Fukuoka Prefecture

Updated on Oct 12, 2024

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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

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.

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

Fukuoka Art Museum – In Ohori Park; contains a wide selection of contemporary and other art from around the world.

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum – contains art from Asia.

Fukuoka City Museum – displays a broad range of items from the region's history, including a spectacular gold seal.

Genko Historical Museum (元寇史料館; Museum of the Mongol Invasion) in Higashi Koen (East Park) displays Japanese and Mongolian arms and armor from the 13th century as well as paintings on historical subjects. Open on weekends.

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum – Dedicated to displaying the traditional ways of life, speech, and culture of the Fukuoka region.

Fukuoka Castle – a castle in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa – Japanese festival celebrated 1–15 July.

Ōhori Park – a registered Place of Scenic Beauty.

Kyushu National Museum – The collections cover the history of Kyūshū from prehistory to the Meiji era with particular emphasis on the rich history of cultural exchange between Kyūshū and neighboring China and Korea.

HKT48 Theater – where the idol group HKT48 performs every day.

LinQ – the Kyushu idol group meaning "Love in Kyushu", local theater where the LinQ performs weekly on Saturday and Sunday in Tenjin Best Hall.

Major events and festivals

Hakata Dontaku Harbour Festival, Tenjin, Fukuoka on May 3 and 4

Hakata Gion Yamagasa, Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka in July

Kokura Gion Yamagasa, Kitakyushu in July

Tobata Gion Yamagasa, Kitakyushu in July

Kurosaki Gion Yamagasa, Kitakyushu in July

Kitahara Hakushu Festival, Yanagawa on November 1 to 3

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka.

Football (soccer)

Avispa Fukuoka (Fukuoka City)

Giravanz Kitakyushu (Kitakyūshū City)

Baseball

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka City)

Basketball

Fukuoka Rizing (Fukuoka City)

Rugby

Coca-Cola Red Sparks (Fukuoka City)

Fukuoka Sanix Blues (Munakata)

Kyuden Voltex

Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament

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.