Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture (長野県, Nagano-ken) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[1] Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,007,682 (as of 1 July 2023) and has a geographic area of 13,561.56 square kilometres (5,236.15 sq mi). Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the northeast, Saitama Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the southeast, Shizuoka Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture to the south, and Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture to the west.

Nagano Prefecture
長野県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese長野県
 • RōmajiNagano-ken
Hasuike Resort on the Shiga Plateau in Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
Hasuike Resort on the Shiga Plateau in Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
Flag of Nagano Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Nagano Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Shinano no Kuni
Location of Nagano Prefecture
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
IslandHonshu
CapitalNagano
SubdivisionsDistricts: 14, Municipalities: 77
Government
 • GovernorShuichi Abe
Area
 • Total13,561.56 km2 (5,236.15 sq mi)
 • Rank4th
Population
 (July 1, 2023)
 • Total2,007,682
 • Rank16th
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-20
Websitewww.pref.nagano.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdRock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
FlowerGentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
TreeWhite birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica)

Nagano is the capital and largest city of Nagano Prefecture, with other major cities including Matsumoto, Ueda, and Iida.[2]: 682  Nagano Prefecture has impressive highland areas of the Japanese Alps, including most of the Hida Mountains, Kiso Mountains, and Akaishi Mountains which extend into the neighbouring prefectures. The abundance of mountain ranges, natural scenic beauty, and rich history has gained Nagano Prefecture international recognition as a world-class winter sports tourist destination, including hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics and a new Shinkansen line to Tokyo.

History
See also: Historic Sites of Nagano Prefecture and Shinano Province

Geography

Nagano is an inland prefecture and it borders more prefectures than any other in Japan, bordering Gunma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Niigata Prefecture to the north, Toyama Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture to the west, and Aichi Prefecture to the south. 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. The climate is predominantly alpine with warm summers, cold snowy winters and less intense humidity than the lower lying coastal areas.

As of 1 April 2014, 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]

Cities
Physical map of Nagano Prefecture
Political map of Nagano Prefecture
     City      Town      Village
Hida Mountains (August 2006)
Nagano City
Chikuma River, from Yashima Bridge, looking downstream toward Murayama Bridge, Nagano (city)
Suwa
Komagane
Matsumoto
Nozawaonsen, Nagano
See also: List of cities in Nagano Prefecture by population

Nineteen cities are located in Nagano Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Nagano Prefecture is famous for having the largest number of villages in Japan.

Mergers
Main article: List of mergers in Nagano Prefecture

Demographics
Nagano prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18801,000,414—    
18901,146,071+1.37%
19031,348,556+1.26%
19131,484,205+0.96%
19201,562,722+0.74%
19251,629,217+0.84%
19301,717,118+1.06%
19351,714,000−0.04%
19401,710,729−0.04%
19452,121,050+4.39%
19502,060,831−0.57%
19552,021,292−0.39%
19601,981,433−0.40%
19651,958,007−0.24%
19701,956,917−0.01%
19752,017,564+0.61%
19802,083,934+0.65%
19852,136,927+0.50%
19902,156,627+0.18%
19952,193,984+0.34%
20002,215,168+0.19%
20052,196,114−0.17%
20102,152,449−0.40%
20152,099,759−0.49%
20202,052,493−0.45%
source:[4]

The life expectancy in Nagano prefecture is the longest nationwide with the average life expectancy of 87.18 years for women and 80.88 years for men.[5]

Transportation

Railway
  • Hokuriku Shinkansen
    Hokuriku Shinkansen
  • Iida Line
    Iida Line
  • Shinano Railway
    Shinano Railway
  • Nagano Electric Railway
    Nagano Electric Railway

Expressways

National highways

Airports

Education

Public

Private

Economy

Nagano Prefecture has a large and diversified economy, with a strong focus on electronics, information technology, precision machinery, agriculture and food products, and tourism, with a total GDP of about ¥8.5 trillion (2017).[6]

Several large Japanese groups have production facilities in Nagano Prefecture, such as Citizen Watch (Citizen Group), MinebeaMitsumi, Seiko Epson and Vaio.

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

Sports
Sunpro Alwin in Matsumoto.

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

Prefectural symbols

Sister regions

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.
  • Tatsumi Yoda (aka Tom Yoda), former chairman of Avex, is from Chikuma-shi.
  • Glim Spanky, the members of the rock band are from Nagano Prefecture
  • Yuto Adachi, of Korean boy group Pentagon is from Nagano Prefecture
  • Yasuyuki Kazama, a professional drift driver, is from Shimosuwa in Nagano Prefecture.
  • Keiichi Tsuchiya, a professional racing driver, is from Tōmi in Nagano Prefecture.
  • Bumpei Usui, a professional artist, came from Tōmi in Horikin Village, Minami Azumino County, Nagano Prefecture.
  • Jun'ya Ota (aka ZUN), video game developer best known for the Touhou Project series is from Nagano Prefecture.

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. "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. "Statistics Bureau Home Page". www.stat.go.jp.
  5. "Nagano Prefecture has achieved the highest life expectancy in Japan, after long efforts of improving each one's lifestyle (December 9, 2013) | 公益財団法人フォーリン・プレスセンター（FPCJ）". fpcj.jp. 8 December 2013.
  6. "Regional Information: Nagano". Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Archived from the original on 19 October 2020.

References
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nagano (prefecture).

36°15′N 138°6′E

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