Toyama Prefecture

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**Toyama Prefecture (富山県; *Toyama-ken*)**

Capital	Toyama (city)
Region	Chūbu
Island	Honshū
Governor	Takakazu Ishii
Area	4,247.22 km² (33^rd)
- % water	0.1%
Population (October 1, 2001)
- Population	1,120,320 (38^th)
- Density	264 /km²
Districts	2
Municipalities	15
ISO 3166-2	JP-16
Website	www.pref.toyama.jp/ master/02guide/ welcome/welcome_e.htm
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Tulip (Tulipa)
- Tree	Tateyamasugi (Cryptomeria japonica)
- Bird	Snow grouse (Lagopus mutus)
Symbol of Toyama Prefecture

Toyama Prefecture (富山県, Toyama-ken^?) is located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Toyama.

Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan-sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity. The Itai-itai disease occurred in Toyama around 1950.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Transportation
6 Culture
7 Tourism
8 Prefectural symbols
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External links

[edit] History

Historically, Toyama Prefecture was Etchu Province.

[edit] Geography

Map of Toyama Prefecture.

[edit] Cities

Ten cities are located in Toyama Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

Nakaniikawa District

Funahashi

Kamiichi

Tateyama

Shimoniikawa District

Asahi

Nyuzen

[edit] Mergers

On November 1, 2004, the town of Shogawa from Higashitonami District and the old city of Tonami merged to form the city of Tonami.

On November 1, 2004, the municipalities of Fukuno, Inami, Johana, Inokuchi, Kamitaira, Taira and Toga (all from Higashitonami District) and Fukumitsu from Nishitonami District merged to form the new city of Nanto. Higashitonami District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On April 1, 2005, the towns of Osawano and Oyama from Kaminiikawa District and the towns and villages of Fuchu, Hosoiri, Yamada and Yatsuo (all from Nei District) merged with the old city of Toyama to form the new city of Toyama. Kaminiikawa District and Nei District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.

On November 1, 2005, the city of Shinminato and the municipalities of Daimon, Kosugi, Oshima and Shimo (all from Imizu District) merged to form the new city of Imizu. Imizu District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On November 1, 2005, the town of Fukuoka from Nishitonami District merged with the old city of Takaoka to form the new city of Takaoka. Nishitonami District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On March 31, 2006, the town of Unazuki from Shimoniikawa District merged with the old city of Kurobe to form the new city of Kurobe.

[edit] Economy

The Kurobe dam generates hydroelectricity for Kansai Electric Power Company. It is located on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Transportation

The region is traversed by the Hokuriku Line, with high speed rail access to Osaka via the Thunderbird train. The Shirasagi train allows for easy transfer to the Nagano shinkansen bullet-train line. For travel to Tokyo, take the Hakutaka train to Nagaoka or Echigo Yuzawa and transfer to the Joetsu Shinkansen.