Shingū, Wakayama
| Shingū 新宮市 |
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 Shingū
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| Coordinates: 33°43′N 136°0′E / 33.717°N 136°ECoordinates: 33°43′N 136°0′E / 33.717°N 136°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kansai | ||
| Prefecture | Wakayama | ||
| District | Higashimuro District of Wakayama | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Michitoshi Taoka (since November 2009) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 255.43 km2 (98.62 sq mi) | ||
| Population (May 1, 2011) | |||
| • Total | 32,288 | ||
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City symbols | |||
| - Tree | Nageia nagi, Kumano sugi, Tendaiuyaku (Lindera strychnifolia) | ||
| - Flower | Crinum asiaticum and Kawasatsuki | ||
| Phone number | 0735-23-3333 | ||
| Address | 1-1 Kasuga, Shingū-shi, Wakayama-ken 647-8555 |
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| Website | Shingū City | ||
Shingū (新宮市 Shingū-shi) is a city located in Wakayama, Japan.
As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 32,288, with a household number of 16,003, and the density of 126.41 persons per km². The total area is 255.43 km².
Shingu literally means 'New Shrine' and refers to Hayatama Shrine, one of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (See [1]). The 'old shrine' would be Kamikura Shrine.
Shingu is the central commercial city of the Kumano region in Japan, and is one of the largest cities in Wakayama Prefecture.
The city was founded on October 1, 1933.
It is a sister city to Santa Cruz, California.[citation needed][1]
Each Spring, The City of Santa Cruz sends about 14 middle school/ high school delegates to visit Shingu and to interact with the Japanese society.
On October 1, 2005 the town of Kumanogawa, from Higashimuro District merged with Shingū.
Siteseeing
Tankaku Castle, aka Shingu Castle. Only the foundations remain, for during the Meiji Restoration, it was torn down.
The Three Sacred Kumano Shrines: Hongu, Hayatama, and Taisha
The Kamikura Shrine, the "new shrine" of Shingu. The Great sacred rock "Gotobiki-iwa" is enshrined here.
Kumano River- arguably one of the most beautiful and rivers in all of Japan
Aikido Dojo- the birthplace of Aikido (a martial art). Aikido is widely practiced throughout Shingu-shi and in Santa Cruz (California, USA).
Local Cuisine
A main dish is Nare-zushi, a very traditional type of sushi which, centuries ago, was imported from Southeast Asia to China, and from China to Japan. Narezushi was the birth of sushi, and influenced how the Japanese later made their own styles of sushi that most of us know today.
Another common dish is saury. Saury is a type of fish commonly used as Sashimi in this region. Whale and dolphin meat, controversially caught in Taiji-cho (13 miles away), is also eaten. Due to the movie "The Cove", however, many Japanese have realized how cruel and inhumane these hunts truly are.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Media related to Shingū, Wakayama at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (Japanese)
http://kumano-shingu.com/index.html
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