Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture holds 9,221,129 people as of the 1st of April 2022. This figure makes it the second most populous prefecture in all of Japan. The land area covers only 2,415 square kilometers. That small size creates a density ranking of third highest nationwide. Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay frame the eastern and southern edges. The Miura Peninsula juts into the Pacific Ocean to separate these two bodies of water. Chiba Prefecture sits directly across from this peninsula on the Bōsō Peninsula. Yokohama serves as both the capital city and the largest urban center within the region. Kawasaki, Sagamihara, and Fujisawa rank among other major cities that define the landscape.
Kamakura functioned as the de facto capital of Japan during the Kamakura period. This era spanned from 1185 until 1333 when the shogunate held its seat there. The province of Sagami contained Kamakura at its central location. Ancient plains once remained sparsely inhabited before imperial dynasties ruled the area from the fifth century onwards. Archaeological sites trace human presence back to the Jōmon period around 400 BCE. Mount Hakone erupted approximately 3,000 years ago to create Lake Ashi on the western side. The volcanic explosion shaped the geography that would later host temples and shrines for tourists today.
Commodore Matthew Perry landed in Kanagawa during 1853 and again in 1854. He signed the Convention of Kanagawa to force open Japanese ports to United States traders. Foreign pressure continued for several more years before Yokohama opened to international commerce in 1859. This deep-water port eventually became the largest trading hub in all of Japan. Nearby Yokosuka developed into a naval base that now hosts headquarters for the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Meiji government launched the first railway line connecting Shinbashi in Tokyo to Yokohama in 1872. Foreigners began living in Yokohama City after the Meiji period while visiting resort areas like Hakone.
The epicenter of the Great Kantō earthquake sat deep beneath Izu Oshima island in Sagami Bay. The disaster devastated Tokyo and the port city of Yokohama along with surrounding prefectures. Sea levels receded as much as 400 meters from the shore at Manazuru Point before rushing back. A great wall of water swamped Mitsuishi-shima following the initial tremor. Total death tolls exceeded 2,000 victims across Kamakura due to combined earthquake, tsunami, and fire damage. Ninety percent of buildings collapsed immediately at Odawara while subsequent fires burned the rubble. U.S. bombing raids heavily damaged Yokohama and Kawasaki during 1945 causing several thousand casualties. General Douglas MacArthur landed in Kanagawa upon arriving for the Occupation of Japan.
Shin-Yokohama station and Odawara station sit on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed rail line. These stations provide service connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and other major cities throughout the region. Nineteen cities operate within the prefecture boundaries including Atsugi, Ayase, Chigasaki, and Ebina. The eastern side remains relatively flat and heavily urbanized compared to mountainous western areas. Twenty-three percent of total land area now designates Natural Parks like Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The Sagami River flows through the middle of the prefecture while the Tama River forms much of its boundary with Tokyo. Nissan Stadium in Yokohama hosted the final matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Hakone Ekiden course runs 108 kilometers from Tokyo to Hakone every January second and third.
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Common questions
What is the population of Kanagawa Prefecture as of 2022?
Kanagawa Prefecture held a population of 9,221,129 people on the 1st of April 2022. This figure makes it the second most populous prefecture in all of Japan.
When did Commodore Matthew Perry arrive in Kanagawa to sign the Convention of Kanagawa?
Commodore Matthew Perry landed in Kanagawa during 1853 and again in 1854. He signed the Convention of Kanagawa to force open Japanese ports to United States traders.
Where was the epicenter of the Great Kantō earthquake located relative to Kanagawa Prefecture?
The epicenter of the Great Kantō earthquake sat deep beneath Izu Oshima island in Sagami Bay. The disaster devastated Tokyo and the port city of Yokohama along with surrounding prefectures.
Which cities operate within the boundaries of Kanagawa Prefecture today?
Nineteen cities operate within the prefecture boundaries including Atsugi, Ayase, Chigasaki, and Ebina. Yokohama serves as both the capital city and the largest urban center within the region.
What major sporting events were hosted at Nissan Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture?
Nissan Stadium in Yokohama hosted the final matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Hakone Ekiden course runs 108 kilometers from Tokyo to Hakone every January second and third.