Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県, Wakayama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [wa.kaꜜ.ja.ma, wa.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Wakayama Prefecture has a population of 876,030 (as of 1 February 2025) and a geographic area of 4,724 square kilometres (1,824 sq mi). Wakayama Prefecture borders Osaka Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture and Nara Prefecture to the northeast. Wakayama is the capital and largest city of Wakayama Prefecture, with other major cities including Tanabe, Hashimoto, and Kinokawa. Wakayama Prefecture is located on the southwestern coast of the Kii Peninsula on the Kii Channel, connecting the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, across from Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. History Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii. 1953 flood disaster On July 17–18, 1953, a torrential heavy rain occurred, followed by collapse of levees, river flooding and landslides in a wide area. Many bridges and houses were destroyed. According to an officially confirmed report by the Government of Japan, 1,015 people died, with 5,709 injured and 7,115 houses lost. Geography As of 31 March 2020, 13 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Setonaikai and Yoshino-Kumano National Parks; Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen and Kōya-Ryūjin Quasi-National Parks; and Enju Kaigan, Hatenashi Sanmyaku, Hikigawa, Jōgamori Hokodai, Kōyasanchō Ishimichi-Tamagawakyō, Kozagawa, Nishiarida, Oishi Kōgen, Ōtōsan, Ryūmonzan, Shiramisan-Wadagawakyō, and Shirasaki Kaigan Prefectural Natural Parks. Cities Nine cities are in Wakayama Prefecture: Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each district: Mergers Demographics Since 1996, population of Wakayama Prefecture has kept declining, and since 2010, it has been the only prefecture in Kansai region with population below 1,000,000. In 2017, Wakayama is ranked 40th by population in Japan with a population of 944,320. In the 2020 census, close to 32% of the population was over 65 years of age - the highest percentage in Japan and one of the highest for national subdivisions worldwide. Politics Governor Shūhei Kishimoto was elected on 27 November 2022. Prefectural assembly List of governors of Wakayama State-appointed governors: Publicly elected governors: 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 pilgrimage site 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. The Kumano Shrines are on the southern tip of the prefecture. Tomogashima (a cluster of four islands) is part of the prefecture. Agriculture Orange Wakayama Prefecture ranks first in the production of oranges in Japan. Wakayama has its own brand of oranges, which is produced in Arida District and called 'Arida-Orange'. Arida District, where oranges have been produced for more than 400 years, yields about half of the orange crops in Wakayama today. Furthermore, the yield of Arida-Oranges accounts for about 10 percent of Japanese domestic production of oranges. Chinese flowering plum (Ume) According to the survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Wakayama stands first in the production of Chinese flowering plum, or ume in Japanese, in Japan. As of 2016, Wakayama made up about 70 percent of Japanese domestic production of ume. International relations Wakayama Prefecture has friendship and sister relationships with six places outside Japan: Florida, United States Galicia, Spain Pyrénées-Orientales, France Shandong, People's Republic of China Sichuan, People's Republic of China Sinaloa, Mexico Tourism Wakayama Prefecture has hot springs such as Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, and Yunomine Onsen. Transportation Rail JR Central Kisei Line JR West Hanwa Line Kinokuni Line Wakayama Line Kishu Railway Nankai Kada Line Koya Line Nankai Line Wakayama Electric Railway Road Expressway Hanwa Expressway Keinawa Expressway Nachi Katsuura Road Yuasa Gobo Road National highways 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 Ferry Wakayama-Tokushima Airport Nanki Shirahama Airport However, Kansai International Airport in neighbouring Osaka Prefecture is also used by air travellers from the prefecture which more domestic and international destinations. Education Universities Kinki University Koyasan University Wakayama Medical University Wakayama University Notes References Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128 External links Official Wakayama Prefecture Web Site The Official Wakayama, Kansai Travel Guide