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| Niigata Prefecture | |||||||||
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| Capital | Niigata (city) | ||||||||
| Region | Chūbu | ||||||||
| Island | Honshū | ||||||||
| Governor | Hirohiko Izumida | ||||||||
| Area (rank) | 12,582.47 km² (5th) | ||||||||
| - % water | 0.2% | ||||||||
| Population (March 1, 2005) | |||||||||
| - Population | 2,444,108 (14th) | ||||||||
| - Density | 194 /km² | ||||||||
| Districts | 10 | ||||||||
| Municipalities | 35 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166-2 | JP-15 | ||||||||
| Website | www.pref.niigata.jp/seisaku/ kokusai/english/ |
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| Prefectural Symbols | |||||||||
| - Flower | Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) | ||||||||
| - Tree | Camellia (Camellia japonica) | ||||||||
| - Bird | Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) | ||||||||
| - Fish | {{{Fish}}} | ||||||||
 Symbol of Niigata Prefecture |
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| Template ■ Discussion ■ Parameter ■ WikiProject Japan | |||||||||
Niigata Prefecture (新潟県 Niigata-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located on Honshū island on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name Niigata literally means "New Lagoon".
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Niigata prefecture was originally divided into Echigo Province and Sado Province until the Meiji Restoration. During the Sengoku period it was ruled by Uesugi Kenshin.
Niigata-shi (the city) is the largest and most important among the cities which face the Sea of Japan. It has been an important seaport since the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry in the mid-1800s, especially for trade with Russia and northern Korea, and was the first port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade.
The Etsuzankai organization, led by prime minister Tanaka Kakuei, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Joetsu Shinkansen high speed rail line and Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo.
Today, Niigata is well-known for being visited by a freighter from North Korea once a month: one of the few direct contacts with the communist country.
On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture, causing shaking measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya.
On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm caused much trouble in the prefecture and its surroundings. At least 71 people died and over a thousand were injured.
On July 16, 2007, the area saw the 2007 Niigata earthquake.
Niigata Prefecture also holds Fuji Rock Festival, an annual rock festival in Naeba ski resort. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan. In 2005, more than 100,000 people attended the festival.
Niigata prefecture stretches about 240 km along the Sea of Japan from southwest to north east, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island.
Because of the shape, Niigata prefecture is often called small Honshū-Main Island. It could be placed in either the Hokuriku or Kōshin'etsu regions, each considered part of the greater Chūbu region.
The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Joetsu (in the south), Chūetsu (in the center), Kaetsu (in the north), and Sado Island. It is home to the mouth of the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan.
In 2006 a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged several homes and its citizens in the maritime areas of Niigata especially near the sado island.
20 cities are located in Niigata Prefecture:
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Towns and villages in each district:
The major industry in Niigata is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, with Niigata ranking 2nd (after Hokkaidō) among the prefectures for total rice output. The area around Uonuma is especially known for its Koshihikari variety of rice, which is widely thought of as the highest quality rice in Japan.
Rice-related industries are also very important to the local economy. Niigata prefecture is known throughout Japan for its quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake production, Niigata is third in the country after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures.
The prefecture is famous as the original home of the ornamental carp known as koi, and the best-quality koi are still considered to come from the farms of Niigata.
The production volume of azaleas and cut lilies grown in Niigata is one of the highest in Japan. Niigata also enjoys increasing volumes of cut flowers and flower bulb production: along with Toyama prefecture, Niigata produces the most tulips in the country.
Niigata is a source for crude oil, not often found on the Japanese islands. Relating to this, there is also much production of kerosene heaters (useful in the cold Niigata winters).
Kinzan on Sado Island was an active gold mine until its closing in 1989.
Metal manufacturing is also prevalent. Sanjo and Tsubame produce 9% of all metal silverware in Japan, by far the most for one area in the country. After Osaka, the two cities also produce the most scissors, kitchen knives, and wrenches.
Niigata supposedly produces the most knitted textile products in the country. However, it has been suggested that some of these are actually from China.
The nuclear power plant with the highest energy output in the world is located in the tiny village of Kariwa.
In 1885, Niigata was the most populous prefecture, beating out even Tokyo and Osaka prefecture. However, according to the 2003 census Niigata ranks as the 14th most populous.
Like much of Japan, Niigata shows signs of an aging population, specifically in the more rural areas.
Niigata is known for the following regional specialities:
Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around the popular winter activities of skiing and going to onsen, especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa.
Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is also another popular tourist spot. It is easily accessible (1-2.5 hours) via ferry from Naoetsu or Niigata City.
Enjoy Niigata: Niigata prefecture tourism guide
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (June 2008) |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Niigata prefecture |
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| Niigata City | |||
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| Kita-ku | Higashi-ku | Chūō-ku | Kōnan-ku | Akiha-ku | Minami-ku | Nishi-ku | Nishikan-ku | |||
| Cities | |||
| Agano | Gosen | Itoigawa | Jōetsu | Kamo | Kashiwazaki | Minamiuonuma | Mitsuke | Murakami | Myōkō | Nagaoka | Niigata (capital) | Ojiya | Sado | Sanjō | Shibata | Tainai | Tōkamachi | Tsubame | Uonuma | |||
| Districts | |||
| Higashikanbara | Iwafune | Kariwa | Kitakanbara | Kitauonuma | Minamikanbara | Minamiuonuma | Nakauonuma | Nishikanbara | Santō | |||
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