Wakayama Prefecture
| Wakayama Prefecture | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |||
| • Japanese | 和歌山県 | ||
| • Rōmaji | Wakayama-ken | ||
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| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kansai | ||
| Island | Honshū | ||
| Capital | Wakayama | ||
| Government | |||
| • Governor | Yoshinobu Nisaka | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4,725.67 km2 (1,824.6 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 30th | ||
| Population (November 1, 2010) | |||
| • Total | 998,637 | ||
| • Rank | 39th | ||
| • Density | 211.32/km2 (547.3/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/ |
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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]
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[edit] History
Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.[3]
[edit] 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster
On July 17 to 18, a torrential heavy rain occurred, followed by collapse of levees, river flooding and landslides in widely area, which destroyed many bridges and houses. According to Japanese Government official confirmed report, 1,015 people died, with 5,709 injured and 7,115 houses lost.[citation needed]
[edit] Geography
[edit] Cities
Nine cities are located in Wakayama Prefecture:
[edit] Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
[edit] Mergers
[edit] Economy
Wakayama supplies most of Japan with its high production of mikans (Mandarin Oranges) in October of every year.
[edit] Demographics
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Taiji Dolphin Drive Hunting
The town of Taiji is home to Japan's largest dolphin slaughter. The town's small fishing fleet uses the usual method of drive hunting to pressure dolphin species into a small cove, eventually trapping them in a netted enclosure. As well as capturing attractive dolphins to be sold to overseas dolphinariums, the rest, as much as 23,000 are killed a year in Japan, most of which in Taiji. The slaughter was first publicly exposed in the 2009 award-winning documentary, The Cove, sparking worldwide outrage and protests.[6]
[edit] Tourism
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Saikazaki, Wakanoura
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The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama
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Konpon Daido
(Mount Koya) -
Daimonzaka
(Kumano Kodō)
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Railroad
[edit] Road
[edit] Expressway
- Hanwa Expressway
- Keinawa Expressway
- Yuasa Gobo Road
- Nachi Katsuura Road
[edit] National Highway
- Route 24
- Route 26
- Route 42
- Route 168 (Shingu-Gojo-Ikoma-Hirakata)
- Route 169 (Shingu-Kumano-Kawakami-Yoshino-Asuka-Kashihara-Nara)
- Route 311 (Kamitonda-Tanabe-Shingu-kumano-Owase)
- Route 370 (Kainan-Hashimoto-Gojo-Uda-Nara)
- Route 371 (Kawachinagano-Hashimoto-Koya-Kushimoto)
- Route 424
[edit] Ferry
- Wakayama-Tokushima
[edit] Airport
[edit] Education
[edit] University
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Wakayama prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 1026 at Google Books; "Kansai" in p. 477 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Wakayama" in p. 1025 at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780 at Google Books.
- ^ UNESCO.org
- ^ 友好・姉妹提携 Wakayama Prefecture official Web site retrieved May 16, 2008
- ^ [1]
[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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wakayama prefecture |
- Official Wakayama Prefecture homepage
- Wakayama Tourist Guide
- Nanki Sightseeing Guide
- Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau
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