Iwate Prefecture
Iwate
岩手県 | |
|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |
| • Romaji | Iwate-ken |
 Symbol | |
 Location of Iwate in Japan | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Tohoku |
| Island | Honshu |
| Capital | Morioka |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Takuya Tasso |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15,278.40 km2 (5,899.02 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 2nd |
| Population (1 Oct 2010) | |
| • Total | 1,330,530 |
| • Rank | 30th |
| • Density | 87/km2 (230/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-03 |
| Prefectural flower | Paulownia tree (Paulownia tomentosa) |
| Prefectural tree | Nanbu red pine (Pinus densiflora) |
| Prefectural bird | Green pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) |
| Number of districts | 10 |
| Number of municipalities | 33 |
| Website | www |
Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is a prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is on the island of Honshu.[1] The capital city is Morioka.[2]
History[change | change source]
The area of Iwate was part of Mutsu Province.[3]
In 1869, Mutsu was split into five new provinces: Rikuōku,[4] Rikuchū,[4] Rikuzen,[4] Iwashiro[1] and Iwaki.[5] The first three of these together known as the "Three Riku", or Sanriku.[6]
The new provinces were abolished in July 1871.[7]
In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. Maps of Japan and Mutsu Province were changed in the 1870s.[3]
Geography[change | change source]
Iwate is the second largest prefecture after Hokkaido.[1]
The prefecture is in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island. It has the island's easternmost point.[8] The eastern coastline faces the Pacific Ocean. Iwate shares its northern border with Aomori Prefecture. The western border meets Akita Prefecture. Its southern border is shared with Miyagi Prefecture.
Cities[change | change source]
National Parks[change | change source]
National parks cover about 5% of the total land area of the prefecture.[9] They include:
Shrines and temples[change | change source]
Tsutsukowake jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of the prefecture.[12]
The Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi include Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji. Hiraizumi was added to the World Heritage List in June 2011.[13]
Related pages[change | change source]
- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Iwate Museum of Art
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 780. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 790. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nippon-Kichi, "Saw-tooth Sanriku Coastline". Retrieved 2012-1-12.
- ↑ Japan-i, Sanriku Coastline/Kamaishi Daikannon Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-12.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 970. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Towada-Hachimantai National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Rikuchu Kaigan National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
- ↑ "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-17.
- ↑ "World Heritage Hiraizumi". Retrieved 2013-07-10.
Other websites[change | change source]
- http://www.pref.iwate.jp/info.rbz?ik=1&nd=4334 Archived 2012-01-19 at the Wayback Machine; (in Japanese)
