Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture

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Wakayama Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 和歌山県
 • Rōmaji Wakayama-ken

Symbol of Wakayama Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Island Honshū
Capital Wakayama
Government
 • Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka
Area
 • Total 4,725.67 km2 (1,824.59 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/
Map of Wakayama Prefecture.

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]

Contents

History

Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.[3]

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]

Geography

Cities

Nine cities are located in Wakayama Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

Economy

Wakayama supplies most of Japan with its high production of mikans (Mandarin Oranges) in October of every year.

Demographics

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.

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.

Tourism

Transportation

Railroad

Road

Expressway

  • Hanwa Expressway
  • Keinawa Expressway
  • Yuasa Gobo Road
  • Nachi Katsuura Road

National Highway

Ferry

Airport

Education

University

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Wakayama prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 1026 at Google Books; "Kansai" in p. 477 at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Wakayama" in p. 1025 at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780 at Google Books.
  4. ^ UNESCO.org
  5. ^ 友好・姉妹提携 Wakayama Prefecture official Web site retrieved May 16, 2008

References

External links

Coordinates: 34°3′N 135°21′E / 34.05°N 135.35°E / 34.05; 135.35

Questions for article: vakajama mandarina

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