Kibi Plateau

plateau, Japan

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Kibi Plateau is a landform located in western Honshu, Japan, as part of the Chūgoku Range. It lies south of the Backbone Range and descends abruptly from it, with elevations between 660 and 1,970 feet (200 to 600 meters). The plateau is characterized by eroded hilly surfaces interspersed with steep, younger gorges. It is situated between the Backbone Range and a row of intermontane basins, which are followed by east-west rail lines. Major basins in this area include Tsuyama, Niimi, and Miyoshi. The Kibi Plateau is one of three landforms that make up the Chūgoku Range, alongside the Backbone Range and the Iwami Plateau.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Chūgoku Range
…a steep escarpment to the Kibi Plateau. The plateau, at an elevation between 660 and 1,970 feet (200 and 600 m), is composed of eroded hilly land surfaces, separated by steep, younger gorges. Between the Kibi Plateau and the range, a row of intermontane basins is followed by the east-west…
Read More
…a steep escarpment to the Kibi Plateau. The plateau, at an elevation between 660 and 1,970 feet (200 and 600 m), is composed of eroded hilly land surfaces, separated by steep, younger gorges. Between the Kibi Plateau and the range, a row of intermontane basins is followed by the east-west…
Read More