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51-573: Kitaibaraki is in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, bounded by Fukushima Prefecture to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east. As its name implies, it is the northernmost city within Ibaraki. Approximately 80% of the total area is mountainous forest. The eastern region is low ground facing the ocean with spacious open flatland along the Okita and Satone Rivers. It is approximately 57 kilometers to

102-704: A unicameral city council of 19 members. Kitaibaraki, together with neighboring Takahagi, contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Commerce developed during the Edo period along the Tanagura highway, which was also called the 'Road of Salt'. The area flourished with ports for water transportation and coal mining began at

153-485: A battle. The history behind the festival and events is over one thousand years old. During the Waraji Festival, a large (12-meter, 38-ft) straw sandal built by locals is dedicated to a shrine. There is also a traditional Taiwanese dragon dance, or Ryumai , performed by Taiwanese visitors. The Aizu festival is a celebration of the time of the samurai. It begins with a display of sword dancing and fighting, and

204-578: A coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island . Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu , both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region . The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Jōetsu region ( 上越 ) in the south, Chūetsu ( 中越 ) in the center, Kaetsu ( 下越 ) in the north, and Sado Island . The mouth of

255-726: A large, strong, red cow that carried wood, influenced toys and superstitions. The Akabeko cow is a small, red papier-mâché cow on a bamboo or wooden frame, and is believed to ease child birth, bring good health, and help children grow up as strong as the cow. Another superstitious talisman of the region is the Okiagari-koboshi , or self-righting dharma doll. These dolls are seen as bringers of good luck and prosperity because they stand right back up when knocked down. Miharu-goma are small, wooden, black or white toy horses painted with colorful designs. Depending upon their design, they may be believed to bring things like long life to

306-401: A massive tsunami that hit the eastern coast of the prefecture and caused widespread destruction and loss of life. In the two years following the earthquake, 1,817 residents of Fukushima Prefecture had either been confirmed dead or were missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that followed, the outer housings of two of the six reactors at

357-618: A month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country. The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka , was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo. On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and

408-543: A time of war and governmental instability. Because of this, Aizuwakamatsu was the site of an important battle in the Boshin War , during which 19 teenage members of the Byakkotai committed ritual seppuku suicide. Their graves on Mt. Iimori are a popular tourist attraction. Kitakata is well known for its distinctive Kitakata ramen noodles and well-preserved traditional storehouse buildings, while Ōuchi-juku in

459-505: Is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,771,100 (as of 1 July 2023 ) and has a geographic area of 13,783.90 square kilometres (5,321.99  sq mi ). Fukushima Prefecture borders Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture to the north, Niigata Prefecture to the west, Gunma Prefecture to the southwest, and Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture to

510-405: Is a soy-sauce soup, as historically soy sauce was readily available from the many storehouses around the town. Niboshi (sardines), tonkotsu (pig bones) and sometimes chicken and vegetables are boiled to make the stock. This is then topped with chashu (thinly sliced barbeque pork), spring onions, fermented bamboo shoots, and sometimes narutomaki , a pink and white swirl of cured fish cake. Mamador

561-562: Is also a factor in the local economy. Kitaibaraki has 12 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. [REDACTED] JR East – Jōban Line Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture ( / ˌ f uː k uː ˈ ʃ iː m ə / ; Japanese : 福島県 , romanized :  Fukushima-ken , pronounced [ɸɯ̥kɯɕimaꜜkeɴ] )

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612-461: Is an active stratovolcano that is 1,705 m (5,594 ft) tall with many onsen nearby. Lake Inawashiro is the 4th largest lake of Japan (103.3 km (39.9 sq mi)) in the center of the prefecture. The coastal Hamadōri region lies on the Pacific Ocean and is the flattest and most temperate region, while the Nakadōri region is the agricultural heart of the prefecture and contains

663-451: Is another popular product from Fukushima. Dating back over four hundred years, the process of making lacquerware involves carving an object out of wood, then putting a lacquer on it and decorating it. Objects made are usually dishes, vases and writing materials. Legend has it that an ogress, Adachigahara, once roamed the plain after whom it was named. The Adachigahara plain lies close to the city of Fukushima. Other stories, such as that of

714-498: Is followed by a procession of around five hundred people. The people in the procession carry flags and tools representing well-known feudal lords of long ago, and some are actually dressed like the lords themselves. A reflection of a long ago time of war, the Taimatsu Akashi Festival consists of men and women carrying large symbolic torches lit with a sacred fire to the top of Mt. Gorozan. Accompanied by drummers,

765-489: Is over 1,000 years old. Fruits. Fukushima is known as a "Fruit Kingdom" because of its many seasonal fruits, and the fact that there is fruit being harvested every month of the year. While peaches are the most famous, the prefecture also produces large quantities of cherries, nashi (Japanese pears), grapes, persimmons, and apples. Fukushima-Gyu is the prefecture's signature beef. The Japanese Black type cattle used to make Fukushima-Gyu are fed, raised, and processed within

816-477: Is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at 12,584.18 km (4,858.78 sq mi). Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to the northeast. Niigata is the capital and largest city of Niigata Prefecture, with other major cities including Nagaoka , Jōetsu , and Sanjō . Niigata Prefecture contains

867-624: Is the prefecture's most famous confection. The baked good has a milky red bean flavor center wrapped in a buttery dough. The name means “People who drink mothers’ milk" in Spanish. It is produced by the Sanmangoku Company. Creambox is prefecture's second famous confection. It is a sweet bread with a thick milk bread and white milk-flavored cream. It is sold in Koriyama City at many bakery and school purchases . The selling price

918-399: Is usually around 100 yen, and in some rare cases, the dough is round. Since it looks simple and does not change much from normal bread when viewed from above, some processing may be performed on the cream, there are things that put almonds or draw the character's face with chocolate Sake . The Fukushima Prefecture Sake Brewers Cooperative is made up of nearly 60 sake breweries. Additionally,

969-635: The Fuji Rock Festival , an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005. Niigata Prefecture stretches about 240 km (149 mi) along the Sea of Japan , from the southwest to the northeast, with

1020-590: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma exploded followed by a partial meltdown and fires at three of the other units. Many residents were evacuated to nearby localities due to the development of a large evacuation zone around the plant. Radiation levels near the plant peaked at 400 mSv/h ( millisieverts per hour) after the earthquake and tsunami, due to damage sustained. This resulted in increased recorded radiation levels across Japan. On April 11, 2011, officials upgraded

1071-645: The Shinano River , the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture. As of 1 April 2014, 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Bandai-Asahi , Chūbu-Sangaku , Nikkō , and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Parks; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks. Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture: These are

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1122-474: The paradise garden is an Historic Site . This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū. The Fukushima Incident , a political tumult, took place in the prefecture after Mishima Michitsune was appointed governor in 1882. On Friday, March 11, 2011, 14:46 JST , a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture . Shindo measurements throughout the prefecture reached as high as 6-upper in isolated regions of Hama-dōri on

1173-582: The 'barbarians' to the north. Fukushima became a province of Mutsu after the Taika Reforms were established in 646. In 718, the provinces of Iwase and Iwaki were created, but these areas reverted to Mutsu some time between 722 and 724. The Shiramizu Amidadō is a chapel within the Buddhist temple Ganjō-ji in Iwaki . It was built in 1160 and it is a National Treasure . The temple, including

1224-518: The Annual Japan Sake Awards has awarded the prefecture the most gold prizes of all of Japan for four years running as of 2016. 37°24′N 140°28′E  /  37.400°N 140.467°E  / 37.400; 140.467 Niigata Prefecture Niigata Prefecture ( 新潟県 , Niigata-ken ) is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan . Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and

1275-561: The Niigata Major Metropolitan Area centered on Niigata with a population of 1,395,612, the largest metropolitan area on the Sea of Japan coast and the twelfth-largest in Japan. Niigata Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region and features Sado Island , the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island . Until after the Meiji Restoration ,

1326-673: The area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province (on the mainland) and Sado Province . During the Sengoku period , the Nagao clan , who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin . He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking

1377-499: The capital, Fukushima City. The mountainous Aizu region has scenic lakes, lush forests, and snowy winters. As of April 1, 2012, 13% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Bandai-Asahi , Nikkō , and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park ; and eleven Prefectural Natural Parks. Thirteen cities are located in Fukushima Prefecture: These are

1428-599: The central eastern seaboard a part of the Pacifim rim. A region with high tectonic activity given its location where the Pacific and Eurasian continental plates collide - a part the Ring of Fire . " Aizuwakamatsu is located in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture, in the southeast part of Aizu basin. Mount Bandai is the highest mountain in the prefecture with an elevation of 1,819 m (5,968 ft). Mount Azuma-kofuji

1479-485: The disaster to a level 7 out of a possible 7, a rare occurrence not seen since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Several months later, officials announced that although the area nearest the melt down were still off limits, areas near the twenty kilometer radial safe zone could start seeing a return of the close to 47,000 residents that had been evacuated. Fukushima is both the southernmost prefecture of Tōhoku region and

1530-423: The early twentieth century. Kitanakago became the town of Isohara on January 1, 1925. On March 31, 1956 the towns of Otsu, Hirakata, Isohara and the villages of Sekinan, Sekimonto and Minaminakago merged to form the city of Kitaibaraki. The city suffered from serious damage caused by the tsunami from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake . Kitaibaraki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and

1581-502: The eastern coast and as low as a 2 in portions of the Aizu region in the western part of the prefecture. Fukushima City , located in Naka-dōri and the capital of Fukushima Prefecture, measured 6-lower. Following the earthquake there were isolated reports of major damage to structures, including the failure of Fujinuma Dam as well as damage from landslides. The earthquake also triggered

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1632-552: The end of the Edo period. Kitaibaraki is now a regional commercial center with some light manufacturing. JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation, Nichia Steel Works, NOK Corporation and Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries have major factories in the city. The Jōban Coal Field, which was the mainstay of the economy from the Meiji period to the mid- Shōwa period , closed in 1976. Commercial fishing from Otsu fishing port, notably for angler fish ,

1683-687: The northeast of Mito , the prefectural capital. Fukushima Prefecture Ibaraki Prefecture Kitaibaraki has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa ) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kitaibaraki is 13.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1435 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C. Per Japanese census data,

1734-416: The owner. Kokeshi dolls, while less symbolic, are also a popular traditional craft. They are carved wooden dolls, with large round heads and hand painted bodies. Kokeshi dolls are popular throughout many regions of Japan, but Fukushima is credited as their birthplace. The Nomaoi Festival horse riders dressed in complete samurai attire can be seen racing, chasing wild horses, or having contests that imitate

1785-539: The population of Kitaibaraki has fluctuated somewhat over the past 70 years. Under the ritsuryō system, the area of Kitaibaraki was the northern tip of the Tōkaidō region , and was part of Hitachi Province . The towns of Otsu and Hirakata and the village of Kitanakago were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The area was part of the Jōban coal fields and coal mines were developed in

1836-412: The prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake , senbei , mochi , and arare . In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures. The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi . Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing

1887-490: The prefecture of Tōhoku region that is closest to Tokyo . With an area size of 13,784 km (5,322 sq mi) it is the third-largest prefecture of Japan, behind Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture . It is divided by mountain ranges into three regions called (from west to east) Aizu , Nakadōri , and Hamadōri . Fukushima city is located in the Fukushima Basin's southwest area and nearby mountains. Located on

1938-477: The prefecture. Only beef with a grade of 2 or 3 can be labeled as "Fukushima-Gyu" (福島牛) Ikaninjin is shredded carrot and dried squid seasoned with soy sauce, cooking sake, mirin, etc. It is a local cuisine from the northern parts of Fukushima Prefecture. It is primarily made from the late autumn to winter in the household. Kitakata Ramen is one of the Top 3 Ramen of Japan, along with Sapporo and Hakata. The base

1989-468: The production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture , it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country. Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters. Kinzan, on Sado Island , was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989. Sanjō and Tsubame produce 90 percent of all

2040-405: The silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors , kitchen knives , nail clippers and wrenches . Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles , although the earliest products may have been imported from China. A nuclear power plant , which formerly had the highest energy output in the world, is located in

2091-549: The south. Fukushima is the capital and Iwaki is the largest city of Fukushima Prefecture, with other major cities including Kōriyama , Aizuwakamatsu , and Sukagawa . Fukushima Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern Pacific coast at the southernmost part of the Tōhoku region, and is home to Lake Inawashiro , the fourth-largest lake in Japan. Fukushima Prefecture is the third-largest prefecture of Japan (after Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture ) and divided by mountain ranges into

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2142-543: The surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control. The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu . It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry . It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea . A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once

2193-555: The three regions of Aizu , Nakadōri , and Hamadōri . The keyhole-shaped Ōyasuba Kofun is the largest kofun in the Tohoku region . The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 2000. Until the Meiji Restoration , the area of Fukushima prefecture was part of what was known as Mutsu Province . The Shirakawa Barrier and the Nakoso Barrier were built around the 5th century to protect 'the heathens' from

2244-581: The tiny village of Kariwa . It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster . In the Census of 2003, Niigata ranked as the 14th most populous. Niigata is known for the following regional specialities: Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing , especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa , and going to onsen . Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata

2295-422: The torchbearers reach the top and light a wooden frame representing an old local castle and the samurai that lived there. In more recent years the festival has been opened up so that anyone wanting to participate may carry a small symbolic torch along with the procession. Tsuruga castle, a samurai castle originally built in the late 14th century, was occupied by the region's governor in the mid-19th century, during

2346-493: The town of Shimogo retains numerous thatched buildings from the Edo period . Mount Bandai , in the Bandai-Asahi National Park , erupted in 1888, creating a large crater and numerous lakes, including the picturesque 'Five Coloured Lakes' ( Goshiki-numa ). Bird watching crowds are not uncommon during migration season here. The area is popular with hikers and skiers. Guided snowshoe tours are also offered in

2397-482: The towns and villages in each district : The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō in rice output. The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan. Rice-related industries are also very important to

2448-496: The towns and villages in each district : 1,387 (recorded) A total of 1,833,152 people live in the Fukushima Prefecture. The coastal region traditionally specializes in fishing and seafood industries, and is notable for its electric and particularly nuclear power-generating industry, while the upland regions are more focused on agriculture. Thanks to Fukushima's climate, various fruits are grown throughout

2499-512: The winter. The Inawashiro Lake area of Bandai-Asahi National Park is Inawashiro-ko, where the parental home of Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928) can still be found. It was preserved along with some of Noguchi's belongings and letters as part of a memorial. Noguchi is famous not only for his research on yellow fever, but also for having his face on the 1,000 yen note. The Miharu Takizakura is an ancient weeping higan cherry tree in Miharu, Fukushima . It

2550-415: The year. These include pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, and apples. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 20.6% of Japan's peaches and 8.7% of cucumbers. Fukushima also produces rice, that combined with pure water from mountain run-offs, is used to make sake. Some sakes from the region are considered so tasteful that they are served to visiting royalty and world leaders by hosts. Lacquerware

2601-424: Was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya . On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006, a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island . On July 16, 2007, another earthquake hit the area. Niigata Prefecture hosts

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