Hiroshima

Hiroshima has a complex topography where the climates of the Chugoku Mountains and the Seto Inland Sea and Pacific Ocean sides mix, with about 70% of the prefectural land being mountainous. The Seto Inland Sea coastal area is warm, with an annual average temperature of about 16°C and annual precipitation of about 1,300 mm, while the inland areas around Shobara and Miyoshi cities have a basin climate with large temperature differences. The alluvial plains formed in the basins of the Ota River, Gono River, and Ashida River are the centers of agriculture, and the suburbs of Hiroshima City, Fukuyama City, and Mihara City are the main agricultural zones. In the coastal island areas, citrus and lemon cultivation taking advantage of the warm climate is active, and the Hiroshima lemon, centered around Ikuchijima (Setoda), is shipped nationally. Hiroshima's lemon production ranks 1st nationally (about 5,400 tons produced in 2023), accounting for about 65% of domestic lemons. Oyster aquaculture is conducted in the islands and bays of the Seto Inland Sea, and the annual shipping volume of Hiroshima Oysters remains at the 1st nationally level.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

Hiroshima's agriculture and fisheries are characterized by a production area structure that maximizes the geographical conditions of "multiple water areas and an archipelago." Products are clearly divided by elevation, distance, and water area: vegetables and rice in inland basins and mountainous areas, citrus and lemons in coastal and island areas, and Oyster farming in the bays. In particular, lemons and Oysters both hold the prominent position of 1st nationally, and being discussed within the same Seto Inland Sea regional brand is a strength not found in other prefectures. In recent years, in response to expanding demand for domestic lemons, new farming entries and the expansion of cultivation areas around Ikuchijima have continued, and development into processed goods (lemonade, seasonings) is also becoming active. Hiroshima's production area strength lies not in the concentration of a single item, but in the extensive formation of production areas by multiple items that share the geographical context of the Seto Inland Sea.