Hokuriku

The Hokuriku region lies on the Sea of Japan coastline, northwest of the massive mountains that comprise Kōshin'etsu. Hokuriku includes the four prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, Niigata and Toyama.

The district has very heavy snowfall (sometimes enough to block major roads) and strong winds in winter, and its turbulent rivers are the source of abundant hydroelectric power. Niigata Prefecture is the site of domestic gas and oil production as well. Industrial development is extensive, especially in the cities in Niigata and Toyama; Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures also have large manufacturing industries.

Historically, Hokuriku's development is owed to markets in the Kansai region, however recently the urban areas at the heart of the Kantō region and Tōkai region are having a heavy an influence as well. Hokuriku has port facilities which are mainly to facilitate trade with Russia, Korea and China.

Transportation between Niigata and Toyama used to be geographically limited and so Niigata has seen especially strong influence from the Kantō region. Because of this, Niigata Prefecture is often classified as being part of the Kōshin'etsu region with the Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures.

Since the Heian Era until the Edo Period the region was a core recipient of population, and the population grew to be much larger proportionately than it is today, despite the rural character, but with the growth of urban centers in the 20th century, particularly Tokyo and Nagoya, the Hokuriku region has steadily declined in importance to become relative backwaters.