Including local license plates, there are a total of 16 types! A map showing the distribution of license plates in the Tohoku region!

NEFT Editorial Department
2026.08.02
Last updated: 2026.08.02

The regional names such as "Aomori," "Sendai," and "Aizu" are printed on car license plates. If you color-code a map of the six prefectures of Tohoku, there are a total of 16 different names

However, not all 16 of these are "local license plates." Seven are local license plates, and the remaining nine are traditional regional names based on the jurisdiction of the transport bureau or vehicle inspection and registration office

This article traces the license plate areas in the Tohoku region prefecture by prefecture, and also introduces the differences between the systems that are often confused

"Local license plates" are one way of displaying regional names

Map showing the regional names on license plates of the six Tohoku prefectures (as of August 2026 / created by the editorial department)

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The license plate shown in the image is a schematic representation of a standard passenger car license plate. Actual classification numbers, hiragana characters, colors, and designs will vary depending on the vehicle type, intended use, and selections

The regional name at the top of the license plate generally displays the name of the transportation bureau or vehicle inspection and registration office that has jurisdiction over the vehicle's "place of primary use."

In the Tohoku region,"Aomori," "Hachinohe," "Iwate," "Miyagi," "Akita," "Yamagata," "Shonai," "Fukushima," and "Iwaki"are all regional names based on this traditional system.

On the other hand, local license plates are a system designed to promote regional development and tourism, allowing new regional names to be displayed without the need to establish new vehicle inspection and registration offices

In the Tohoku region, there are seven types: Sendai, Aizu, Morioka, Hiraizumi, Koriyama, Hirosaki, and Shirakawa

Introduced in October 2006:"Sendai" and "Aizu"
Introduced in November 2014:Morioka, Hiraizumi, Koriyama
Introduced in May 2020:"Hirosaki" and "Shirakawa"

"Local license plates" and "license plates with designs"

Although the names are similar, local license plates are a system where the "region name" is displayed on the plate , while illustrated license plates are a system where a unique regional design is incorporated into the background .

Therefore, while traditional license plates such as "Iwate," "Yamagata," and "Shonai" also have regional-themed license plates, "Aizu" and "Koriyama," despite being local license plates, are not listed as eligible for the issuance of unique regional-themed license plates as of August 2026

The three prefectures of northern Tohoku have 7 types, but while Aomori and Iwate have 3 types, Akita only has 1!

Regional names for Aomori, Iwate, and Akita prefectures (as of August 2026 / created by the editorial department)

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Aomori Prefecture | Three types: "Aomori," "Hirosaki," and "Hachinohe"

In Aomori Prefecture, there are three types of license plates: "Aomori" and "Hirosaki," which mainly cover the Tsugaru region, and "Hachinohe," which broadly covers the southern part of the prefecture. Only Hirosaki has its own local license plate

Hirosaki license plates: Valid in Hirosaki City, Nishimeya Village, and Inakadate Village. These are local license plates that began being issued on May 11, 2020.
Hachinohe license plates: Hachinohe City, Towada City, Misawa City, Shichinohe Town, Rokunohe Town, Tohoku Town, Rokkasho Village, Oirase Town, Sannohe Town, Gonohe Town, Takko Town, Nanbu Town, Hashikami Town, Shingo Village.
Aomori license plates: These are used throughout Aomori Prefecture, excluding the areas designated for Hirosaki and Hachinohe license plates. Looking at a map, you can clearly see that even around Hirosaki City, towns like Fujisaki, Owani, and Hirakawa also use Aomori license plates.

Iwate Prefecture | The license plate with "Iwate" in the prefecture name is not a local license plate

Iwate Prefecture also has three types of license plates: "Morioka," "Iwate," and "Hiraizumi." Morioka and Hiraizumi are local license plates introduced on November 17, 2014, but "Iwate," which is the same as the prefecture name, is a conventional license plate

Morioka license platesare used by Morioka City, Hachimantai City, Takizawa City, Shiwa Town, and Yahaba Town. They comprise five cities and towns, centered around Morioka, the prefectural capital.
Hiraizumi license platescover Ichinoseki City, Oshu City, Kanegasaki Town, and Hiraizumi Town. The name capitalizes on the fame of the World Heritage site "Hiraizumi," and the license plate covers not only Hiraizumi Town but also four other cities and towns in southern Iwate Prefecture.
Iwate license plates: Cover areas outside of those designated for Morioka and Hiraizumi license plates. They cover a wide area of the prefecture, from the northern part to the coastal areas, including Tono City, Hanamaki City, Kitakami City, and others.

Akita Prefecture | Only one regional name is displayed: "Akita"

In Akita Prefecture, the regional name displayed on"Akita". Although regional license plates with designs specific to each prefecture were introduced on October 23, 2023, the regional name displayed at the top of the plate was not divided into new names.

The three southern Tohoku prefectures have 9 types | Fukushima Prefecture alone has the most in the Tohoku region with 5 types

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Yamagata Prefecture | Divided into the Shonai region and the rest of the prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture"Yamagata"and"Shonai." The Shonai license plates apply to Sakata City, Tsuruoka City, Mikawa Town, Shonai Town, and Yuza Town. The Shonai region on the Sea of Japan side forms a single area, while the remaining Murayama, Mogami, and Okitama regions use Yamagata license plates. Neither is a local license plate; they are simply the traditional regional designations.

Miyagi Prefecture | Only Sendai City has "Sendai" license plates

Miyagi Prefecture is divided into "Sendai" for Sendai City and "Miyagi" for all other municipalities . The Sendai license plate is the first local license plate introduced in October 2006. Neighboring cities such as Tomiya, Natori, and Tagajo use Miyagi license plates instead of Sendai license plates.

Fukushima Prefecture | 5 types, the most in the Tohoku region

Fukushima Prefecture isFukushima, Aizu, Koriyama, Shirakawa, and Iwaki, making it the most finely divided of the six Tohoku prefectures.

There are three types of local license plates: Aizu, Koriyama, and Shirakawa

Regional name	classification	Target area
Fukushima	Conventional	Fukushima City, Sukagawa City, Soma City, Nihonmatsu City, Tamura City, Minamisoma City, Date City, Motomiya City, Koori Town, Kunimi Town, Kawamata Town, Otama Village, Kagamiishi Town, Ten'ei Village, Miharu Town, Shinchi Town, Iitate Village
Aizu	Local	Aizuwakamatsu City, Kitakata City, Shimogo Town, Hinoemata Village, Tadami Town, Minamiaizu Town, Kitashiobara Village, Nishiaizu Town, Bandai Town, Inawashiro Town, Aizubange Town, Yukawa Village, Yanaiizu Town, Mishima Town, Kaneyama Town, Showa Village, Aizumisato Town
Koriyama	Local	Koriyama City
Shirakawa	Local	Shirakawa City, Nishigo Village, Izumizaki Village, Nakajima Village, Yabuki Town
Iwaki	Conventional	Iwaki City, Tanagura Town, Yamatsuri Town, Hanawa Town, Samegawa Village, Ishikawa Town, Tamagawa Village, Hirata Village, Asakawa Town, Furudono Town, Ono Town, Hirono Town, Naraha Town, Tomioka Town, Kawauchi Village, Okuma Town, Futaba Town, Namie Town, Katsurao Village

Why do license plates change even within the same prefecture?

The regional name on a license plate is not determined by the car owner's address, but by the "place of use," which is the location where the car is actually used and managed. Therefore, even if you move within the same prefecture, if you cross a regional boundary and your place of use changes, you will generally need to register a change of registration and replace your license plate

Furthermore, when registering a new vehicle or changing registration within the area covered by local license plates, you cannot freely choose the regional name from the conventional license plate. For example, a vehicle based in Sendai City will be issued a "Sendai" plate, and one based in Hirosaki City will be issued a "Hirosaki" plate. While you can choose whether or not to include a design and your desired number, the regional name is determined according to the jurisdiction

Regional unity can be seen from the boundaries of license plates

The regional names displayed on license plates in the six Tohoku prefectures are: Aomori = 3, Akita = 1, Iwate = 3, Yamagata = 2, Miyagi = 2, and Fukushima = 5, for a total of 16 different names

Unlike maps that only show prefectural borders, examining license plate boundaries reveals not only the jurisdictions of transportation bureaus but also the urban areas and regional cohesion reflected in local license plates

If you look at the license plates of cars you pass on your travels, you might be able to imagine, with a little more detail, which region of Tohoku that car is based in