Country Japan Island Kyushu ISO 3166 code JP-40 Area 4,971 km² Bird Japanese bush warbler | Region Kyushu Area rank 29th Districts 12 Capital Fukuoka | |
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Population 5.049 million (31 Mar 2012) Weather 10°C, Wind N at 11 km/h, 54% Humidity Destinations Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Itoshima, Fukuoka, Dazaifu Colleges and Universities Fukuoka University, Kyushu University, Kurume University, Seinan Gakuin University, Kyushu Institute of Technology Points of interest Ōhori Park, Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka Castle, Kyushu National Museum, Canal City Hakata | ||
Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県, Fukuoka-ken) is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.
Contents
- Map of Fukuoka Prefecture Japan
- History
- Shrines and temples
- Geography
- Cities
- Towns and villages
- Economy
- Demographics
- Culture
- Major events and festivals
- Sports
- Crime and safety
- Tourism
- Rail
- Air
- Sister regions
- References
Map of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
History
Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen.
Shrines and temples
Kōra taisha, Sumiyoshi-jinja, and Hakosagi-gū are the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.
Geography
Fukuoka Prefecture faces the sea on three sides, bordering Saga, Ōita, and Kumamoto prefectures and facing Yamaguchi Prefecture across the Kanmon Straits.
As of 1 April 2012, 18% of the land area of the prefecture was designated as natural parks: Setonaikai National Park, Genkai, Kitakyūshū, and Yaba-Hita-Hikosan quasi-national parks, and Chikugogawa, Chikuhō, Dazaifu, Sefuri Raizan, and Yabegawa Prefectural Natural Parks.
Fukuoka includes the two largest cities on Kyūshū, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and much of Kyūshū's industry. It also includes a number of small islands near the north coast of Kyūshū.
Cities
Twenty-eight cities are in Fukuoka Prefecture:
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Economy
Fukuoka prefecture's main cities form one of Japan's main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel. Fukuoka prefecture is where tire manufacturer Bridgestone and consumer electronics chain Best Denki were founded.
Demographics
According to 1 June 2013 Japanese estimates, the population in Fukuoka Prefecture reached 5,088,483 inhabitants, making the prefecture the 9th most populated of Japan's 47 prefectures.
Culture
Major events and festivals
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka.
The prefecture has two significant annual athletics events: the Fukuoka International Cross Country and the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship. The marathon has been held in Fukuoka since 1959 and has seen world records broken.
Crime and safety
Fukuoka Prefecture has the most designated yakuza groups among all of the prefectures, at five: the Kudo-kai, the Taishu-kai, the Fukuhaku-kai, the Dojin-kai and the Kyushu Seido-kai. Between 2004 and 2009, and in early 2011, Fukuoka Prefecture lead the nation in gun-related incidents. These incidents were mostly related to the local yakuza syndicates, specifically the Kudo-kai, the Dojin-kai, and the Kyushu Seido-kai.
Fukuoka Prefecture has had the highest frequency of youth crime among the prefectures of Japan since 2003.
Tourism
The most popular place for tourism is Fukuoka City, especially at the time of the Dontaku festival, and Dazaifu, although Kitakyūshū has tried to attract tourists.