is a prefecture

Prefectures of Japan

The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...

 of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 located on the south coast of Shikoku

Shikoku

is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...

. The capital is the city of Kōchi

Kochi, Kochi

is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan.Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of May 31, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 340,515 and a density of...

.

History

Prior to the Meiji Restoration

Meiji Restoration

The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...

, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province

Tosa Province

is the name of a former province of Japan in the area that is today Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku. Tosa was bordered by Iyo and Awa Provinces. It was sometimes called .-History:The ancient capital was near modern Nankoku...

 and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan

Chosokabe clan

The was a Japanese samurai clan of the Sengoku period, that controlled Tosa Province , and later Shikoku Island. The clan is sometimes also known as...

 in the Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

 and the Yamauchi family

Yamauchi family

In Japanese history, the Yamauchi or Yamanouchi family were a family of rulers over what was then the Tosa Province which spanned the southern half of Shikoku island....

 during the Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

.

Geography

Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku, facing the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

. It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures. Most of the province is mountainous, and in only a few areas such as around Kōchi and Nakamura

Nakamura, Kochi

Nakamura was a city located in Kōchi, Japan. The city was in the southwestern part of Kōchi and known for its shrine.On April 10, 2005 Nakamura was merged with the village of Nishitosa, from Hata District, to form the new city of Shimanto....

 is there a coastal plain. Kōchi is famous for its many rivers. Inamura-yama in Tosa-cho is the highest peak in Kochi prefecture with an altitude

Altitude

Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...

 of 1,506 meters above sea level.

Cities

Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture:

Aki Aki, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan on the island of Shikoku.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 19,882 and the density of 64.4 persons per km². The total area is 317.34 km². The heart of Aki city is located along the Japan National Route 55 and faces the Pacific Ocean to the south... Kami Kami, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan.As of its founding but with 2003 population estimates, the city has an estimated population of 30,591 and a density of 56.9 persons per km²... Kōchi Kochi, Kochi is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan.Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of May 31, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 340,515 and a density of...  (capital) Kōnan Konan, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan.As of its founding but with 2003 population estimates, the city has an estimated population of 33,721 and a density of 266 persons per km²...

Muroto Muroto, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 17,388 and the density of 70 persons per km². The total area is 248.25 km².The city was founded on March 1, 1951.-External links:* in Japanese* in English*... Nankoku Nankoku, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan. Strong in the fishing industry and the market industry, Nankoku-shi supplies most of Kochi's agricultural needs, because of the amount of fields and plantations. Nankoku-shi's downtown is relatively small, has 2 major supermarkets, one major hospital, a tractor... Shimanto Shimanto, Kochi is a city located in the southwestern part of Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on April 10, 2005 from the merger of the old city of Nakamura, and the village of Nishitosa, from Hata District.Shimanto is located on the Shimanto River... Sukumo Sukumo, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 22,802, with 10,237 households and a population density of 79.70 persons per km². The total area is 286.11 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....

Susaki Susaki, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 26,960 and the density of . The total area is .The city was founded on October 1, 1954.-External links:* *... Tosa Tosa, Kochi is a city in Kōchi, Japan. It is located on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku.As of October 31, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 29,782 and the density of 325 persons per km²... Tosashimizu Tosashimizu, Kochi is a city located in Kōchi, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 17,232 and a density of 64.7 persons per km². The total area is 266.54 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1954....

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district

Districts of Japan

The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...

.

Agawa District Agawa District, Kochi is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of January 1, 2008, the district has an estimated population of 35,108 and a density of 43.7 persons per km²... Ino Ino, Kochi is a town located in Agawa District, Kōchi, Japan. The town is famous for the production of .On October 1, 2004 the village of Gohoku, also from Agawa District, and the village of Hongawa, from Tosa District, were merged into Ino, increasing its size by almost a factor of five.As of the merger with... Niyodogawa Niyodogawa, Kochi is a town located in Agawa District, Kōchi, Japan.The town was formed on August 1, 2005 from the merger of the town of Ikegawa, the village of Agawa, both from Agawa District, and the village of Niyodo, from Takaoka District.... Aki District Aki District, Kochi is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 21,006 and a density of 37.29 persons per km². The total area is 563.33 km².- Towns and villages :*Geisei*Kitagawa*Nahari*Tano*Tōyō*Umaji*Yasuda... Geisei Geisei, Kochi is a village located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of January 2011, the village has an estimated population of 4,034 and a density of 102 persons per km². The total area is 39.63 km².-External links:*... Kitagawa Kitagawa, Kochi is a village located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 1,536 and a density of 7.83 persons per km². The total area is 196.18 km².-External links:*... Nahari Nahari, Kochi is a town located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,903 and a density of 137.82 persons per km². The total area is 28.32 km².-External links:*... Tano Tano, Kochi is a town located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,208 and a density of 489.02 persons per km². The total area is 6.56 km².... Tōyō Toyo, Kochi is a town located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,552 and a density of 47.94 persons per km². The total area is 74.09 km².... Umaji Umaji, Kochi is a village located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of February 29, 2008, the village has an estimated population of 1,109 and a density of 6.7 persons per km². The total area is 165.52 km².-Geography:... Yasuda Yasuda, Kochi is a town located in Aki District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,405 and a density of 64.21 persons per km². The total area is 53.03 km².-External links:* *...

Hata District Hata District, Kochi is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of the Shimanto merger but with 2003 population statistics, the district has an estimated population of 22,402 and a density of 59.4 persons per km²... Kuroshio Kuroshio, Kochi is a town located in Hata District, Kōchi, Japan. The town was formed on March 20, 2006 from the merger of the towns of Ōgata and Saga, both from Hata District. As of its formation but with 2003 population statistics, the town has an estimated population of 13,827 and a density of 73.4 persons per... Mihara Mihara, Kochi is a village located in Hata District, Kōchi, Japan.- Introduction :Mihara Village was officially founded in 1953 in the southeast of Shikoku in the Hata region, approx. 153 km from the Kōchi prefectural capital, Kōchi city. Mihara is a quintessential mountain village situated at an altitude... Ōtsuki Otsuki, Kochi is a town in the Hata District, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 184 km away from downtown Kōchi in the southwestern corner of the prefecture.... Nagaoka District Nagaoka District, Kochi is a district located in Kochi, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 10,393 and a density of 23.14 persons per km². The total area is 449.15 km².-Towns and villages:*Motoyama*Ōtoyo... Motoyama Motoyama, Kochi is a town located in Nagaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.- History :Since the Meiji Restoration, what is now called Motoyama town has gone through several territorial changes. In 1889, 12 villages combined to become what was called Nishimotoyama Village, which was renamed as Motoyama Village a year later... Ōtoyo Otoyo, Kochi is a town located in Nagaoka District, Kōchi, Japan. It is the only municipality in Shikoku where over 50% of the population is aged over 65.-Geography:...

Takaoka District Takaoka District, Kochi is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of the Shimanto merger but with 2003 population statistics, the district has an estimated population of 68,854 and a density of 45.1 persons per km²... Hidaka Hidaka, Kochi is a village located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 5,917 and a density of 131.84 persons per km²... Nakatosa Nakatosa, Kochi is a town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.On January 1, 2006 the village of Ōnomi, from Takaoka District, was merged into Nakatosa.As of this merger but with 2003 population statistics, Nakatosa has an estimated population of 8,434 and a density of 43.6 persons per km². The total area is... Ochi Ochi, Kochi is a town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 7,139 and a density of 63.98 persons per km². The total area is 111.58 km².... Sakawa Sakawa, Kochi is a town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan. It is 28km west of Kōchi City.As of February 29, 2008, Sakawa has an estimated population of 14,606 and a population density of 144.03 persons per km². The total area is 101.21 km².-Geography:... Shimanto Tsuno Tsuno, Kochi is a town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.It was formed on February 1, 2005 from the merger of the villages of Hayama and Higashitsuno, both from Takaoka District.... Yusuhara Yusuhara, Kochi is a town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 3,891 and a density of 16.5 persons per km². The total area is 236.51 km².-Transportation:Railway Lines* The nearest station is Susaki Station in Susaki.... Tosa District Tosa District, Kochi is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of the January 1, 2005 merger but with 2003 population estimates, the district has an estimated population of 5,348 and a density of 17.4 persons per km²... Ōkawa Okawa, Kochi is a village located in Tosa District, Kōchi, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 521 and a density of 5.47 persons per km². The total area is 95.28 km²... Tosa

Tourism

• Kochi Castle
  Kochi Castle
  is a castle located in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.-History:Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Kōchi Castle was constructed in what was then the province of Tosa. It was built by Yamanouchi Kazutoyo, who took control of the province after the Tokugawa victory. The castle was constructed...
  
  , one of only 12 original castles left in Japan
• Katsurahama
• Ryugado Cave, one of Japan's top three caves
• Shimanto River
  Shimanto River
  The is a river in western Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. 196 km in length, it has a watershed of 2,270 km².Since the river is remote from major cities and does not have any dams, it is sometimes referred to as "the last clear stream of Japan". Fishing and production of nori is a thriving...
  
  , the only undammed river in Japan
• Godaisan
• Anpanman Museum

See also

• Yosakoi Festival
• Tosa Domain
  Tosa Domain
  The was a feudal domain in Tosa Province of Japan during the Edo period. Its official name is . Some from the domain played important roles in events in the late Tokugawa shogunate...
  
  
• Kōchi Police motorbike accident
  Kōchi Police motorbike accident
  The Kōchi Police motorbike accident was a traffic accident that occurred between a school bus and a police motorbike in Kōchi, Japan, on March 3, 2006. The bus driver was arrested....
  
  

External links

• Official Kōchi Prefecture homepage