The is a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region in Japan that runs along the Pacific Ocean. The name comes from the Tōkaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes. Because Tōkai is a sub-region and is not officially classified, there is some disagreement about where exactly the region begins and ends, however Japanese maps widely conclude that the region includes Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures.
The largest major city in the region is Nagoya and the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area (Nagoya Metropolitan Area) makes up a large portion of the region and has Japan's third strongest economy. The business influence of this urban area sometimes extends out into the outlying areas of the three prefectures centered on Nagoya which are Aichi, Gifu, and Mie; this area is sometimes referred to as the Chūkyō region.
Tōkai is a heavy manufacturing area and is one of the most industrial regions in Japan. Its coast is lined with densely populated cities with economies that thrive on factories.
Geology
The Tōkai region has experienced a number of large earthquakes in the past, including the two great earthquakes in 1944 (also known as the "Tonankai earthquake") and 1945 (also known as the "Mikawa earthquake"). Following the work of Kiyoo Mogi, it is predicted that there is a possibility that the area will be subject to a shallow magnitude 8.0 earthquake in the near future. Nagoya, Shizuoka, and other large cities would be greatly damaged, with potential casualties in the tens of thousands. The Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction designated the region as an Area of Specific Observation in 1970, and upgraded it to an Area of Intensified Observation in 1974. and, Tōkai subregion much like Chūkyō metropolitan area has experienced continuous population growth throughout the 20th century.
Since around 2010 though, the Tōkai subregion has experienced population decline, decreasing by around 1% between the censuses for 2010 and 2020.
Major cities
;Designated city
- Hamamatsu City: (designated city)
- Nagoya City: (designated city, the capital of Aichi Prefecture)
- Shizuoka City: (designated city, the capital of Shizuoka Prefecture)
;Core city
- Gifu City: (core city, the capital of Gifu Prefecture)
;Special city
- Yokkaichi City: (special city)
;Other major cities
- Tsu City: (the capital of Mie Prefecture)
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Nagoya TV Tower1.jpg|Nagoya City
File:Part of Hamamatsu Skyline.jpg|Hamamatsu City
File:Night view near Shizuoka 109 Building.JPG|Shizuoka City
File:岐阜シティタワー43 - panoramio (2).jpg|Gifu City
File:四日市ふれあいモール.jpg|Yokkaichi City
File:Mie prefectural road No.19 start.jpg|Tsu City
</gallery>
Other cities
- Toyota City: a core city
- Okazaki City: a core city
- Toyohashi City: a core city
- Ichinomiya City: a special city
- Kasugai City: a special city
- Fuji City: a special city
- Numazu City: a special city
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Toyota Sangokan exterior 2017-06 (1).jpg|Toyota City
File:Seibunkan Shoten Head Office.jpg|Toyohashi City
File:Okazaki-Nishikoseidori-1.jpg|Okazaki City
File:尾張一宮駅 - panoramio (4).jpg|Ichinomiya City
File:SUN MARCHE MINAMI-KAN 2016.JPG|Kasugai City
File:三角屋 - panoramio.jpg|Fuji City
File:NAKAMISE - panoramio.jpg|Numazu City
</gallery>
Companies
- Toyota Motor Company
- Yamaha
- Kawai Musical Instruments
- Suzuki
- Roland Corporation
Universities
- Nagoya University
- Nanzan University
- Nagoya Institute of Technology
- Gifu University
- Mie University
- Chukyo University
- Toyohashi University of Technology
- Nihon University College of International Relations
- Shizuoka University
Airports
- Chūbu Centrair International Airport
- Nagoya Regional Airport
- Shizuoka Airport
Sports clubs
Baseball
- Chunichi Dragons
Football
- Júbilo Iwata
- Nagoya Grampus
- Shimizu S-Pulse
- F.C. Gifu
- Honda F.C.
- F.C. Kariya
Basketball
- San-en NeoPhoenix
- SeaHorses Mikawa
- Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
Power generation
The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located within the Tōkai region.
See also
- Hokuriku region
- Kōshin'etsu region
- Shin'etsu region
Notes
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