Gokishichidō

Gokishichidō (五畿七道, "five provinces and seven circuits") was the name for ancient administrative units organized in Japan during the Asuka period (AD 538–710), as part of a legal and governmental system borrowed from the Chinese.

[1] Though these units did not survive as administrative structures beyond the Muromachi period (1336–1573), they did remain important geographical entities until the 19th century.

The five Kinai provinces were local areas in and around the imperial capital (first Heijō-kyō at Nara, then Heian-kyō at Kyōto).

For example, present-day Hyōgo in its borders since 1876 extends into five provinces (Harima, Tajima, Awaji, Settsu, Tamba)[6] and thus into three circuits (San'yō, San'in, Nankai) as well as the ancient capital region.

Initially the government tried to organize Hokkaidō as an eighth dō (hence the name), but it was soon consolidated into a single prefecture.

Regions in the 8th century (see below for modern Japanese prefectures)
The seven ancient circuits and their modern (Meiji era) provinces. Hokkaidō and its provinces are not included.
Kinai Tōkaidō Tōsandō
Hokurikudō San'indō San'yōdō
Nankaidō Saikaidō