Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture
和歌山県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 和歌山県
 • Rōmaji Wakayama-ken

Flag
Symbol of Wakayama Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Island Honshū
Capital Wakayama (city)
Government
 • Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka
Area
 • Total 4,725.67 km2 (1,824.59 sq mi)
Area rank 30th
Population (April 1, 2012)
 • Total 989,983
 • Rank 39th
 • Density 209.49/km2 (542.6/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-30
Districts 6
Municipalities 30
Flower Ume blossom (Prunus mume)
Tree Ubame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides)
Bird Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonica)
Website www.wakayama.lg.jp/
english/

Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県 Wakayama-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island.[1] The capital is the city of Wakayama.[2]

History

Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.[3]

1953 flood disaster

On July 17–18, 1953, a torrential heavy rain occurred, followed by collapse of levees, river flooding and landslides in a wide area. Many bridges and houses were destroyed. According to an officially confirmed Japanese Government report, 1,015 people died, with 5,709 injured and 7,115 houses lost.

Geography

Map of Wakayama Prefecture.

Cities

Nine cities are located in Wakayama Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

Economy

Wakayama supplies most of Japan with its high production of mikans (Mandarin Oranges) in October of every year.

Demographics

Wakayama is ranked 39th by population in Japan with a population of 989,983. It is the least populated prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. Its population is declining.

Culture

Mount Kōya (高野山 Kōya-san) in the Ito District is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is home to one of the first Japanese style Buddhist temples in Japan and remains a site of pilgrimage and an increasingly popular tourist destination as people flock to see its ancient temples set amidst the towering cedar trees at the top of the mountain. The Sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii Mountain Range extend for miles throughout the prefecture and together have been recognized as Japan's 11th UNESCO World Heritage site.[4]

The Kumano Shrines are located on the southern tip of the prefecture. Tomogashima Island (actually a cluster of 4 islands) is also part of the prefecture.

Sister relationships

Wakayama Prefecture has friendship and sister relationships with six places outside Japan.[5] These are Richmond, Canada; Shandong, People's Republic of China; Pyrénées-Orientales, France; Florida, United States; Sinaloa, Mexico; and Galicia, Spain.

Tourism

Wakayama Prefecture has hot springs such as Shirahama, Kawayu, and Yunomine Onsen.

Transportation

Rail

Road

Expressway

National Highway

Ferry

Airport

Education

University

Notes

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Wakayama prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 1026, p. 1026, at Google Books; "Kansai" in p. 477, p. 477, at Google Books.
  2. ↑ Nussbaum, "Wakayama" in p. 1025, p. 1025, at Google Books.
  3. ↑ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ↑ UNESCO.org
  5. ↑ 友好・姉妹提携 Wakayama Prefecture official Web site retrieved May 16, 2008

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wakayama prefecture.

Coordinates: 34°3′N 135°21′E / 34.050°N 135.350°E / 34.050; 135.350

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