Miyagi Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan. It is part of the Tōhoku region of the island of Honshu. The capital city is Sendai.

History 
Miyagi Prefecture used to be part of Mutsu Province. That province was in the northern part of Honshu. It was made from land taken from the indigenous Emishi. The province became the largest as it expanded to the north. The ancient capital was in modern Miyagi Prefecture.
 
During the Sengoku period, various clans ruled different parts of the province. Date Masamune was a close ally of the Tokugawa. He established Sendai, which is now the largest town of the Tōhoku region.

In the Meiji period, four new provinces were created from parts of Mutsu: Rikuchū, Rikuzen, Iwaki, and Iwashiro. In 1871, Sendai Prefecture was formed.  It was renamed Miyagi prefecture the following year.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture. It caused major damage to the area. The tsunami was about 10 meters high in parts of Miyagi Prefecture.

Cities 
There are thirteen cities in Miyagi Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

National parks
National parks cover about 23% of the total land area of the prefecture. They include:
 Rikuchu Kaigan National Park

Economy 
Farming, fishing and sake brewing are all important in Miyagi. As of March 2011, the prefecture made 4.7% of Japan's rice, 23% of its oysters, and 15.9% of its saury fish. Manufacturing around Sendai is a larger part of the economy. The area produces electronics, appliances, and processed food.

Education 
Universities
Miyagi University
Miyagi University of Education
Miyagi Gakuin Women's University
Sendai University
Sendai Shirayuri Women's College
Tohoku University
Tohoku Gakuin University
Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
Tohoku Institute of Technology
Tohoku Fukushi University
Tohoku Seikatsu Bunka College
Tohoku Pharmaceutical University
Shokei Gakuin University
Ishinomaki Senshu University

Transportation

Train 
JR East
Tohoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Line
Joban Line
Senseki Line
Senzan Line
Ishinomaki Line
Rikuu East Line
Ofunato Line
 Sendai Municipal Subway Nanboku Line
 Abukuma Express Railway
 Sendai Airport Railway

Airports
Sendai Airport was badly damaged by the 2011 tsunami.

Sight-seeing 
Sendai was the castle town of the daimyo Date Masamune. The remains of Sendai Castle are on a hill above the city.

Miyagi Prefecture has one of Japan's Three Great Views. Matsushima Bay is full of small islands with old pine trees on them. Many visitors come here every year and many artists have painted the islands.

The following are also noted as attractions:

 Aoba Castle
 Ichibanchō
 Akiu Hot Spring
 Iwai Point
 Kinkasan Islet
 Naruko Hot Spring

 Rikuchu Coast
 Okama Crater Lake
 Zao Botanical Garden
 Zao Hot Spring
 Matushima
 Shiogama

Festivals and events 

 Aoba Festival, Suzume Dancing – May
 Sendai Tanabata Festival – August 6 to 8
 Sendai Pageant of Starlight – December
 Shiogama Port Festival – July
 Shiroishi Kokeshi Exhibition – May 3 to 5
 Narugo Kokeshi Festival – September

Shrines and temples
Shigogama jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.

Related pages
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan
 Vegalta Sendai
 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

References

Other websites 

 http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/english/index.htm ; Official