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Nagano Prefecture

Coordinates: 36°15′N 138°6′E / 36.250°N 138.100°E / 36.250; 138.100
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Nagano Prefecture
長野県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese長野県
 • RōmajiNagano-ken
Shiga Highlands Ski Resort
Zenkō-ji
Kamikōchi
A spring view of Mount Shirouma
Matsumoto Castle
Daio Wasabi Farm
Larix kaempferi Street in Karuizawa
Lake Suwa
Flag of Nagano Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Nagano Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Shinano no Kuni
Location of Nagano Prefecture
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
IslandHonshu
CapitalNagano
SubdivisionsDistricts: 14, Municipalities: 77
Government
 • GovernorShuichi Abe
Area
 • Total13,561.56 km2 (5,236.15 sq mi)
 • Rank4th
Population
 (July 1, 2023)
 • Total2,007,682
 • Rank16th
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
GDP
[1]
 • TotalJP¥ 8,454 billion
US$ 77.6 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 codeJP-20
Websitewww.pref.nagano.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdRock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
FlowerGentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
TreeWhite birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica)
Hasuike Resort on the Shiga Plateau in Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture (長野県, Nagano-ken) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[2] Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,007,682 (as of 1 July 2023) and has a geographic area of 13,561.56 square kilometres (5,236.15 sq mi). Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the northeast, Saitama Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the southeast, Shizuoka Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture to the south, and Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture to the west.

Nagano is the capital and largest city of Nagano Prefecture, with other major cities including Matsumoto, Ueda, and Iida.[3]: 682  Nagano Prefecture has impressive highland areas of the Japanese Alps, including most of the Hida Mountains, Kiso Mountains, and Akaishi Mountains which extend into the neighbouring prefectures. The area's mountain ranges, natural scenery, and history has gained Nagano Prefecture international recognition as a winter sports tourist destination, and hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. It is served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, with direct services to Tokyo, Toyama, and Kanazawa.

History

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See also: Historic Sites of Nagano Prefecture and Shinano Province

Geography

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Nagano is an inland prefecture and it borders more prefectures than any other in Japan, bordering Gunma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Niigata Prefecture to the north, Toyama Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture to the west, and Aichi Prefecture to the south. Nagano contains the point furthest from the sea in the whole of Japan—this point lies within the city of Saku. The province's mountains have made it relatively isolated, and many visitors come to Nagano for its mountain resorts and hot springs. Nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan can be found in Nagano and one of its lakes, Lake Kizaki, is a beach resort popular for its water attractions and games. The climate is predominantly alpine with warm summers, cold snowy winters and less intense humidity than the lower lying coastal areas.

As of 1 April 2014, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks; namely the Chichibu Tama Kai, Chūbu-Sangaku, Jōshin'etsu-kōgen, and Minami Alps National Parks; Myōgi-Arafune-Saku Kōgen, Tenryū-Okumikawa, and Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Parks; and Chūō Alps, Enrei Ōjō, Hijiriyama Kōgen, Mibugawa Suikei, Ontake, and Tenryū Koshibu Suikei Prefectural Natural Parks.[4]

Cities

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Physical map of Nagano Prefecture
Political map of Nagano Prefecture
     City      Town      Village
Hida Mountains (August 2006)
Nagano City
Chikuma River, from Yashima Bridge, looking downstream toward Murayama Bridge, Nagano (city)
Suwa
Komagane
Matsumoto
Nozawaonsen, Nagano
See also: List of cities in Nagano Prefecture by population

Nineteen cities are located in Nagano Prefecture:

Towns and villages

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These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

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Main article: List of mergers in Nagano Prefecture

Demographics

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Nagano prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18801,000,414—    
18901,146,071+1.37%
19031,348,556+1.26%
19131,484,205+0.96%
19201,562,722+0.74%
19251,629,217+0.84%
19301,717,118+1.06%
19351,714,000−0.04%
19401,710,729−0.04%
19452,121,050+4.39%
19502,060,831−0.57%
19552,021,292−0.39%
19601,981,433−0.40%
19651,958,007−0.24%
19701,956,917−0.01%
19752,017,564+0.61%
19802,083,934+0.65%
19852,136,927+0.50%
19902,156,627+0.18%
19952,193,984+0.34%
20002,215,168+0.19%
20052,196,114−0.17%
20102,152,449−0.40%
20152,099,759−0.49%
20202,052,493−0.45%
source:[5]

The life expectancy in Nagano prefecture is the longest nationwide with the average life expectancy of 87.18 years for women and 80.88 years for men.[6]

Transportation

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Railway

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  • Hokuriku Shinkansen
    Hokuriku Shinkansen
  • Iida Line
    Iida Line
  • Shinano Railway
    Shinano Railway
  • Nagano Electric Railway
    Nagano Electric Railway

Road

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Expressways

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National highways

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Airports

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Education

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Universities

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Public

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Private

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Economy

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Nagano Prefecture has a large and diversified economy, with a strong focus on electronics, information technology, precision machinery, agriculture and food products, and tourism, with a total GDP of about ¥8.5 trillion (2017).[7]

Several large Japanese groups have production facilities in Nagano Prefecture, such as Citizen Watch (Citizen Group), MinebeaMitsumi, Seiko Epson and Vaio.

Tourism

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  • Zenkō-ji
    Zenkō-ji
  • Onbashira, which festival held once in seven years
    Onbashira, which festival held once in seven years
  • Yashima Wetland in Kirigamine Hill
    Yashima Wetland in Kirigamine Hill
  • Matsumoto Castle
    Matsumoto Castle
  • Utsukushigahara Hills
    Utsukushigahara Hills
  • Ski resort in Shiga Hills
    Ski resort in Shiga Hills

Sports

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Sunpro Alwin in Matsumoto.

There are two local J.League clubs: AC Nagano Parceiro and Matsumoto Yamaga FC.[citation needed]

Prefectural symbols

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Sister regions

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Personalities

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Nagano prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 682, p. 682, at Google Books; "Chūbu" at p. 126, p. 126, at Google Books
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Nagano" at p. 682, p. 682, at Google Books
  4. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Statistics Bureau Home Page". www.stat.go.jp.
  6. ^ "Nagano Prefecture has achieved the highest life expectancy in Japan, after long efforts of improving each one's lifestyle (December 9, 2013) | 公益財団法人フォーリン・プレスセンター（FPCJ）". fpcj.jp. 8 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Regional Information: Nagano". Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Archived from the original on 19 October 2020.
  8. ^ Keith. "GODZILLA MINUS ONE Official Press Release, Trailers and Teaser Posters -- Direct From Toho! North American Theatrical Release December 1!". SciFi Japan. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

References

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nagano (prefecture).

36°15′N 138°6′E / 36.250°N 138.100°E / 36.250; 138.100

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