which boosted it up one place to 46th.

Kagawa's major city is Takamatsu, and one can take a ferry to Shodoshima Island, which hosts groves of olive trees and soy sauce breweries. Naoshima is also accessible by ferry, and is a hidden treasure trove of modern art and sculpture.

Also, don't forget udon, thick wheat noodles in either hot soup or served cold with a dipping sauce. Sanuki Udon (Sanuki is the old name for the area) is very firm, with a texture that almost borders on rubbery.

2. Head to Kagoshima Prefecture on the southernmost tip of Kyushu. Its capital city is called the "Naples of Japan," since it sits in the shadow of a large volcano, one of the most active in the country. What is the name of the mountain, whose name means "cherry blossom island"?

Answer: Mt. Sakurajima

Mt. Sakurajima was named for the island that it sits on, in the middle of a bay that was also once a caldera. However, a 1914 eruption filled in the waterway between the island and the city, so now it's a peninsula.

Kagoshima is known for its rugged terrain and equally rough dialect. Sweet potatoes are distilled into shochu (a vodka-like spirit). Its pork and beef are nationally known brands.

3. After 250+ years of isolation, Commodore Matthew Perry made landfall in what is today Kanagawa Prefecture. A small fishing village became one of the first ports opened to the West at the end of the Edo Period. It has the largest Chinatown in Japan. What city are we talking about?

Answer: Yokohama

Located next to Tokyo, Yokohama is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Japan. Like Kobe, it's opening at the start of the Meiji Period led to an influx of foreigners. A large foreigners' cemetery and Western-style historic houses serve as reminders of that time.

In the 1990s, major development around the port area moved the city into the 21st century with a sleek, modern skyline.

4. Where is Tokyo Disneyland?

Answer: Chiba Prefecture

Oddly enough, Tokyo Disneyland is not in Tokyo proper, but in Chiba Prefecture. This is also where Narita International Airport is located.

Tokyo Disneyland has two zones. The original area has all the rides, shops, and a fairytale castle like Florida's Magic Kingdom. The second area is Tokyo DisneySea, an original concept centered on the ocean.

5. Which prominent geographic feature can be seen in Shiga Prefecture, just north of Kyoto?

Answer: Lake Biwa, Japan's largest

Lake Biwa provides freshwater for the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe). An brick aqueduct carries water to Kyoto, and you can still see parts of it in the northeast sector, near the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji Temple).

Shiga's traditional dishes revolve around freshwater fish and shellfish. Funa-sushi is a particularly smelly dish, as the fish and rice are fermented together, forming a sticky, dense mass that is supposed to be a great accompaniment to sake. Its pairing is much like smelly cheese with wine.

6. If you visit Shizuoka Prefecture, you'll see plantations with rows and rows of low bushes. What crop is harvested there, making the prefecture a leading grower?

Answer: tea

Not only has Shizuoka been the leading tea grower in Japan, it is also a major producer of pianos, motorcycles, nori seaweed, and spider crabs. Mt. Fuji, the tallest in Japan, sits partly within its boundaries, and offshore lies Suruga Bay, Japan's deepest.

Definitely go for the tea (it's surprisingly good as soft serve ice cream).

7. Taking the bullet train cross-country is one of the consummate pleasures of traveling in Japan. As you head west, the train will cross the Shimonoseki Strait. Shimonoseki (in Yamaguchi prefecture on the Honshu side) is famous for an infamous aquatic delicacy. Although chefs are specially trained to handle this food, several people die every year from eating it. What is this risky cuisine?

Answer: fugu (poison blowfish)

The innards of the fugu blowfish are extremely toxic, and must be carefully separated from the flesh before preparation. The delicate white-meat fish is best served raw, sashimi-style. It is also delicious deep-fried as little fritters or gently simmered in a hot pot.

Despite all that adventure, I personally find the taste so light it verges on bland.

8. Osaka's bustling metropolis of over eight million people has been known as a merchant town since the Edo Period. It is also the hometown of a famous manga artist, the creator of Astro Boy (known as Tetsuwan Atom in Japanese). Name this illustrator, whose "Kimba the White Lion" is often rumored to have inspired Disney's "Lion King".

Answer: Tezuka Osamu

Tezuka Osamu's comics and animated films are legendary classics in Japan. Similarly, Miyazaki Hayao is famous for animated films like "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away." Fujiko F. Fujio is the pen name for the creator of Doraemon, the beloved blue robot cat from the future. Finally, Otomo Katsuhiro has created high-tech, futuristic works like "Akira" and "Ghost in the Shell."

9. Mie prefecture lies between Osaka and Nagoya, running south along the Kii Peninsula. Not only is the prefecture's name short, but its capital is called Tsu. One of the famous sights is the Grand Shrines of Ise (I know, more three letter names). What is the unique characteristic of these shrines, which used to be very common among Shinto shrines?

Answer: the buildings are rebuilt every twenty years

The shrine buildings are rebuilt every twenty years using timber specially blessed and chosen by the priests, floated down the river from the Kii forests. Although many shrines used to be periodically rebuilt, Ise is one of the last to continue this tradition.

The shrine roofs are thatched with reeds, and the buildings are left unpainted. It is a spiritual experience to walk down the forested path and encounter the simple yet mystic structures shrouded in morning mist.

10. The prefecture of Nara is best known for its large statue of the Buddha housed in the Todai-ji Temple. However, hidden in the towns of Iga and Koga, are said to be a group of warriors who mastered the skills of spying, guerilla warfare, and disguise. Who are these "invisible" fighters?

Answer: Ninja

The ninja tradition started simply with townspeople who wanted to protect their homes and farms. By blending in with the countryside and attacking from the safety of the treetops, they gained a reputation for being "secret warriors".

Though this quiz may have been very challenging, I hope it has exposed you to facets of Japan that you may not have been aware of before. Thanks for playing and I hope you have the chance to visit Japan and experience these off-the-beaten-path destinations. Jya ne!

Source: Author lykita

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Japan's Prefectures - Seasoned Traveler Level Quiz

Are you ready to explore more to-do-fu-ken? Japan's prefectures hold many surprises. This time, we go beyond the basics and delve deeper into Japanese geography. Ganbatte! (Good Luck!)

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