Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture
茨城県
Flag of Ibaraki Prefecture
Official seal of Ibaraki Prefecture
Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan
Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan
Country Japan
CapitalMito
Subdivisions
Government
 • GovernorKazuhiko Ōigawa
Area
 • Total6,097 km2 (2,354 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2020)
 • Total2,867,009
 • Density470.2/km2 (1,218/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00
Area code08000-4
ISO 3166 codeJP-08
WebsiteOfficial website

Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県, Ibaraki-ken) is a prefecture in the Kantō region of Japan on the island of Honshu.[1] The capital is Mito.[2]

History

In 1871, Ibaraki Prefecture was created from Hitachi Province.[3]

Geography

Map of Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture is the northeastern part of Kantō. It is between Tochigi Prefecture and the Pacific Ocean. Fukushima Prefecture is its neighbor to the north and Chiba Prefecture is to the south. Saitama Prefecture is to the southwest. There are many mountains in the northern part of the prefecture. The rest of the prefecture is a flat plain with many lakes.

Cities

There are thirty-two cities in Ibaraki Prefecture:

  • Bandō
  • Chikusei
  • Hitachi
  • Hitachinaka
  • Hitachiōmiya
  • Hitachiōta
  • Hokota
  • Inashiki
  • Ishioka
  • Itako
  • Jōsō
  • Kamisu
  • Kasama
  • Kashima
  • Kasumigaura
  • Kitaibaraki
  • Koga
  • Mito (capital)
  • Moriya
  • Naka
  • Namegata
  • Omitama

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

  • Higashiibaraki District
Ibaraki
Ōarai
Shirosato
  • Inashiki District
Ami
Kawachi
Miho
  • Kitasōma District
Tone
  • Kuji District
Daigo
  • Naka District
Tōkai
  • Sashima District
Goka
Sakai
  • Yūki District
Yachiyo

National Parks

National Parks are established in about 15% of the total land area of the prefecture.[4]

Shrines and Temples

Kashima jinja are the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. [5]

Related pages

References

  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ibaraki-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 367; "Kantō" at p. 479.
  2. Nussbaum, "Mito" at p. 642.
  3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
  4. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-14.
  5. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 1 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-3-14.