Fukui Prefecture

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Fukui Prefecture (福井県 Fukui-ken)
Map of Japan with Fukui highlighted
Capital Fukui
Region Chūbu
Island Honshū
Governor Issei Nishikawa
Area 4,188.99 km² (34th)
 - % water 0.2%
Population  (2005)
 - Population 821,589 (43rd)
 - Density 198 /km²
Districts 8
Municipalities 20
ISO 3166-2 JP-18
Website www.pref.fukui.jp/english/
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta)
 - Tree Pine tree (Pinus)
 - Bird Dusky thrush (Turdus naumanni)
Symbol of Fukui Prefecture
Symbol of Fukui Prefecture

Fukui Prefecture (福井県 Fukui-ken?) is located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Fukui.

Contents

[edit] History

Fukui originally consisted of the old provinces of Wakasa and Echizen, before the prefecture was formed in 1871.

During the Edo period, the daimyō of the region was surnamed Matsudaira, and was a descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

[edit] Geography

Map of Fukui Prefecture.
Enlarge
Map of Fukui Prefecture.

The province faces the Sea of Japan, and has a western part (former Wakasa) which is a narrow plain between the mountains and the sea, and a larger eastern part (former Echizen) with wider plains including the capital and most of the population.

[edit] Cities

Nine cities are located in Fukui Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

Ikeda
Mihama
Wakasa
Minamiechizen
Echizen
Ōi
Takahama
Eiheiji

[edit] Mergers

(as of March 20, 2006)

[edit] Economy

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

  • Fukui Prefecture is home to Maruoka-jō, the oldest castle still standing in Japan. It was built in 1572.
  • Eiheiji is a serene temple offering training and education to Buddhist monks. Founded by Dogen Zenji in 1244, Eiheiji is located on a plot of land of about 330,000 m².
  • Many dinosaur fossils have been excavated in Fukui and they can been seen at the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.
  • Residents of Fukui Prefecture have a distinctive accent, Fukui-ben.
The Cliffs of Tojimbo
Enlarge
The Cliffs of Tojimbo

[edit] Tourism

  • Echizen Kaigan Coast
  • Eihei Temple
  • Tojimbo, a scenic piece of coastline.
  • Visitors to Fukui can enjoy eating echizen-gani crabs prepared by local residents. Male crabs are called zuwai and female ones are called seiko.

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:



Shadow picture of Fukui Prefecture Fukui Prefecture
Cities
Awara | Echizen | Fukui (capital) | Katsuyama | Obama | Ōno | Sabae | Sakai | Tsuruga
Districts
Imadate | Mikata | Mikatakaminaka | Nanjō | Nyū | Ōi | Yoshida
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 35°59′N 136°11′E