Fukuoka Prefecture
Template:Infobox Prefecture Japan Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県, Fukuoka-ken) is located on Kyūshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.
History
Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen.
Geography
Fukuoka Prefecture faces the sea on three sides, bordering on Saga, Ōita, and Kumamoto prefectures and facing Yamaguchi Prefecture across the Kanmon Straits.
Fukuoka includes the two largest cities on Kyūshū, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and much of Kyūshū's industry. It also includes a number of small islands near the north coast of Kyūshū.
Cities
Twenty-six cities are located in Fukuoka Prefecture:
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district.
ǂ Scheduled to be dissolved following mergers.
Mergers
- On April 1, 2003, the town of Genkai from Munakata District and the old city of Munakata merged to create the new city of Munakata.
- On January 24, 2005, the former towns of Fukuma and Tsuyazaki (from Munakata District) merged, forming the city of Fukutsu.
- On February 5, 2005, the towns of Kitano (from Mii District), Jojima and Mizuma (from Mizuma District), and Tanushimaru (from Ukiha District) merged into the city of Kurume.
- On March 20, 2005, the towns of Ukiha and Yoshii from Ukiha District merged to form the new city of Ukiha. Ukiha District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
- On March 21, 2005, the towns of Yamato and Mitsuhashi from Yamato District and the old city of Yanagawa merged to form the new city of Yanagawa.
- On March 22, 2005, the towns of Miwa and Yasu from Asakura District merged to form the new town of Chikuzen.
- OnMarch 28, 2005, the villages of Koishiwara and Hoshuyama from Asakura District merged to form the new village of Toho.
- On March 28, 2005, the village of Oshima merged into the city of Munakata. Munakata District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
- On October 11, 2005, the villages of Taihei and Yoshitomi from Chikujo District merged to form the new town of Koge.
- On January 10, 2006, the towns of Tsuiki and Shiida from Chikujo District merged to form the new town of Chikujo.
- On February 11, 2006, the towns of Miyata and Wakamiya from Kurate District merged to form the new town of Miyawaka.
- On March 6, 2006, the towns of Akaike, Hōjō and Kanada from Tagawa District merged to form the new town of Fukuchi.
- On March 20, 2006, the municipalities of Asakura and Haki from Asakura District merged with the city of Amagi to form the new city of Asakura.
- On March 20, 2006, the towns of Katsuyama, Saigawa and Toyotsu from Miyako District merged to form the new town of Miyako.
- On March 26, 2006, the municipalities of Chikuho, Honami, Kaita, and Shonai (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Iizuka to form the new city, also called Iizuka.
- On March 27, 2006, the municipalities of Inatsuki, Kaho, and Usui (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Yamada to form the new city of Kama.
- On October 1, 2006, the town of Joyo from Yame District merged into the city of Yame.
Future mergers
- Yamato District and Miike District are scheduled to merge to form the new city of Miyama on January 29, 2007. Both districts will be dissolved after the merger.
Economy
Fukuoka prefecture's main cities form one of Japan's main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel. There are separate economic areas (toshiken) around Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and very rarely the term "Fukuoka-Kitakyushu" is also used.
Universities
| Institution | Location |
| Fukuoka University | Fukuoka |
| Kurume University | Kurume |
| Kyushu Institute of Technology | Kitakyushu and Iizuka |
| Kyushu University | Fukuoka |
| Seinan Gakuin University | Fukuoka |
| Kyūshū Institute of Information Sciences | Dazaifu |
| Kyūshū Sangyo University | Fukuoka |
Demographics
Culture
- Fukuoka Art Museum - In Ohori Park; contains a wide selection of contemporary and other art from around the world.
- Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - contains art from various countries of Asia.
- Fukuoka City Museum - displays a broad range of items from the region's history, including a spectacular gold seal.
- Genko Historical Museum (Museum of the Mongol Invasion) - In Higashi Koen (East Park); displays Japanese and Mongolian arms and armor from the 13th century as well as paintings on historical subjects.
- Hakata Machiya Folk Museum - Dedicated to displaying the traditional ways of life, speech, and culture of the Fukuoka region.
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka.
Football (soccer)
Baseball
Rugby
Tourism
Fukuoka is not well-known as a tourist center. The most popular place for tourists is Fukuoka City, although Kitakyushu has also tried to attract tourists.
Prefectural symbols
Miscellaneous topics
External links
- Template:En icon Official Fukuoka Prefecture homepage
- Template:En icon Official website of the Fukuoka Olympic Bid Committee
- Template:En icon Official Fukuoka Tourism Association website
- Template:En icon Fukuoka information homepage
- Template:En icon Fukuoka Guide, get more out of Fukuoka, Japan's mini-metro
| Fukuoka |
|  | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitakyushu |
| |||
| Core city | ||||
| Cities | ||||
| Districts | ||||
