Webhistorical: districts. Japan is divided into 47 prefectures ( 都道府県, todōfuken, [todoːɸɯ̥ꜜkeɴ] ⓘ ), which rank immediately below the national government and form the country's first level of jurisdiction and administrative division. They include 43 prefectures proper ( 県, ken ), two urban prefectures ( 府, fu ...