Mimasaka Province

Mimasaka was a historical province in the northeastern corner of what is now Okayama Prefecture, sharing borders with several other territories on the main island of Honshu. The landscape was mostly mountainous and structured by three river systems that ran through the valleys and divided the terrain into different sections.

In 713, the territory was officially separated from neighboring Bizen Province after local administrators proposed a reorganization of the districts. The new territory remained in place until the old provincial system was dissolved during the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s.

The Nakayama Shrine, designated as the primary Shinto sanctuary of Mimasaka Province, stands as a testament to the religious practices of the region.

The former province lies in the northeastern part of modern Okayama Prefecture and was connected to surrounding regions through several trade routes. Travelers looking to explore the area's historical sites should be prepared for mountainous terrain and rural roads.

Government records from the early Meiji period document that Mimasaka contained 766 villages with a combined kokudaka measurement of 263,477 koku.

Location: San'yōdō

Inception: May 1, 0713

Shares border with: Harima Province, Inaba Province, Hōki Province, Bitchū Province, Bizen Province

GPS coordinates: 35.06722,133.85083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:17