Kagawa Prefecture
| Kagawa Prefecture | ||
|---|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | ||
| • Japanese | 香川県 | |
| • Rōmaji | Kagawa-ken | |
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| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Shikoku | |
| Island | Shikoku | |
| Capital | Takamatsu | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Keizo Hamada | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,861.70 km2 (718.81 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 47th | |
| Population (December 1, 2010) | ||
| • Total | 995,465 | |
| • Rank | 40th | |
| • Density | 534.71/km2 (1,384.9/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-37 | |
| Districts | 5 | |
| Municipalities | 17 | |
| Flower | Olive (Olea europaea) | |
| Tree | Olive (Olea europaea) | |
| Bird | Oriental cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) | |
| Website | www.pref.kagawa.jp | |
Kagawa Prefecture (香川県 Kagawa-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island.[1] The capital is Takamatsu.[2]
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History[edit]
Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.[3]
For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.[4]
Battle of Yashima[edit]
Located in Kagawa's capital city, Takamatsu, the mountain of Yashima was the battlefield for one of the best-known struggles between the Heike and the Genji clans.
Geography[edit]
Kagawa comprises the northeast corner of Shikoku, bordering Ehime Prefecture on the west and Tokushima Prefecture on the south, with a coastline on the Seto Inland Sea facing Okayama Prefecture and the Kansai. The Sanuki Mountains run along the southern border.
Kagawa is currently the smallest prefecture, by area, in Japan. Osaka Prefecture held that title until Kansai International Airport was reclaimed from the ocean in the early 1990s, pushing its land area slightly above Kagawa's[citation needed]. Kagawa is a relatively narrow prefecture located between the mountains of Shikoku and the sea.
As of 1 April 2012, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Setonaikai National Park and Ōtaki-Ōkawa Prefectural Natural Park.[5]
Cities[edit]
Eight cities are located in Kagawa Prefecture:
Towns[edit]
Towns and villages in each district:
Mergers[edit]
Economy[edit]
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This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) |
Foods[edit]
Sanuki udon is a famous local food in Kagawa Prefecture. In 2008 there were over 700 udon restaurants in this prefecture.[citation needed]
Demographics[edit]
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This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) |
Education[edit]
Universities[edit]
- Kagawa University in Takamatsu
- Kagawa Prefectural College of Health Sciences
- Shikoku Gakuin University in Zentsuji
- Takamatsu University
- Tokushima Bunri University in Sanuki
Sports[edit]
The sports teams listed below are based in Kagawa.
Baseball
Basketball
Football (Soccer)
Volleyball
Ice Hockey
- Surpass Kagawa Ice Fellows (see Japan Ice Hockey Federation)
Tourism[edit]
- Setonaikai National Park
- Kotohira Shrine
- Shodo Island (AKA "Shodoshima")
- Naoshima Island
- Benesse Art Site Naoshima
- Takamatsu Castle
- Marugame Castle
- Yashima, the island on which the Battle of Yashima was fought
- Ritsurin Garden
- Shikoku Pilgrimage – Zentsū-ji, Motoyama-ji, Yashima-ji, etc.
- Megijima (Onigashima) and Ogijima
- Goshikidai
Based on its ancient name, Sanuki, Kagawa is famous for its Sanuki udon (wheat noodles). Recent years have seen an interest in Sanuki udon across Japan[citation needed], and many Japanese now take day-trips to taste the many Sanuki udon restaurants in Kagawa.
Transportation[edit]
Railroad[edit]
- JR Shikoku
- Kotoden (Takamatsu Kotohira Electric Railroad)
- Kotohira Line
- Shido Line
- Nagao Line
Bus[edit]
Departure from Takamatsu[edit]
- Tokyo Station
- Shinjuku of Tokyo
- Tokyo Disneyland
- Hachioji
- Yokohama
- Nagoya
- Kyoto Station
- Osaka
- Kansai Int'l Airport
- Kobe
- Tokushima
- Kōchi
- Matsuyama
- Yawatahama
- Hiroshima
- Fukuoka
Road[edit]
Expressway[edit]
- Ceto Chuo Expressway
- Takamatsu Expressway
- Matsuyama Expressway
National Highway[edit]
- Route 11 (Tokushima-Takamatsu-Marugame-Niihama-Maysuyama)
- Route 30
- Route 32 (Takamatsu-Kotohira-Kochi)
- Route 193
- Route 318
- Route 319
- Route 377
- Route 436
- Route 438
Port[edit]
- Port of Takamatsu – Ferry route to Uno, Tonoshō (Shōdoshima Island), Kobe, Naoshima
- Port of Marugame
- Port of Tadotsu
- Port of Tonoshō – Ferry route to Okayama, Himeji, Kobe and Osaka.
Airport[edit]
Prefectural symbols[edit]
Sanuki udon, Kotohira Shrine
Miscellaneous topics[edit]
The novel Battle Royale by Koushun Takami was set in the fictional town of Shiroiwa ('Castle Rock') in the Kagawa Prefecture. Okishima, the fictional island on which much of the novel takes place is placed in the Seto Inland Sea. The manga also places Shiroiwa in Kagawa Prefecture, while the film moves Shiroiwa to Kanagawa Prefecture.
References[edit]
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kagawa prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 446 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Takamatsu" at p. 934 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780 at Google Books.
- ^ Ikatachōshi Editing Committee, ed. (March 31, 1987). Ikata Town History (伊方町誌 Ikatachōshi) (in Japanese). Town of Ikata, printed by DAI-ICHI HOKI Publishing.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kagawa prefecture |
- Kagawa Prefecture English homepage
- (Japanese) Official Kagawa Prefecture Japanese homepage
- National Archives of Japan ... Kagawa map (1891)
- Notes from Shikoku in English
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