Japan's Prefectures - Seasoned Traveler Level

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

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? Osaka Kagawa Shimane Aichi

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"? Mt. Tate Mt. Sakurajima Mt. Fuji Mt. Asahi

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? Kobe Fukuoka Nagoya Yokohama

4. Where is Tokyo Disneyland? In Tokyo, of course Chiba Prefecture Saitama Prefecture Kanagawa Prefecture

5. Which prominent geographic feature can be seen in Shiga Prefecture, just north of Kyoto? Lake Biwa, Japan's largest Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest The Shinano River, Japan's longest Tokyo Tower, Japan's tallest

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? plums tea seaweed rice

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? habu (venomous snake) fugu (poison blowfish) suppon (softshell turtle) namako (sea cucumber)

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". Otomo Katsuhiro Miyazaki Hayao Tezuka Osamu Fujiko F. Fujio

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? the main hall is built over the ocean the buildings are rebuilt every twenty years the shrine is inside a mountain cave the buildings are pink, orange, and blue

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? Geisha Ninja Samurai Judoka