Minabe, Wakayama
Encyclopedia
is a small town
located in Wakayama
in the Kansai
region of Japan
. Situated on a small bay of the Pacific ocean and surrounded by mountains, it is a quiet and picturesque farming community of about 14,000 people. Its location has been mentioned in ancient texts since the 8th century, but the basic land area was incorporated in 1889. After a series of village mergers, the present area of Minabe was formed in 2004. Minabe is known for its high-quality apricots, or Japanese apricot. It is also known for a high-quality charcoal called Binchōtan
, has good fishing waters, and produces a variety of agricultural goods.
To the west-northwest of central Minabe is the Iwashiro region which is centered around the Iwashiro River Basin. This area is lightly populated and a mixture of farmland and forested mountains. It also features sections of non-swimming beaches.
Following the Minabe River northeast one comes to the Kamiminabe region. This area is partly mountainous and comprises the majority of the town’s ume trees. Following the river farther upwards, the valley becomes increasingly narrow and forested, with little ground suitable for cultivation or houses. The path of the Minabe River here is narrow, no more than 30m across. There is little to nothing in the way of buildings or cultivated fields. Approximately 8 kilometers from the center of town is the lightly populated region of Takagi which features some farmland and houses. A further 6 kilometers up the river valley is the even smaller region of Kiyokawa, which is the end of Minabe. The highest point is located here: 768m.
On October 1, 2004 the village of Minabegawa
, from Hidaka District
, was merged into Minabe.
(Japanese pickled plum). Minabe produces grows and processes more plums than any other place in Japan. The plums are primarily grown on the hillsides and mountainsides of the small valley around the Minabe River. Ume are used almost inclusively in food products ranging from the aforementioned Umeboshi to cooking sauces to ice cream.
The other product is a traditional charcoal called Binchōtan
. Minabe currently produces the second most Binchōtan of any place in Japan. This charcoal is produced in small, family-operated outdoor kiln
s primarily in the upper mountainous areas of Minabe. It is used in a wide variety of products: soaps and shampoos, ornaments, musical instruments, air fresheners, and many others.
While much of Minabe's economy is agricultural, it does have several businesses and other industries. The town supports a small business district centered around its train station, as well as 3 full-service hotels and several restaurants and cafes.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Wakayama
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
in the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
region of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Situated on a small bay of the Pacific ocean and surrounded by mountains, it is a quiet and picturesque farming community of about 14,000 people. Its location has been mentioned in ancient texts since the 8th century, but the basic land area was incorporated in 1889. After a series of village mergers, the present area of Minabe was formed in 2004. Minabe is known for its high-quality apricots, or Japanese apricot. It is also known for a high-quality charcoal called Binchōtan
Binchotan
is a mascot character, created by Japanese manga artist and produced by game goods company Alchemist.The name is a play on words: is a kind of charcoal, which is mainly used for cooking. However, -tan is a suffix created by the mispronunciation of -chan...
, has good fishing waters, and produces a variety of agricultural goods.
Geography
Minabe is located at the southernmost edge of the Hidaka District in central Wakayama prefecture. The main part of Minabe, including the train station, government buildings, and business district, lies around the basin of the Minabe River as it flows into Minabe Bay on the Pacific Ocean. There are three distinguishing features of Minabe Bay: Kashima Island situated approximately 1 km offshore, a long non-swimming beach that runs parallel to the central business district, and two prominent rocky points at either end. The central area of town is largely flat and comprises the majority of houses and people. It is moderately populated, with many cultivated fields and buildings.To the west-northwest of central Minabe is the Iwashiro region which is centered around the Iwashiro River Basin. This area is lightly populated and a mixture of farmland and forested mountains. It also features sections of non-swimming beaches.
Following the Minabe River northeast one comes to the Kamiminabe region. This area is partly mountainous and comprises the majority of the town’s ume trees. Following the river farther upwards, the valley becomes increasingly narrow and forested, with little ground suitable for cultivation or houses. The path of the Minabe River here is narrow, no more than 30m across. There is little to nothing in the way of buildings or cultivated fields. Approximately 8 kilometers from the center of town is the lightly populated region of Takagi which features some farmland and houses. A further 6 kilometers up the river valley is the even smaller region of Kiyokawa, which is the end of Minabe. The highest point is located here: 768m.
On October 1, 2004 the village of Minabegawa
Minabegawa, Wakayama
was a village located in Hidaka District, Wakayama, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Minabegawa was merged into the expanded town of Minabe and no longer exists as an independent entity....
, from Hidaka District
Hidaka District, Wakayama
is a district located in Wakayama, Japan. As of September 1, 2008, the district has an estimated Population of 56,219 and a Density of 85.8 persons/km²...
, was merged into Minabe.
Economy
Minabe is a large producer of two important agricultural products in Japan. One is UmeboshiUmeboshi
Umeboshi are pickled ume fruits common in Japan. Ume is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a plum but is actually more closely related to the apricot. Umeboshi are a popular kind of tsukemono and are extremely sour and salty...
(Japanese pickled plum). Minabe produces grows and processes more plums than any other place in Japan. The plums are primarily grown on the hillsides and mountainsides of the small valley around the Minabe River. Ume are used almost inclusively in food products ranging from the aforementioned Umeboshi to cooking sauces to ice cream.
The other product is a traditional charcoal called Binchōtan
Binchotan
is a mascot character, created by Japanese manga artist and produced by game goods company Alchemist.The name is a play on words: is a kind of charcoal, which is mainly used for cooking. However, -tan is a suffix created by the mispronunciation of -chan...
. Minabe currently produces the second most Binchōtan of any place in Japan. This charcoal is produced in small, family-operated outdoor kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
s primarily in the upper mountainous areas of Minabe. It is used in a wide variety of products: soaps and shampoos, ornaments, musical instruments, air fresheners, and many others.
While much of Minabe's economy is agricultural, it does have several businesses and other industries. The town supports a small business district centered around its train station, as well as 3 full-service hotels and several restaurants and cafes.
External links
- Official Minabe homepage (in Japanese)
- Minabe Tourist Information Center (in Japanese)