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Niigata prefecture

Niigata prefecture (新潟県; Niigata-ken) is the located on Honshu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata.

 
Niigata prefecture (新潟県)

Niigata prefectural symbol
CapitalNiigata
Region:Chubu
Island:Honshu
Area
 - Total
 - % water
Ranked 5th
12,582.37
0.2%
Population
 - Total (Oct 12000)
 - Density
Ranked 14th
2,475,733
197/km²
Districts:16
Municipalities:111
ISO 3166-2:JP-15
Symbols
Pref. Flower:Tulip
(Tulipa gesneriana)
Pref. Tree:Camellia
(Camellia japonica)
Pref. Bird:Japanese crested ibis
(Nipponia nippon)

Table of contents
1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Prefectural symbols
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links

History

Niigata is the largest and most important city in Ura Nihon, the half of Japan that faces the Sea of Japan. It has been an important seaport since the opening of Japan in the mid-1800's, especially for trade with Russia and northern Korea.

The Etsuzankai organization, led by prime minister Tanaka Kakuei, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata in the 1960's and 1970's, including the Joetsu Shinkansen high speed rail line and Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo.

Today, Niigata is best known for being visited by a freighter from North Korea once a month: one of the few direct contacts between the Western bloc and the communist country.

Geography

Cities

Districts

Economy

The prefecture is famous as the original home of the ornamental carp known as koi, and the best-quality koi are still considered to come from the farms of Niigata.

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

External links


Prefectures of Japan