prefectures (excl. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto); Hokkaido and other prefectures
Administrative term contrasting Hokkaido (道) and other prefectures (県) with the three urban prefectures of Tokyo (都), Osaka (府), and Kyoto (府). Often used in contexts like 都道府県.
See also: 都道府県
Among the prefectures, 道県 refers to Hokkaido and the other prefectures.
この制度は道県を対象としている。
This system targets the prefectures (excluding Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto).
prefectures of Japan (excluding Osaka and Kyoto)
Compound of 道 (どう, 'Hokkaido') and 県 (けん, 'prefecture'), formed by analogy with 都道府県 to refer to prefectures other than Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.