Villages of Japan
Encyclopedia
A is a local administrative unit
in Japan
.
It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture
.
It is larger than an actual settlement, being in actuality a subdivision of a rural , which are subdivided into towns
and villages with no overlap and no uncovered area.
As a result of mergers
, the number of villages in Japan is decreasing.
Only Hyōgo
and Kagawa
prefectures had no villages from before the Heisei mergers.
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
in 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...
.
It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
.
It is larger than an actual settlement, being in actuality a subdivision of a rural , which are subdivided into towns
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
and villages with no overlap and no uncovered area.
As a result of mergers
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
, the number of villages in Japan is decreasing.
Prefectures without villages
(As of April 1, 2008)- EhimeEhime Prefectureis a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
(several recent mergers, the last of which was on January 16, 2005) - FukuiFukui Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
- HyōgoHyogo Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
- HiroshimaHiroshima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
- IshikawaIshikawa Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
- KagawaKagawa Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
- MieMie Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
- NagasakiNagasaki Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
- SagaSaga Prefectureis located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
- ShigaShiga Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
(the village of KutsukiKutsuki, Shigawas a village located in the former Takashima District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 2,546 and a density of 15.36 persons per km². The total area was 165.77 km²....
merged with several other towns to form the new city of TakashimaTakashima, Shigais a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.On November 30, 2004 the city had an estimated population of 56,220 and a density of 110 persons per square kilometres. The total area is 511 square kilometres....
on January 1, 2005) - ShizuokaShizuoka Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
- TochigiTochigi Prefectureis a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
- YamaguchiYamaguchi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
Only Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
and Kagawa
Kagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
prefectures had no villages from before the Heisei mergers.
Prefectures with exactly one village
(As of April 1, 2008)- KanagawaKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
(KiyokawaKiyokawa, Kanagawais a village located in Aikō District, Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the village had an estimated population of 3,556and a density of 49.9 persons per km². The total area is 71.29 km².-Geography:...
, Aikō DistrictAiko District, Kanagawais an administrative district of Japan located in central Kanagawa Prefecture. It currently consists of only one town, Aikawa, and one village, Kiyokawa.-History:...
) - KyōtoKyoto Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
(MinamiyamashiroMinamiyamashiro, Kyotois a village located in Sōraku District, Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the village has an estimated population of 3,468. The total area is 64.21 km².- External links :*...
, Soraku DistrictSoraku District, KyotoSoraku is a district in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2007, the district had an estimated population of 44,982 and a density of 252.27 persons per km². The total area is 178.31 km².-Towns and villages:*Kasagi*Minamiyamashiro*Seika*Wazuka...
) - MiyagiMiyagi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
(ŌhiraOhira, Miyagiis a village located in Kurokawa District, Miyagi, Japan.As of 2010, the village has an estimated population of 5,321 and a population density of 88.4 persons per km²...
, Kurokawa DistrictKurokawa District, Miyagiis a district located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 80,214 and a population density of 192.39 persons per km². The total area is 416.93 km²....
) - ŌitaOita Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
(HimeshimaHimeshima, Oitais a village located in Higashikunisaki District, Ōita, Japan.The name Himeshima literally means "Princess Island". The village is on a small island, sometimes referred to as Hime Island, just off the Japanese island of Kyūshū, and is accessible by ferry.As of 2003, the village has an estimated...
, Higashikunisaki DistrictHigashikunisaki District, Oita' is a district located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.As of April 2006, the district has an estimated population of 2,898. The total area is now down to 6.75 km².There is only one village left in the district.*Himeshima...
) - ŌsakaOsaka Prefectureis a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
(ChihayaakasakaChihayaakasaka, Osakais a village located in Minamikawachi District, Osaka, Japan.As of 2009, the village has an estimated population of 6,131 and a population density of 164 persons per km². The total area is 37.38 km²....
, Minamikawachi DistrictMinamikawachi District, OsakaMinamikawachi is a district located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2009, the district has an estimated population of 37,695 and a density of 491 persons per km²...
) - SaitamaSaitama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
(HigashichichibuHigashichichibu, Saitamais a village located in Chichibu District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 3,894 and a density of 104.76 persons per km². The total area is 37.17 km².-External links:*...
, Chichibu DistrictChichibu District, SaitamaChichibu is a district located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 61,755 and a density of 77.58 persons per km²...
) - ShimaneShimane Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
(ChibuChibu, Shimaneis a village located on in the Douzen group of islands in the Oki District, Shimane, Japan. Chibu is the only village remaining in Shimane Prefecture as of October 1, 2005....
, Oki DistrictOki District, Shimaneis a district located in Shimane, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 24,500 and a density of 70.79 persons per km². The total area is 346.10 km².The Oki District encompasses the Oki Islands, historically called Oki Province....
) - TokushimaTokushima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
(Sanagōchi, Myōdō DistrictMyodo District, Tokushimais a district located in Tokushima, Japan.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 2,638 and a density of 62.4 persons per km². The total area is 42.30 km².-Towns and villages:*Sanagōchi...
) - TottoriTottori Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
(HiezuHiezu, Tottoriis a village located in Saihaku District, Tottori, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 3,085 and a population density of 741.59 persons per km². The total area is 4.16 km².- Politics and government :...
, Saihaku DistrictSaihaku District, TottoriSaihaku is a district located in Tottori, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 50,436 and a density of 135.28 persons per km²...
) - ToyamaToyama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
(FunahashiFunahashi, Toyamais a village located in Nakaniikawa District, Toyama, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 2,574 and a density of 741.79 persons per km². The total area is 3.47 km², making it the municipality with the smallest area in Japan....
, Nakaniikawa DistrictNakaniikawa District, Toyamais a district located in Toyama, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 53,723 and a density of 98.12 persons per km². The total area is 547.55 km².-Towns and villages:*Funahashi*Kamiichi*Tateyama...
) - WakayamaWakayama Prefectureis 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 :...
(KitayamaKitayama, Wakayamais an enclave village that belongs to Higashimuro District, Wakayama, Japan, but is located on the border between Mie and Nara prefectures.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 619 and a density of 12.84 persons per km². The total area is 48.21 km².Kitayama is the only remaining...
, Higashimuro DistrictHigashimuro District, WakayamaHigashimuro is a district located in Wakayama, Japan. As of September 1, 2008, the district has an estimated Population of 43,306 and a Density of 64.8 persons/km²...
)
See also
- Municipalities of JapanMunicipalities of JapanJapan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...
- Japanese addressing systemJapanese addressing systemThe Japanese addressing system is used to identify a specific location in Japan. In Japanese, addresses are written using the opposite convention from Western addresses, starting with the biggest geographical entities down to the more specific ones....
- Edo period villageEdo period villageDuring the Edo period of Japanese history, were self-governing administrative units, led by the . Villages were taxed as a unit, with the village headman responsible for taxation...