Nagano Prefecture

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Nagano Prefecture
長野県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 長野県
 • Rōmaji Nagano-ken
Flag of Nagano Prefecture
Flag		 Official logo of Nagano Prefecture
Symbol of Nagano Prefecture
Location of Nagano Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Island Honshu
Capital Nagano
Government
 • Governor Shuichi Abe
Area
 • Total 13,585.22 km2 (5,245.28 sq mi)
Area rank 4th
Population (February 1, 2011)
 • Total 2,148,425
 • Rank 16th
 • Density 158.14/km2 (409.6/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-20
Districts 14
Municipalities 77
Flower Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
Tree White birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica)
Bird Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
Website www.pref.nagano.lg.jp/gaikokugo/index.htm

Nagano Prefecture (長野県 Nagano-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshu.[1] The capital is the city of Nagano.[2] Due to the abundance of mountain ranges in this area, the land available for inhabitance is relatively limited.

Nagano has impressive highland areas, including most of the Kita-Alps Northern Alps, Chu-Alps, and Southern Alps, which extend into the neighbouring prefectures. In addition to its natural scenic beauty and rich history, Nagano was host to the 1998 Winter Olympics, which gained the prefecture international recognition as a world-class winter sport destination, and a Shinkansen line to Tokyo.

History

See Shinano Province

Geography

Nagano is an inland prefecture and it borders more prefectures than any other in Japan. Nagano contains the point furthest from the sea in the whole of Japan - this point lies within the city of Saku. The province's mountains have made it relatively isolated, and many visitors come to Nagano for its mountain resorts and hot springs. Nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan can be found in Nagano and one of its lakes, Lake Kizaki, is a beach resort popular for its water attractions and games.

As of April 1, 2012, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Chichibu Tama Kai, Chūbu-Sangaku, Jōshin'etsu Kōgen, and Minami Alps National Parks; Myōgi-Arafune-Saku Kōgen, Tenryū-Okumikawa, and Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Parks; and Chūō Alps, Enrei Ōjō, Hijiriyama Kōgen, Mibugawa Suikei, Ontake, and Tenryū Koshibu Suikei Prefectural Natural Parks.[3]

Hida Mountains (August 2006)
Nagano City
Suwa
Komagane

Cities

Matsumoto

Nineteen cities are located in Nagano Prefecture:

Towns and villages

Map of Nagano Prefecture

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

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Main article: List of mergers in Nagano Prefecture

Demographics

The lifespan in Nagano prefecture is the highest one nationwide with the average life expectancy of 87.18 years for women and 80.88 years for men.[4]

Transportation

Railway

Road

Expressways

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National highways

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Airports

Education

Universities

Tourism

Zenkō-ji
Onbashira, which festival held once in seven years
Yashima Wetland in Kirigamine Hills
Matsumoto Castle
Utsukushigahara Hills
Ski resort in Shiga Hills

Sports

There are two local clubs J.League, AC Nagano Parceiro, Matsumoto Yamaga FC.

Prefectural symbols

Sister cities

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Personalities

  • 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.
  • Tatsumi Yoda (aka Tom Yoda), former chairman of Avex, is from Chikuma-shi.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Nagano prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 682, p. 682, at Google Books; "Chūbu" at p. 126, p. 126, at Google Books
  2. ↑ Nussbaum, "Nagano" at p. 682, p. 682, at Google Books
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Nagano Prefecture has achieved the highest life expectancy in Japan, after long efforts of improving each one’s lifestyle (December 9, 2013). Foreign Press Center/Japan

References

External links

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