Kansai: Difference between revisions
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====Osaka (大阪市 ''Oosaka-shi'')==== | ====Osaka (大阪市 ''Oosaka-shi'')==== | ||
{{main|Osaka}} | {{main|Osaka}} | ||
Osaka is the capital of the prefecture, and a major centre of commerce. It is also known as a gastronomic centre - the 'Kitchen of Japan'<ref>''Osakacityguide.com'': '[http://www.osakacityguide.com/city-information/the-culinary-history-of-osaka.html The Culinary History of Osaka]'.</ref> (天下の台所 ''Tenka no Daidokoro'') - and for the distinctive local [[Japanese language|Japanese]] [[dialect]]. | |||
[[Image:Gozaisho-sign.jpg|right|thumb|250px|{{#ifexist:Template:Gozaisho-sign.jpg/credit|{{Gozaisho-sign.jpg/credit}}<br/>|}}A sign marks one spot where [[Shiga prefecture|Shiga]] and [[Mie prefecture|Mie]] prefectures meet, at the summit of Mount Gozaisho (御在所). The area is reached by cable car and ski lift from Yunoyama Onsen station (湯の山温泉駅) in Mie.]] | [[Image:Gozaisho-sign.jpg|right|thumb|250px|{{#ifexist:Template:Gozaisho-sign.jpg/credit|{{Gozaisho-sign.jpg/credit}}<br/>|}}A sign marks one spot where [[Shiga prefecture|Shiga]] and [[Mie prefecture|Mie]] prefectures meet, at the summit of Mount Gozaisho (御在所). The area is reached by cable car and ski lift from Yunoyama Onsen station (湯の山温泉駅) in Mie.]] | ||
===Mie prefecture (三重県 ''Mie-ken'')=== | ===Mie prefecture (三重県 ''Mie-ken'')=== | ||
{{main|Mie prefecture}} | {{main|Mie prefecture}} | ||
Revision as of 04:01, 7 April 2008
Kansai (関西地方 Kansai-chihoo), also known as Kinki (近畿地方 Kinki-chihoo), is a region of Japan located on Honshu island. It consists of seven administrative areas (prefectures), and is home to the cities of Kyoto and Osaka, among others.
The exact borders of Kansai and the difference, if any, from the term 'Kinki' is a matter of some controversy. Six prefectures are indisputably within Kansai: Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Shiga and Wakayama. Mie prefecture is also generally identified as part of Kansai, as are sometimes Fukui and Tokushima.[1]
The total population of the Kansai region was 22,754,000 in 2006.[2] The area forms part of an urban corridor running north-eastwards towards Tokyo via the Chubu and Kanto regions; this makes Kansai part of one of the most densely-populated areas of the world, home to over half the country's population.[3]
Regions and cities
Kyoto prefecture (京都府 Kyooto-fu)
Kyoto (京都市 Kyooto-shi)
Osaka prefecture (大阪府 Oosaka-fu)
Osaka (大阪市 Oosaka-shi)
Osaka is the capital of the prefecture, and a major centre of commerce. It is also known as a gastronomic centre - the 'Kitchen of Japan'[4] (天下の台所 Tenka no Daidokoro) - and for the distinctive local Japanese dialect.
Mie prefecture (三重県 Mie-ken)
Mie's best-known site is the city of Ise (伊勢市 Ise-shi) and its Shinto (神道 Shintoo) shrines; these are collectively referred to as the 'Ise Shrine' (伊勢神宮 Ise-jinguu) and are considered the centre of Japan's native religion.
Shiga prefecture (滋賀県 Shiga-ken)
Nara prefecture (奈良県 Nara-ken)
Hyogo prefecture (兵庫県 Hyoogo-ken)
Wakayama prefecture (和歌山県 Wakayama-ken)
Footnotes
- ↑ This article assumes that Kansai comprises seven prefectures, excluding Fukui (in the Chubu region) and Tokushima (on the island of Shikoku). Official Mie prefectural information, however, suggests that Mie is in both Kansai and Chubu. See Mie Prefecture: 'Mie's Location'.
- ↑ Japan Statistical Yearbook: 'Population by Prefecture 1920-2006'. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. .xls document.
- ↑ Japan Times: 'Population shrinks again despite increase in births'. 3rd August 2007.
- ↑ Osakacityguide.com: 'The Culinary History of Osaka'.