Tottori Prefecture
| Tottori Prefecture | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |||
| • Japanese | 鳥取県 | ||
| • Rōmaji | Tottori-ken | ||
|
|||
 |
|||
| Coordinates: 35°27′N 133°46′E / 35.45°N 133.767°ECoordinates: 35°27′N 133°46′E / 35.45°N 133.767°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Chūgoku | ||
| Island | Honshu | ||
| Capital | Tottori (city) | ||
| Government | |||
| • Governor | Shinji Hirai | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3,507.19 km2 (1,354.13 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 41st | ||
| Population (April 1, 2011) | |||
| • Total | 584,982 | ||
| • Rank | 47th | ||
| • Density | 166.89/km2 (432.2/sq mi) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | JP-31 | ||
| Districts | 5 | ||
| Municipalities | 19 | ||
| Flower | Nijisseiki nashi pear blossom (Pyrus pyrifolia) | ||
| Tree | Daisenkyaraboku (Taxus cuspidata) | ||
| Bird | Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) | ||
| Website | www.pref.tottori.jp/ english/ |
||
Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県 Tottori-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region.[1] The capital is the city of Tottori.[2] It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.
Contents |
[edit] History
Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba.[3] The word "Tottori" originates from the characters meaning "bird" (鳥) and "to get" (取), as early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl.
[edit] Geography
Tottori is home to the Tottori Sand Dunes, Japan's only large dune system.
As of 31 March 2008, 14% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Daisen-Oki and Sanin Kaigan National Parks; Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku and Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Parks; and Misasa-Tōgōko, Nishi Inaba, and Okuhino Prefectural Natural Parks.[4]
[edit] Cities
Four cities are located in Tottori Prefecture:
- Kurayoshi
- Sakaiminato
- Tottori (capital)
- Yonago
[edit] Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each district:
[edit] Mergers
[edit] Economy
Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to major cities. Some of the famous products are nashi pear, nagaimo yam, Japanese scallion, negi, and watermelon. The prefecture is also a major center of rice production.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.
[edit] Education
[edit] Universities
[edit] Noted places
- Tottori Sand Dunes
- Daisen, the highest of the Chūgoku Mountains, 1,729 m (5,673 ft)
- Misasa Onsen
- Kitarō Road, a street in Sakaiminato dedicated to Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro manga character
- Lake Koyama
- Nakaumi, a brackish lake located between Tottori Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture, fifth largest lake in Japan
- Sanbutsu-ji, a Heian period temple designated a National Treasure of Japan
- The Ishitani Residence, an Edo period family residence designated a National Treasure of Japan
- Jinpūkaku, a late Meiji period residence
- Mukibanda Remains, the largest site of Yayoi period settlement in Japan
- Tottori Hanakairo-Flower Park, the largest flower park in Japan
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Rail
[edit] Roads
[edit] Expressway and toll roads
- Tottori Expressway
- Yonago Expressway
- Sanin Expressway
- Shidosaka Pass Road
- Tottori-Toyooka-Miyazu Road
[edit] National highways
- Route 9
- Route 29 (Tottori-Shiso-Himeji)
- Route 53 (Tottori-Tsuyama-Okayama)
- Route 178
- Route 179
- Route 180
- Route 181 (Yonago-Niimi-Okayama)
- Route 183
- Route 313
- Route 373
- Route 431
- Route 482
[edit] Ports
- Sakai Port - ferry route to Oki Island, and international container hub
[edit] Airports
[edit] Prefectural symbols
The symbol is derived from the first mora in Japanese for "と" combined with the picture of a flying bird, and symbolizes peace, liberty, and the advancement of the Tottori prefecture. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100th year from the first year of the Meiji Era.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tottori Prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 990 at Google Books; "Chūgoku" at p. 127 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Tottori" at p. 990 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780 at Google Books.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Ministry of the Environment. http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
[edit] References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 10-ISBN 0-674-01753-6; 13-ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tottori prefecture |
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
