Sanin region - Saninchiho

It refers to the area along the Sea of ​​Japan coast of the Chugoku region, including Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, and northern Yamaguchi Prefecture, and is a term used in contrast to the San'yo region on the Seto Inland Sea side. It can also include the Sea of ​​Japan coast of Kyoto Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture. The ancient San'in Road included the provinces of Tamba, Tango, Tajima, Inaba, Hoki, Oki, Izumo, and Iwami, and Izumo has formed a distinctive cultural sphere as the center of the San'in region since the mythological era.

Occupying the northern slope of the Chugoku Sekiryo Mountain Range, this long, narrow region runs east to west, with a monotonous coastline extending beyond the Izumo Plain and the Shimane Peninsula, which embraces Lake Shinji. Quaternary volcanoes such as Mt. Daisen (1,729 meters), Mt. Sanbe, and Mt. Aono erupt, and hot springs gush forth in various places, including Kaike and Tamatsukuri. It has a Sea of ​​Japan climate, and in winter, due to the influence of northwesterly monsoons, there are many snowy days and cloudy skies, although not as many as in the Hokuriku region.

Compared to the Sanyo region, the population density is lower and the primary industry is the main industry, with the area being a pioneer in sand dune agriculture, known for its specialty crops of pears, Chinese yam, and shallots. On the other hand, industrialization has lagged behind and the cities are few and scattered, with the only cities with populations of over 100,000 being the prefectural capitals of Tottori and Matsue, which developed from castle towns in the early modern period, the new industrial city of Yonago, and Izumo City, which emerged after a merger in the Heisei period. The single-track San'in Main Line runs from east to west, and there is the JR Inyo Link Line, which connects Inbi, Hakubi, Yamaguchi, and other stations, and development is underway to link the area to the Chugoku Expressway.

[Hajime Miura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国地方の日本海沿岸の鳥取県、島根県および山口県北部を含む地域をさし、瀬戸内側の山陽地方と対する呼称。京都府や兵庫県の日本海沿岸まで含めることもある。古代の山陰道は、丹波(たんば)、丹後(たんご)、但馬(たじま)、因幡(いなば)、伯耆(ほうき)、隠岐(おき)、出雲(いずも)、石見(いわみ)の諸国がこれに属し、出雲は神話時代から山陰地方の中心として特色ある文化圏を形成していた。

　中国脊梁(せきりょう)山地の北斜面を占め、東西に細長い地域で、出雲平野や宍道(しんじ)湖を抱く島根半島付近のほかは単調な海岸線が続く。第四紀火山の大山(だいせん)（1729メートル）や三瓶山(さんべさん)、青野山などが噴出し、皆生(かいけ)、玉造(たまつくり)など各地に温泉が湧出(ゆうしゅつ)する。日本海式気候に属し、冬は北西季節風の影響で、北陸地方ほどではないが、雪の日や曇天が多い。

　山陽地方に比べて人口密度が低く、第一次産業がおもで、ナシの栽培やナガイモ、ラッキョウの特産で知られる砂丘農業の先進地である。一方、工業化は後れており、都市も分散的で少なく、人口10万以上は、近世の城下町から発展した県庁都市の鳥取と松江、新産業都市の米子(よなご)、平成の合併を経ての出雲市だけである。東西に単線の山陰本線が走り、因美(いんび)、伯備(はくび)、山口などのJRの陰陽連絡線があり、中国縦貫自動車道に結ぶ道路網の開発が進められている。

［三浦　肇］

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