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Toyama is the capital and largest city of Toyama Prefecture, with other major cities including Takaoka, Imizu, and Nanto. Toyama Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region, and the majority of the prefecture's population lives on Toyama Bay, one of the largest bays in Japan. Toyama Prefecture is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast and has the advantage of cheap electricity from abundant hydroelectric resources. Toyama Prefecture contains the only known glaciers in East Asia outside of Russia, first recognized in 2012, and 30% of the prefecture's area is designated as national parks.
History
Historically, Toyama Prefecture was Etchū Province. Following the abolition of the han system in 1871, Etchū Province was renamed Niikawa Prefecture, but Imizu District was given to Nanao Prefecture. In 1872 Imizu District was returned by the new Ishikawa Prefecture.
In 1876, Niikawa Prefecture was merged into Ishikawa Prefecture but the merger was void in 1881 and the area was re-established as Toyama Prefecture.
The Itai-itai disease occurred in Toyama around 1950.
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Geography
Toyama Prefecture is bordered by Ishikawa Prefecture to the west, Niigata to the northeast, Nagano to the southeast, Gifu to the south and Sea of Japan to the north.
As of April 1, 2012, 30% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Chūbu-Sangaku and Hakusan National Parks; Noto Hantō Quasi-National Park; and six Prefectural Natural Parks.
Municipalities
Due to the mergers in the 2000s, Toyama has the fewest municipalities of any prefecture in Japan with 10 cities, 2 districts, 4 towns, and 1 village (before the mergers took place, the prefecture had 9 cities, 18 towns, and 8 villages).
Cities
Ten cities are located in Toyama Prefecture.
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Mergers
List of governors of Toyama Prefecture (1947–present)
- Tetsuji Tachi (館 哲二) (19 April 1947 to 15 November 1947)
- Takekuni Takatsuji (高辻 武邦) (16 November 1947 to 30 September 1956)
- Minoru Yoshida (吉田 実) (1 October 1956 to 1 December 1969)
- Kōkichi Nakata (中田 幸吉) (30 December 1969 to 18 September 1980)
- Yutaka Nakaoki (中沖 豊) (11 November 1980 to 8 November 2004)
- Takakazu Ishii (石井 隆一) (9 November 2004 to 8 November 2020)
- Hachirō Nitta (新田 八朗) (9 November 2020 to present)
Economy
Agriculture
In 2014 Toyama contributed approximately 2.5% of Japan's rice production and makes use of abundant water sources originating from Mount Tate. It also has many fisheries along its Sea of Japan coastline.
Manufacturing
Toyama is famous for its historical pharmaceutical industry which remains a top manufacturing industry in the prefecture in terms of manufacturing shipment value followed by electronic parts and devices (industrial robots, general machinery, etc.), and metal products (aluminum, copper etc.) manufacturing.
Energy
Kurobe Dam generates electricity for the Kansai Electric Power Company. It is located on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Toyama has been relatively stable since 1950.
Transportation
Rail
- JR West
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Tsuruga via Kurobe, Toyama City and Takaoka)
- Takayama Main Line (Inotani to Toyama City)
- Himi Line
- Jōhana Line
- JR Central
- Takayama Main Line (Gifu to Inotani)
- Ainokaze Toyama Railway (Kurikara, Ishikawa to Ichiburi, Niigata via Takaoka and Toyama City)
- Manyōsen (Third-sector tram system in Takaoka)
- Shinminatokō Line
- Takaoka Kidō Line
- Toyama Chihō Railway
- Main Line
- Tateyama Line
- Fujikoshi Line
- Kamidaki Line
- Toyama City Tram
Expressway
- Hokuriku Expressway
- Nōetsu Expressway
- Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway
Air
- Toyama Airport (TOY)
Domestic
International
- Dalian: 2 hr 30 min via China Southern Airlines
- Shanghai: 2 hr 30 min via Shanghai Airlines
Culture
Tourist sites
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
- Kurobe Gorge Railway
- Unazuki Onsen
- Gokayama (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Mitsui Outlet Park, Hokuriku Oyabe
UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites
- Gokayama Historical Village (Nanto City)
National Treasures of Japan
- Zuiryū-ji Temple (Takaoka City)
Festivals
Spring
- All Japan Chindon Competition (Toyama City (Toyama Castle Park), Mid April
- Tonami Tulip Fair (Tonami City), May
- Marumage Festival (Himi City), May 17
Summer
- Sassa Narimasa Sengoku Era Festival (Toyama City), Late July
- Japan Wildlife Film Festival (Toyama Prefecture), Early August
Fall
- Toyama Festival (Toyama City), Sept. 1
- Owara Kaze no Bon (Toyama City (Yatsuo Area)), Sept. 1–3
Winter
- Nanto Toga Soba Festival (Nanto City (Toga Village Area)), Mid Feb.
Regional foods
- Trout Sushi (Masuzushi)
- White Shrimp (Shiro Ebi)
- Matured Yellow Tail (Buri)
- Firefly Squid (Hotaru Ika)
- Fish Paste (Kamaboko)
Regional sake
- Tateyama (立山)
- Narimasa (成政)
- Masuizumi (満寿泉)
- Sanshoraku (三笑楽)
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Toyama.
Football
- Kataller Toyama (Toyama City)
Basketball
- Toyama Grouses (Toyama City)
Baseball
- Toyama Thunderbirds (Toyama City)
Rugby Union
- Takaoka Mariners (Takaoka)
International relations
- Liaoning Province, since May 9, 1984
- São Paulo State, since July 18, 1985
- Oregon State, since October 19, 1991
- Primorsky Region, since August 26, 1992
- Basel-Stadt, since October 26, 2009
- Andhra Pradesh State, since December 29, 2015