Administrative divisions and railways of Japan
URL: https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/japan-admin-rail-overview.html

Gateway to knowledge on Japan's 47 prefectures and its Shinkansen and JR lines.

## Overview

This page is the gateway to knowledge on [Japan](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/places/japan.html)'s administrative divisions (47 prefectures) and railways (Shinkansen and JR lines).

## Administrative divisions

Japan consists of 47 prefectures; see the divisions section of the [Japan](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/places/japan.html) page for details by region.

## Railway operators

[JR Hokkaido](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-hokkaido.html), [JR East](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-east.html), [JR Central](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-central.html), [JR West](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-west.html), [JR Kyushu](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-kyushu.html), [JR Shikoku](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/organizations/jp-jr-shikoku.html)

## Shinkansen

[Tokaido](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-tokaido.html) (1964, 515.4 km), [Sanyo](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-sanyo.html) (1972, 553.7 km), [Tohoku](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-tohoku.html) (1982, 674.9 km), [Joetsu](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-joetsu.html) (1982, 269.5 km), [Hokuriku](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-hokuriku.html) (1997, extended to Tsuruga in 2024, 345.4 km), [Kyushu](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-kyushu.html) (2004-2011, 256.8 km), [Hokkaido](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-hokkaido.html) (2016, 148.8 km), [Nishi-Kyushu](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-nishikyushu.html) (2022, 66.0 km), and the [Yamagata](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-yamagata.html) and [Akita](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-shinkansen-akita.html) Mini-Shinkansen

## Major conventional lines

[Yamanote Line](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-rail-yamanote.html) (Tokyo loop, 34.5 km), [Tokaido Main Line](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-rail-tokaido-main.html) (Tokyo-Kobe, 589.5 km), [Osaka Loop Line](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/jp-rail-osaka-loop.html) (21.7 km)

## Urban transport

See the urban subway and bus overview page ([link](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/japan-metro-bus-overview.html)).

Updated: 2026-10-28

Tags:
- 行政区划 https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/tags/admin-division.html
- 铁路 https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/tags/rail.html

Sources:
- 日本の地域区分 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%AE%E5%9C%B0%E5%9F%9F%E5%8C%BA%E5%88%86 日本語ウィキペディア・公式サイト, 2026-10-28確認