Fukui Prefecture
福井県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese福井県
 • RōmajiFukui-ken
Panoramic view of the Fukui plain, Fukui prefecture from the top of Monju
Panoramic view of the Fukui plain, Fukui prefecture from the top of Monju
Flag of Fukui Prefecture
Official logo of Fukui Prefecture
Anthem: Fukui kenminka
Location of Fukui Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
IslandHonshū
CapitalFukui
SubdivisionsDistricts: 7, Municipalities: 17
Government
 • GovernorTatsuji Sugimoto
Area
 • Total4,190.49 km2 (1,617.96 sq mi)
 • Rank34th
Population
 (June 1, 2017)
 • Total778,943
 • Rank43rd
 • Density185.95/km2 (481.6/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-18
Websitewww.pref.fukui.jp/english/
Symbols of Japan
BirdDusky thrush (Turdus naumanni)
FlowerNarcissus (Narcissus tazetta)
TreePine tree (Pinus)

Fukui Prefecture (福井県, Fukui-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[1] Fukui Prefecture has a population of 778,943 (1 June 2017) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the east, Shiga Prefecture to the south, and Kyoto Prefecture to the southwest.

Fukui is the capital and largest city of Fukui Prefecture, with other major cities including Sakai, Echizen, and Sabae.[2] Fukui Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan coast and is part of the historic Hokuriku region of Japan. The Matsudaira clan, a powerful samurai clan during the Edo period that became a component of the Japanese nobility after the Meiji Restoration, was headquartered at Fukui Castle on the site of the modern prefectural offices. Fukui Prefecture is home to the Kitadani Formation, the Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, and the Tōjinbō cliff range.

Prehistory

The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded animals such As Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus, Nipponosaurus, Koshisaurus, Fukuivenator, Fukuititan and Tambatitanis as well as an unnamed dromaeosaurid.

History

See also: Historic Sites of Fukui Prefecture

Fukui originally consisted of the old provinces of Wakasa and Echizen, before the prefecture was formed in 1871.[3]

During the Edo period, the daimyō of the region was surnamed Matsudaira, and was a descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

During World War II, Fukui was heavily bombed and its palace, Fukui Castle, surrounded by a moat, was demolished. Buildings for the Fukui Prefectural government were built on the site of the castle.

Geography

Fukui faces the Sea of Japan, and has a western part (formerly Wakasa) which is a narrow plain between the mountains and the sea, and a larger eastern part (formerly Echizen) with wider plains including the capital and most of the population. The province lies within Japan's "Snow country".

Current map of Fukui Prefecture     City      Town
Current map of Fukui Prefecture
     City      Town
Tōjinbō, Sakai, Fukui
Row of sakura, Asuwa River, Fukui, Fukui
Row of sakura, Asuwa River, Fukui, Fukui
Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins
Myōtsū-ji, Obama, Fukui
Maruoka Castle, Sakai, Fukui
Fukui City
Fukui City
Katsuyama
Katsuyama

As of 31 March 2008, 15% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Hakusan National Park; Echizen-Kaga Kaigan and Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Parks; and Okuetsu Kōgen Prefectural Natural Park.[4]

Cities

See also: List of cities in Fukui Prefecture by population

Nine cities are located in Fukui Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Awara, Fukui.svg
Awara
あわら市 116.98 28,405
Awara in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Echizen, Fukui (city).svg
Echizen
越前市 230.7 83,078
Echizen in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Fukui, Fukui.svg
Fukui (capital)
福井市 536.41 264,217
Fukui in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Katsuyama, Fukui.svg
Katsuyama
勝山市 253.88 23,527
Katsuyama in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Obama, Fukui.svg
Obama
小浜市 233.09 29,435
Obama in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Ōno, Fukui.svg
Ōno
大野市 872.43 33,640
Ono in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sabae, Fukui.svg
Sabae
鯖江市 84.59 69,338
Sabae in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sakai, Fukui.svg
Sakai
坂井市 209.67 92,210
Sakai in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Tsuruga, Fukui.svg
Tsuruga
敦賀市 251.39 66,123
Tsuruga in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg

Towns

These are the towns in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Echizen, Fukui (town).svg
Echizen
越前町 153.15 20,709 Nyū District
Echizen town in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Eiheiji, Fukui.svg
Eiheiji
永平寺町 94.43 18,746 Yoshida District
Eiheiji in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Ikeda Fukui chapter.JPG
Ikeda
池田町 194.65 2,628 Imadate District
Ikeda in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mihama, Fukui.svg
Mihama
美浜町 152.35 9,643 Mikata District
Mihama in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Minamiechizen, Fukui.svg
Minamiechizen
南越前町 343.69 10,745 Nanjō District
Minamiechizen in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Oi, Fukui.svg
Ōi
おおい町 212.19 8,102 Ōi District
Oi in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Takahama, Fukui.svg
Takahama
高浜町 72.4 10,490 Ōi District
Takahama in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Wakasa, Fukui.svg
Wakasa
若狭町 178.49 14,577 Mikatakaminaka District
Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture Ja.svg

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Fukui Prefecture

Economy

Demographics

Fukui prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Fukui prefecture population pyramid in 2020

Fukui is one of the less populated prefectures of Japan; in September 2015 there were an estimated 785,508 people living in 281,394 households.[6] As seen in most of Japan, Fukui is facing the problem of both an aging and decreasing population; 28.6% of the population was over the age of 65 in July 2015[6] and the population has decreased by 2.6% from the 806,000 measured in the October 2010 national census.[7]

Culture

Friendship cities

Education

University

Transportation

Railroad

Road

Expressway and Toll Road

National Highway

Port

Tsuruga Port
Tsuruga Port

Tourism

Mikuni Festival, one of well known traditional festival in Fukui Prefecture
Mikuni Festival, one of well known traditional festival in Fukui Prefecture

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fukui-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 217, p. 217, at Google Books; "Chūbu" Japan Encyclopedia, p. 126, p. 126, at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Fukui" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 217, p. 217, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  5. ^ Fujioka, Chisa. "Japan anti-nuclear movement gains traction as crisis drags on". Reuters. 2011-04-08. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  6. ^ a b "福井県の推計人口" [Fukui Prefecture Population Estimate] (in Japanese). Fukui Prefectural Government. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. ^ "第2章 人口の地域分布" [Regional distribution of population] (PDF) (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. ^ Ansari, Aziz; Klinenberg, Eric (2015). Modern Romance. p. 155. ISBN 978-1594206276.

References

Coordinates: 35°59′N 136°11′E / 35.983°N 136.183°E / 35.983; 136.183