Inaki Prefecture

**Inaki Prefecture** [阳涛近; いなき・こん] is a prefecture in the Honnan archipelago, the northernmost region of Kanton. It is the smallest prefecture by population, having around 540,000 inhabitants in 2022. The prefectural area is split into the Inakino district (making up the majority of the total area and population) and the island of Kihata located in Inaki Bay. Kihata was considered an independent *oniru* until the 1800s, when it was annexed by the Kantonese and made part of Inaki.

Kōde is the capital and largest city of Inaki Prefecture, with other major cities including Mizumae, Monoda, and Onzukemachi. Inaki Prefecture is also home to the Inaki Sand Dunes, the largest sand dune system in Kanton, and Mount Sudaiwa, the highest peak in the Daizō region. Umiawa Temple is a particularly famous religious site, as is Daishinji Temple on the peak of Mount Genbi. The Omiyama Mountains, a popular site of Kiren pilgrimage since ancient times, are also a famous feature of Inaki.

In the past Inaki has been famous for its mineral wealth especially in the form of gold, iron, coal and sulfur; however, these are no longer produced. The forests of the prefecture are another valuable resource. During the 20th century, the Inaki woodlands were mainly composed of beech but since then there has been an increase towards the production of faster-growing cedar. Despite this, much of the original beech forests have been restored in recent years.

## Geography

Inaki faces the Kantonese mainland to the south. Sheer, rocky cliffs line most of the shoreline, interrupted by a few sandy beaches. The border with Uchi Prefecture on the west is generally formed by the Omiyama mountain range. The Kibun mountains on Naradatsu Peninsula still contain active volcanoes, although they are very small and have not been active for at least two hundred years.

### Lakes and rivers

* Aza River
* Kanechi River
* Shūsei River
* Monoda River
* Mizumae River
* Shire River
* Kōmizu River
* Umeke River
* Harayō River
* Lake Monoda
* Lake Yakuya
* Lake Kisan
* Lake Shiremizu
* Lake Kuro

### Major mountains

The largest mountain range in Inaki is the Kanchi range, which creates a natural border with the neighbouring prefecture of Uchi. Its most prominent peak is Mount Kemuno, with a height of 1,650 metres. However, the largest mountain in the prefecture is Mount Sudaiwa, with a height of 4,100 metres.

* Mount Sudaiwa (2,100m)
* Mount Kemuno (1,650m)
* Mount Seishi (1,500m)
* Mount Mizumae (1,200m)
* Mount Kisan (1,200m)

### Omiyama Mountains

* Mount Genbi (2,300m)
* Mount Zenzu (1,800m)
* Mount Wakae (1,200m)

Inaki has three national parks or *dōho -* the Ki-Inaki National Park which lies on the Naradatsu Peninsula, the Sanda National Park to the east and the Omiyama National Park, which incorporates the Omiyama range and makes it a protected area. Much of the former is taken up by the famed Inaki Sand Dunes, which can draw over 70,000 tourists and visitors a year.

## Climate

Like the other two Honnan prefectures, during the winter, Inaki often experiences very low temperatures and stormy weather which can often complicate travel. Maritime activity and air travel can be frequently disrupted on the southern and northern coasts; additionally, most rivers in the prefecture are prone to freezing. Unlike most of Kanton, the Honnan islands are not normally affected by the June-July rainy season and the relative lack of humidity and warm, sultry weather can make its climate attractive to domestic tourists who prefer the cold.

Inaki is known for receiving high snowfall during winter, and celebrates this weather during the Kōde Snow Festival, which can attract thousands of visitors each year. These Snow Festivals are held in each of the three Honnan prefectures each year in their respective capital cities.

## Economy

Inaki relies largely on fishing and the cultivation of marine products, although agriculture is currently undergoing a resurgence in the prefectural economy too. Tourism is an essential industry to Inaki, especially during the cool summertime when visitors are attacted to the region from hotter and more humid parts of Kanton and other Asian countries. During the winter, skiing and other winter sports bring domestic tourists, and increasingly international visitors, to the prefecture. Inaki's hot spring resorts are particularly popular. In addition, forestry and timber is a small industry.