Okayama Prefecture, Japan

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Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Table of Contents

• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Overview
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Map
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: History
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Geography
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Climate
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Transportation
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Politics
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Economy
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Population
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Culture
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Education
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Symbols
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Tourism
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Pictures
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Facts
• Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Notables

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Overview

Okayama Prefecture (岡山県, Okayama-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Map

Map of Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Google Map

• Map of Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: History

During the Meiji Restoration; Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province were combined to form Okayama Prefecture.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Early History

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Middle History

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Modern History

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Geography

Okayama Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture. It faces Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea and includes 90 islands in the sea.

Okayama Prefecture is home to the historic town of Kurashiki. Most of the population is concentrated around Kurashiki and Okayama. The small villages in the northern mountain region are aging and declining in population--more than half of the prefectures municipalities are officially designated as depopulated.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Cities

• Akaiwa
• Asakuchi
• Bizen
• Ibara
• Kasaoka
• Kurashiki
• Maniwa
• Mimasaka
• Niimi
• Okayama (Capital)
• Setouchi
• Sōja
• Takahashi
• Tamano
• Tsuyama

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Towns and villages

Aida District

• Nishiawakura

Asakuchi District

• Satoshō

Kaga District

• Kibichūō

Katsuta District

• Nagi
• Shōō

Kume District

• Kumenan
• Misaki

Maniwa District

• Shinjō

Oda District

• Yakage

Tomata District

• Kagamino

Tsukubo District

• Hayashima

Wake District

• Wake

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Mergers

• On October 1, 2004 - the city of Takahashi and the towns of Ukan, Nariwa, Kawakami, and Bitchū merged to form the new city of Takahashi. As a result of this merger, Kawakami District was dissolved.
• On October 1, 2004 - the towns of Kamogawa and Kayō merged to form the town of Kibichūō. The new town belongs to Kaga District, founded upon this merger.
• On November 1, 2004 - the towns of Ushimado, Oku, and Osafune from Oku District merged to form the city of Setouchi. As a result of this merger, Oku District was dissolved.
• On February 28, 2005 - the towns of Kamo, Shōboku, and Kume and the village of Aba from Tomata District merged into the city of Tsuyama.
• On March 1, 2005 - the towns of Yoshii from Shitsuki District and Bisei from Oda District merged into the city of Ibara. As a result of this merger, Shitsuki District was dissolved.
• On March 1, 2005 - the towns of Okutsu and Kagamino and the villages of Kamisaibara and Tomi from Tomata District merged to form the new town of Kagamino.
• On March 7, 2005 - the towns of San'yō, Akasaka, Yoshii and Kumayama (all from Akaiwa District) merged to form the new city of Akaiwa.
• On March 22, 2005 - the towns of Mitsu and Nadasaki merged into the city of Okayama. As a result of this merger, Kojima District was dissolved.
• On March 22, 2005 - the city of Sōja merged with the villages of Yamate, and Kiyone from Tsukubo District to form the new city of Sōja.
• On March 22, 2005 - the city of Bizen and the towns of Hinase, and Yoshinaga merged to form the new city of Bizen.
• On March 22, 2005 - the towns of Chūō, Asahi, and Yanahara merged to form the new town of Misaki.
• On March 31, 2005 - the city of Niimi and the towns of ōsa, Shingō, Tessei, and Tetta merged to form the new city of Niimi. As a result of this merger, Atetsu District was dissolved.
• On March 31, 2005 - the town of Hokubō from Jōbō District and the towns of Katsuyama, Ochiai, Yubara, and Kuse and the villages of Mikamo, Kawakami, Yatsuka, and Chūka (all from Maniwa District) merged to form the new city of Maniwa. As a result of this merger, Jōbō District was dissolved.
• On March 31, 2005 - the town of Katsuta from Katsuta District and the towns of ōhara, Mimasaka, Sakutō, and Aida and the village of Higashiawakura (all from Aida District) merged to form the new city of Mimasaka.
• On August 1, 2005 - the town of Funao from Asakuchi District and the town of Mabi from Kibi District merged into the city of Kurashiki. Kibi District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
• On March 1, 2006 - the towns of Wake and Saeki from Wake District merged to form the new town of Wake.
• On March 21, 2006 - the towns of Konkō, Kamogata and Yorishima from Asakuchi District merged to form the new city of Asakuchi.
• On January 22, 2007 - the municipalities of Seto of Akaiwa District and Takebe of Mitsu District merged into the city of Okayama. Akaiwa District and Mitsu District were dissolved as a result of this merger.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Climate

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Transportation

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Airports

Okayama Airport

Okayama Airport operates domestic services to Tokyo, Sapporo, Kagoshima and Naha, regular international flights to Seoul, Shanghai, Dalian, Beijing and Guam as well as a large number of charter and special flights.

Okayama Airport is conveniently located approximately 25 minutes by car from central Okayama City and approximately 10 minutes from the nearest expressway interchange. Regular bus services provide access to major cities in the area including Okayama City and Kurashiki City. In addition, because locations such as Kobe, Osaka, Hiroshima, Yonago, Takamatsu and Kochi can be reached in approximately two hours by expressway, many people from outside Okayama Prefecture use Okayama Airport for domestic and international vacations and business trips.

• Location: 1277 Nichioji, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
• Operating Hours: 7:00～21:30
• Regular Domestic Flights: Sapporo, Tokyo (Haneda), Kagoshima, Okinawa (Naha)
• Regular International Flights: Seoul, Shanghai, Dalian, Beijing, Guam

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Rail

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Roads

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Ports

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Politics

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Economy

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Population

• Population: 1,957,056 (21st)
• Density: 275 /km2

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Culture

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Education

National Universities in Okayama Prefecture

• Okayama University

Public and Private Universities in Okayama Prefecture

• Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare
• Kibi International University
• Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts
• Mimasaka University
• Nortre Dame Seishin University
• Okayama Prefectural University
• Okayama Shoka University
• Okayama University of Science
• Sanyo Gakuen University
• Shujitsu University

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Symbols

• Flower: Peach Blossom (Prunus Persica Var. Vulgaris)
• Tree: Red Pine (Pinus Densiflora)
• Bird: Lesser Cuckoo (Cuculus Poliocephalus)

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Tourism

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Flights

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Hotels

World-Wide Discounted Hotels Reservations.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Restaurants

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Attractions

• The Koraku-en Japanese garden, located in Okayama City.
• Okayama Castle, located in Okayama City.
• Shizutani School, located in Bizen City.
• Bikan Historical Area, located in Kurashiki City.
• Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, located in Takahashi City.
• Kakuzan Park, located in Tsuyama City
• Bisei Astronomical Observatory, located in Ibara Town (following dissolution of Bisei Town).

Okayama Prefecture Tourism: Parks & Gardens

Okayama Prefecture Tourism: Temples & Shrines

Okayama Prefecture Tourism: Landmarks & Key Buildings

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Nightlife

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Shopping

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Cuisine

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Recreation

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Pictures

Okayama Castle, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Okayama Castle, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Kakuzan Park, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Korakuen Garden, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Shizutani School, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Okayama University, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Facts

Okayama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the western Honshu, Japan, bordering the Inland Sea, includes numerous offshore islands. Okayama prefecture has a predominantly agricultural economy. Rice, grapes, peaches, igusa (rushes for tatami mats), cotton, and other cash crops are grown in the south, where farm techniques and mechanization are among the most advanced in Japan. The economy in the interior mountains, however, is poor and largely dependent upon forestry and small-scale cattle raising. Manufacturing is concentrated in such southern cities as Okayama, Kurashiki, and Tamanoi. Mizushima district in Okayama prefecture developed extensively during the 1960s. Oil refineries and automobile, petrochemical, and steel factories were built on reclaimed land.

Okayama city, the prefectural capital, lies in the central Okayama plain, astride the Asahi River. An old castle town of the Ikeda daimyo family, it dominates prefectural life. It is a major marketing centre with excellent rail connections to cities on the Inland Sea, Sea of Japan (East Sea), and Shikoku. Because its river port is shallow, Tamanoi serves as its outport. Industry includes the manufacture of machinery, textiles, and rubber goods. Okayama University (1949) is noted for its medical college. Kōraku-en, laid out in 1786, is one of Japan's most celebrated public gardens. The town of Bizen, to the northeast, has been a centre of pottery making since the 8th century. Area prefecture, 2,746 square miles (7,112 square km). Pop. (2005 est.) city, 674,605; prefecture, 1,957,056.

Okayama Prefecture, Japan: Notables

• Shin Koyamada, Hollywood Actor.
• Yuko Arimori, Marathon Runner.
• Tesshō Genda, Voice Actor.
• Ryutaro Hashimoto, Kiichiro Hiranuma and Inukai Tsuyoshi, former Prime Ministers of Japan.
• Senichi Hoshino, Baseball Manager.
• Koshi Inaba, Singer.
• Keizo Nakanishi, Singer.
• Sesshu Toyo, Suiboku Master.
• Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, Boxer.
• Haruka Fukushima, Mangaka.
• Masashi Kishimoto, Mangaka.
• Seishi Kishimoto, Mangaka.
• Daisuke Takahashi, Olympic Figure Skater.
• Dorlis, Jazz Musician.
• Michio Maeda, Koi Breeder.
• Megumi Fujii, MMA Fighter.
• Masaki Kajishima, Creator of Tenchi Muyo.

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