Toyama Prefecture
| Toyama Prefecture | ||
|---|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | ||
| • Japanese | 富山県 | |
| • Rōmaji | Toyama-ken | |
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| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Chūbu, Hokuriku | |
| Island | Honshu | |
| Capital | Toyama City | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Takakazu Ishii | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4,247.22 km2 (1,639.86 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 33rd | |
| Population (Estimated as of February 1, 2008) | ||
| • Total | 1,104,239 | |
| • Rank | 38th | |
| • Density | 260/km2 (700/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-16 | |
| Districts | 2 | |
| Municipalities | 15 | |
| Flower | Tulip (Tulipa)[1] | |
| Tree | Tateyama Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)[1] | |
| Bird | Ptarmigan[1] | |
| Fish | Japanese amberjack Pasiphaea japonica Firefly squid[1] |
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| Website | pref.toyama.jp | |
Toyama Prefecture (富山県 Toyama-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshu island.[2] The capital is the city of Toyama.[3]
Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity from abundant hydroelectric resources. It also contains East Asia’s only glaciers outside Russia, first recognized in 2012.[4]
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History[edit]
Historically, Toyama Prefecture was Etchū Province.[5] Following the abolition of the han system in 1871, Etchū Province was renamed Niikawa Prefecture, but Imizu District was given to Nanao Prefecture. In 1872 Imizu District was returned by the new Ishikawa Prefecture.
In 1876 Niikawa Prefecture merged into Ishikawa Prefecture but the merger was void in 1881 and the area was reestablished as Toyama Prefecture.
The Itai-itai disease occurred in Toyama around 1950.
Geography[edit]
Toyama Prefecture is bordered by Ishikawa Prefecture to the west, Niigata to the northeast, Nagano to the southeast, Gifu to the south and Sea of Japan to the north.
As of 1 April 2012, 30% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Chūbu-Sangaku and Hakusan National Parks; Noto Hantō Quasi-National Park; and six Prefectural Natural Parks.[6]
Municipalities[edit]
Due to the mergers in the 2000s, Toyama has the fewest municipalities of any prefecture in Japan with 10 cities, 2 districts, 4 towns, and 1 village (before the mergers took place, the prefecture had 9 cities, 18 towns, and 8 villages).
Cities[edit]
Ten cities are located in Toyama Prefecture:
Towns and villages[edit]
Towns and villages in each district:
Mergers[edit]
Economy[edit]
Agriculture[edit]
Toyama is a major producer of high quality rice making use of abundant water sources originating from Mount Tate.
Manufacturing[edit]
Toyama is famous for its historical pharmaceutical industry which remains a top manufacturing industry in the prefecture in terms of manufacturing shipment value followed by electronic parts and devices (industrial robots, general machinery, etc.), and metal products (aluminum, copper etc.) manufacturing.[7]
Energy[edit]
Kurobe Dam generates electricity for the Kansai Electric Power Company. It is located on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture.
Demographics[edit]
Population: 1,104,239 (estimated as of Feb. 1, 2008)
International links[edit]
China, Liaoning Province - May 9, 1984
Brazil, São Paulo State - July 18, 1985
United States, Oregon State - October 19, 1991
Russia, Primorsky Region - August 26, 1992
Transportation[edit]
Rail[edit]
Tokyo: 3 hr 8 min via Joetsu Shinkansen, transfer to Hokuriku Main Line via the Hakutaka Limited Express at Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Osaka: 3 hr 5 min via Thunderbird Limited Express
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen line is expected to be completed in 2014 and will shorten the Tokyo-Toyama trip to approximately 2 hrs 7 min and the Osaka-Toyama trip to approximately 1 hr 40 min.
Expressway[edit]
Air[edit]
- Toyama Airport (TOY)
Domestic[edit]
International[edit]
- Shanghai: 2 hr 30 min via Shanghai Airlines
- Dalian: 2 hr 30 min via Southern China Airlines
- Seoul: 1 hr 50 min via Asiana Airlines
- Vladivostok: 2 hr 40 min via Vladivostok Airlines
- As of April 2008 all international carriers have 3 flights a week with additional flights during peak seasons
Culture[edit]
UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites[edit]
Gokayama Historical Village (Nanto City)
National Treasures of Japan[edit]
Zuiryū-ji Temple (Takaoka City)
Festivals[edit]
Spring
- All Japan Chindon Competition (Toyama City (Toyama Castle Park), Mid April
- Tonami Tulip Fair (Tonami City), May
- Marumage Festival (Himi City), May 17
Summer
- Sassa Narimasa Sengoku Era Festival (Toyama City), Late July
- Japan Wildlife Film Festival (Toyama Prefecture), Early August
Fall
- Toyama Festival (Toyama City), Sept. 1
- Owara Kaze no Bon (Toyama City (Yatsuo Area)), Sept. 1-3
- Mugiya Festival (Nanto City (Johana Area)), Mid Sept.
- Kokiriko Festival (Nanto City (Hakusan Shrine)), Sept. 25-26
Winter
- Nanto Toga Soba Festival (Nanto City (Toga Village Area)), Mid Feb.
Regional Foods[edit]
- Trout Sushi (Masu no Sushi)
- White Shrimp (Shiro Ebi)
- Matured Yellow Tail (Buri)
- Firefly Squid (Hotaru Ika)
- Fish Paste (Kamaboko)
Regional Sake[edit]
- Tateyama (立山)
- Narimasa (成政)
- Masuizumi (満寿泉)
- Sanshoraku (三笑楽）
Sports[edit]
The sports teams listed below are based in Toyama.
Football (soccer)
Basketball
Baseball
Rugby Union
Tourism[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c d "富山県の魅力・観光>シンボル". Toyama Prefectural website (in Japanese). Toyama Prefecture. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Toyama prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 991 at Google Books; "Hokuriku" at p. 344 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Toyama" at p. 991 at Google Books.
- ^ First glaciers of Japan recognised
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780 at Google Books.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry: 2004 Industrial Statistics
References[edit]
- 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
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Toyama prefecture |
- Official Toyama Prefecture Homepage (English)
- Toyama Prefecture International Center (English)
- National Archives of Japan Toyama Map (1891)
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