prefectures (excl. Tokyo and Hokkaido)
Refers to the 府 (fu, urban prefectures: Osaka and Kyoto) and 県 (ken, other prefectures) collectively, excluding Tokyo (都) and Hokkaido (道). Often used in the compound 都道府県 (todōfuken) when listing all types.
See also: 都道府県
Ordinances differ by prefecture (excluding Tokyo and Hokkaido).
Among the todōfuken, 'fuken' refers to Osaka-fu, Kyoto-fu, and the 43 ken.
県 names an ordinary prefecture on its own, while 府県 is the collective term covering both 県 and 府 (Osaka, Kyoto) types.
Compound of 府 (fu, urban prefecture) and 県 (ken, prefecture). The distinction between 府 and 県 dates back to the Meiji-era administrative reforms.