Nagano Prefecture

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Nagano Prefecture (長野県 Nagano-ken)
Map of Japan with Nagano highlighted
Capital Nagano
Region Chūbu
Island Honshū
Governor Jin Murai
Area (rank) 13,585.22 km² (4th)
 - % water 0.2%
Population  (March 1, 2003)
 - Population 2,215,973 (16th)
 - Density 163 /km²
Districts 14
Municipalities 81
ISO 3166-2 JP-20
Website www.pref.nagano.jp/
english/indexe.htm
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
 - Tree White birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica)
 - Bird Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)
Symbol of Nagano Prefecture
Symbol of Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture (長野県 Nagano-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.

Contents

[edit] History

Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano, and was divided among many local daimyo during the Sengoku period.

Nagano was host to the 1998 Winter Olympics, which gained the prefecture international recognition as well as gaining the prefecture a Shinkansen line to Tokyo.

Map of Nagano Prefecture.
Map of Nagano Prefecture.

[edit] Geography

Nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan can be found in this inland prefecture. Nagano is also the prefecture which is bordered by the highest number of other prefectures in Japan and it contains the location which is the furthest point from the ocean anywhere in Japan. Lakes featured within the region include Lake Kizaki, a beach resort popular for its water attractions and games.

The province's mountains have made it relatively isolated, and many people come for its mountain resorts and hot springs.

[edit] Cities

Nineteen cities are located in Nagano Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Aoki
Nagawa
Sakaki
Asahi
Chikuhoku
Hata
Ikusaka
Omi
Yamagata
Iijima
Minamiminowa
Minowa
Miyada
Nakagawa
Tatsuno
Iizuna
Nakajō
Ogawa
Shinano
Shinshūshin
Obuse
Takayama
Agematsu
Kiso (village)
Kiso (town)
Nagiso
Ōkuwa
Ōtaki
Hakuba
Ikeda
Matsukawa
Otari
Karuizawa
Miyota
Tateshina
Kawakami
Kitaaiki
Koumi
Minamiaiki
Minamimaki
Sakuho
Achi
Anan
Hiraya
Matsukawa
Neba
Ōshika
Seinaiji
Shimojō
Takagi
Takamori
Tenryū
Toyooka
Urugi
Yasuoka
Sakae
Kijimadaira
Nozawaonsen
Yamanouchi
Fujimi
Hara
Shimosuwa

[edit] Mergers

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

[edit] Tourism

Zenkō-ji
Zenkō-ji

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Media

[edit] Television

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

  • Nagano's former governor, Yasuo Tanaka, is an independent who has made a reputation internationally for attacking Japan's status quo. Among other issues, he has refused national government money for construction projects that he deems unnecessary, such as dams, and has overhauled (locally) the press club system that is blamed for limiting government access to journalists who give favorable coverage. Tanaka was voted out from office on August 6, 2006 and was replaced by Jin Murai.
  • Sasuke competitor Shinji Kobayashi, who works as a garbage man, is from Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Nagano Prefecture Nagano Prefecture
Flag of Nagano Prefecture
Cities
Azumino | Chikuma | Chino | Iida | Iiyama | Ina | Komagane | Komoro | Matsumoto | Nagano | Nakano | Okaya | Omachi | Saku | Shiojiri | Suwa | Suzaka | Tomi | Ueda
Districts
Chiisagata | Hanishina | Higashichikuma | Kamiina | Kamiminochi | Kamitakai | Kiso | Kitaazumi | Kitasaku | Minamisaku | Shimoina | Shimominochi | Shimotakai | Suwa
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 36°15′N, 138°6′E