Iwate Prefecture

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Iwate
岩手県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • RomajiIwate-ken
Flag of Iwate
Official seal of Iwate
Location of Iwate in Japan
Location of Iwate in Japan
Coordinates: 39°42′12″N 141°9′9″E / 39.70333°N 141.15250°E / 39.70333; 141.15250Coordinates: 39°42′12″N 141°9′9″E / 39.70333°N 141.15250°E / 39.70333; 141.15250
Country Japan
RegionTohoku
IslandHonshu
CapitalMorioka
Government
 • GovernorTakuya Tasso
Area
 • Total15,278.40 km2 (5,899.02 sq mi)
Area rank2nd
Population
 (1 Oct 2010)
 • Total1,330,530
 • Rank30th
 • Density87/km2 (230/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-03
Prefectural flowerPaulownia tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Prefectural treeNanbu red pine (Pinus densiflora)
Prefectural birdGreen pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Number of districts10
Number of municipalities33
Websitewww.pref.iwate.jp

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]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 780. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 790. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  5. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  6. Nippon-Kichi, "Saw-tooth Sanriku Coastline". Retrieved 2012-1-12.
  7. Japan-i, Sanriku Coastline/Kamaishi Daikannon Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-12.
  8. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 970. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  9. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.
  10. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Towada-Hachimantai National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
  11. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Rikuchu Kaigan National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
  12. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-17.
  13. "World Heritage Hiraizumi". Retrieved 2013-07-10.

Other websites[change | change source]