Hokuriku region

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The Hokuriku region (北陸地方, Hokuriku chihō) is located in the northwestern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan. It lies along the Sea of Japan and is part of the larger Chūbu region.^[1] It is almost equivalent to the former Koshi Province and Hokurikudō area in pre-modern Japan.

From the Heian period until the Edo period, the region was a core recipient of population, and grew to be proportionately much larger than it is today, despite the rural character; in modern times, its population has remained consistent, with most urban growth in the 20th century instead taking place in Kanto, Chūkyō, and Kansai. The Hokuriku region is also known for traditional culture that originated from elsewhere that has been long lost along the Taiheiyō Belt.

The Hokuriku region includes the four prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, Niigata and Toyama,^[2] although Niigata is sometimes included as an addition rather than being one of the core prefectures. It is similar to the following region definitions:

• Hokushin'etsu [ja] (北信越): includes both the Hokuriku and Shin'etsu regions
• Kōshin'etsu (甲信越): includes Niigata, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures
• Shin'etsu (信越): includes Niigata and Nagano prefectures