noun
Kanto region
Refers to the region of Japan encompassing Tokyo and the six surrounding prefectures: Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Chiba.
関東地方は日本の政治と経済の中心地です。
The Kanto region is the political and economic center of Japan.
関東 is a broader term that can refer to the Kanto area in general, while 関東地方 specifically denotes the administrative region including the seven prefectures.
Compound of 関東 (Kanto, literally 'east of the barrier') and 地方 (region). The name historically referred to the area east of the Hakone checkpoint.