Toyama Prefecture
Encyclopedia
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 in the Hokuriku region
Hokuriku region
The is located in the northwestern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. It lies along the Sea of Japan within the Chūbu region. It is almost equivalent to Koshi Province and Hokurikudō area in pre-modern Japan....
on Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
island. The capital is the city of Toyama
Toyama, Toyama
is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
.
Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources.
History
Historically, Toyama Prefecture was Etchū ProvinceEtchu Province
was an old province in central Honshū, on the Sea of Japan side. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Echigo Provinces. It bordered Echigo, Shinano, Hida, Kaga, and Noto provinces...
.
The Itai-itai disease
Itai-itai disease
, was the documented case of mass cadmium poisoning in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, starting around 1912. The cadmium poisoning caused softening of the bones and kidney failure. The disease is named for the severe pains caused in the joints and spine. The term itai-itai disease was coined by locals...
occurred in Toyama around 1950.
Geography
Toyama Prefecture is bordered by IshikawaIshikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
Prefecture to the west, Niigata
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
to the northeast, Nagano
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
to the southeast, Gifu
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
to the south and Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
to the north.
Municipalities
Due to the mergers in the 2000s, Toyama has the fewest municipalities of any prefecture in Japan with 10 cities, 2 districts, 4 towns, and 1 village (before the mergers took place, the prefecture had 9 cities, 18 towns, and 8 villages).Cities
Ten cities are located in Toyama Prefecture:
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Oyabe, Toyama is a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 32,161, with a household number of 9,838, and a density of 239.81 persons per km². The total area is 134.11 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1962.... Takaoka, Toyama is a city situated in the northwest of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and is the central city of its Western District. Takaoka covers the 8th largest surface area in Toyama prefecture and has the second largest population after Toyama City... Tonami, Toyama is a city located in Toyama, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1954.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 49,470, with 15,438 households and a density of 389.65 persons per km²... Toyama, Toyama is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo.... (capital) Uozu, Toyama is a city located in the eastern part of Toyama, Japan between Namerikawa and Kurobe, stretching from Toyama Bay and the Japan Sea in the northwest to tall mountain ranges in the southeast. The highest mountains in Uozu are Sougadake and Kekachiyama, and the highest elevation in Uozu is 2,414 m... |
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each districtDistricts 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...
:
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Agriculture
Toyama is a major producer of high quality rice making use of abundant water sources originating from Mount TateMount Tate
is located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's . The climbing season for Mount Tate is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori...
.
Manufacturing
Toyama is famous for its historical pharmaceutical industry which remains a top manufacturing industry in the prefecture in terms of manufacturing shipment value followed by electronic parts and devices (industrial robots, general machinery, etc.), and metal products (aluminum, copper etc.) manufacturing.Energy
The Kurobe DamKurobe dam
The or , is a variable-radius arch dam on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture on the island of Honshū, Japan. It supports the 335 MW Kurobe No. 4 Hydropower Plant and is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company. At high, it is the tallest dam in Japan. It was constructed between 1956 and 1963 at...
generates electricity for the Kansai Electric Power Company
Kansai Electric Power Company
, also known as , is an electric utility with its operational area of Kansai region, Japan . The company is regarded as one of the leading companies in Kansai, as well as a leader of the Japanese electric power industry....
. It is located on the Kurobe River
Kurobe River
The is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. 86 km in length, it has a watershed of 689 km².The river rises from Mount Washiba in the Hida Mountains and carves the deep valley known as the Kurobe gorge...
in Toyama Prefecture.
International links
, Liaoning Province - May 9, 1984, São Paulo State - July 18, 1985, Oregon StateOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
- October 19, 1991, Primorsky Region - August 26, 1992
Rail
Tokyo: 3 hr 8 min via Joetsu ShinkansenJoetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
, transfer to Hokuriku Main Line
Hokuriku Main Line
The is a 358.3 kilometer line of the West Japan Railway Company from Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga to Naoetsu Station in Jōetsu, Niigata. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of...
via the Hakutaka
Hakutaka
The is a limited express train service jointly operated by West Japan Railway Company and Hokuetsu Express in Japan, which operates between , , and .-Service pattern:...
Limited Express at Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Echigo-Yuzawa Station
is a train station operated by East Japan Railway Company , located in the resort town of Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Facilities at the station include souvenir shopping and eating facilities, as well as a sake-themed attraction complete with an indoor onsen bath.-Lines:Echigo-Yuzawa...
Osaka: 3 hr 5 min via Thunderbird
Thunderbird (train)
The is a limited express train operated by the West Japan Railway Company between and in Japan, using portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, and Nanao Line.-Thunderbird:...
Limited Express
- The Hokuriku ShinkansenHokuriku ShinkansenThe is a high-speed Shinkansen rail line under construction in Japan. The first section, between and , currently called the Nagano Shinkansen, opened on 1 October 1997.-Future:...
line is expected to be completed in 2014 and will shorten the Tokyo-Toyama trip to approximately 2 hrs 7 min and the Osaka-Toyama trip to approximately 1 hr 40 min.
Expressway
- TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
: 5 hr - OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
: 4 hr 10 min - Nagoya: 3 hr 15 min
- NiigataNiigata, Niigatais the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
: 2 hr 30 min
International
- ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
: 2 hr 30 min via Shanghai Airlines - DalianDalianDalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
: 2 hr 30 min via Southern China Airlines - SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
: 1 hr 50 min via Asiana Airlines - VladivostokVladivostokThe city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
: 2 hr 40 min via Vladivostok Airlines
- As of April 2008 all international carriers have 3 flights a week with additional flights during peak seasons
Festivals
Spring- All Japan Chindon Competition (Toyama City (Toyama Castle Park), Mid April
- Tonami Tulip Fair (Tonami City), May
- Marumage Festival (Himi City), May 17
Summer
- Sassa Narimasa Sengoku Era Festival (Toyama City), Late July
Fall
- Toyama Festival (Toyama City), Sept. 1
- Owara Kaze no Bon (Toyama City (Yatsuo Area)), Sept. 1-3
- Mugiya Festival (Nanto City (Johana Area)), Mid Sept.
- Kokiriko Festival (Nanto City (Hakusan Shrine)), Sept. 25-26
Winter
- Nanto Toga Soba Festival (Nanto City (Toga Village Area)), Mid Feb.
Regional Foods
- Trout Sushi (Masu no Sushi)
- White Shrimp (Shiro Ebi)
- Matured Yellow Tail (Buri)
- Firefly Squid (Hotaru Ika)
- Fish Paste (Kamaboko)
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Toyama.Football (soccer)
- Kataller ToyamaKataller ToyamaKataller Toyama is a football club in Japan that was formed from the merger of the old ALO's Hokuriku and YKK AP F.C. clubs. They currently play in J...
(Toyama CityToyama, Toyamais the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
)
Basketball
- Toyama GrousesToyama GrousesThe Toyama Grouses are a Japanese basketball team, playing in the Eastern Conference of the bj league. They are based in Toyama Prefecture.-Reference:* at asia-basket.com...
(Toyama CityToyama, Toyamais the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
)
Baseball
- Toyama ThunderbirdsToyama ThunderbirdsThe are a semi-professional baseball team in the Baseball Challenge League of Japan. The team was established in 2007. Their home is Toyama Prefecture.-External links:*...
(Toyama CityToyama, Toyamais the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
)
Rugby Union
- Takaoka Mariners (TakaokaTakaoka, Toyamais a city situated in the northwest of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and is the central city of its Western District. Takaoka covers the 8th largest surface area in Toyama prefecture and has the second largest population after Toyama City...
)