View source for Iwate Prefecture

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Iwate Prefecture
| native_name             = {{lang|ja|岩手県}}
| settlement_type         = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 265px
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = Flag of Iwate Prefecture.svg
| image_seal              = Emblem of Iwate Prefecture.svg
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map               = Iwate in Japan.svg
| mapsize                 = 265px
| map_caption             = '''Iwate Prefecture''' in [[Japan]]
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{Navy|Japan|name=Japan}}
| seat_type                = Capital
| seat                     = [[Iwate, Iwate|Iwate]]
| parts_type               = Subdivisions
| parts_style              = 
| p1                       = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 10
| p2                       = [[Municipalities in Japan|Municipalities]]: 33
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| leader_title            = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name             = Takuya Tasso
<!-- area -->
| area_total_km2          = 15,275
<!-- population -->
| population_total        = 1,210,534
| population_as_of        = October 1, 2020
| population_density_km2  = 79.25
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = 
| utc_offset1             = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbering plan|Area code]]
| area_code               = 03000-7
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec2         = [[ISO 3166-2:JP|ISO 3166 code]]
| blank_info_sec2         = JP-03
| blank1_name_sec2        = Address
| blank1_info_sec2        = 
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{Official|1=https://www.pref.iwate.jp/}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Iwate Prefecture'''|岩手県|Iwate-ken}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] in the [[Tōhoku region]] of [[Japan]]. It is on the island of [[Honshu]].<ref name = "nussbaum410">{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA410| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 410 }}</ref> The [[Capital (city)|capital city]] is [[Morioka, Iwate|Morioka]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA661| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 661 }}</ref>

== History ==
The area of Iwate was part of [[Mutsu Province]].<ref name = "nussbaum780">{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA780| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 780 }}</ref>

In 1869, Mutsu was split into five new provinces: [[Mutsu Province (1868)|Rikuōku]],<ref name="Nussbaum 2002 790">{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA790| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 790 }}</ref> [[Rikuchū Province|Rikuchū]],<ref name="Nussbaum 2002 790"/> [[Rikuzen Province|Rikuzen]],<ref name="Nussbaum 2002 790"/> [[Iwashiro Province|Iwashiro]]<ref name="nussbaum410"/> and [[Iwaki Province (1868)|Iwaki]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA408| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 408 }}</ref>  The first three of these together known as the "Three Riku", or ''Sanriku''.<ref>Nippon-Kichi, [http://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do;jsessionid=ABFA50ABCE99B72EB83811EE839E6710?areaId=02&ml_lang=en  "Saw-tooth Sanriku Coastline"]. Retrieved 2012-1-12.</ref>

The new provinces were abolished in July 1871.<ref>Japan-i, [http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/tohoku/iwate/sanrikucoast-north/d8jk7l000002r62g.html  Sanriku Coastline/Kamaishi Daikannon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722111046/http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/tohoku/iwate/sanrikucoast-north/d8jk7l000002r62g.html |date=2011-07-22 }}. Retrieved 2012-1-12.</ref>

In the [[Meiji period]], the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. Maps of Japan and Mutsu Province were changed in the 1870s.<ref name="nussbaum780"/>

==Geography==
Iwate is the second largest prefecture after [[Hokkaido]].<ref name="nussbaum410"/>

The prefecture is in the [[Tōhoku region]] of Honshū island. It has the island's easternmost point.<ref>{{cite book| last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric| title = Japan Encyclopedia| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA970| year = 2002| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-01753-5| page = 970 }}</ref>  The eastern coastline faces the [[Pacific Ocean]].  Iwate shares its northern border with [[Aomori Prefecture]].  The western border meets [[Akita Prefecture]].  Its southern border is shared with [[Miyagi Prefecture]].

===Cities===
{|
|- valign="top"
|
* [[Hachimantai, Iwate|Hachimantai]]
* [[Hanamaki, Iwate|Hanamaki]]
* [[Ichinoseki, Iwate|Ichinoseki]]
* [[Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi]]
* [[Kitakami, Iwate|Kitakami]]
* [[Kuji, Iwate|Kuji]]
* [[Miyako, Iwate|Miyako]]
|
* [[Morioka, Iwate|Morioka]] (capital)
* [[Ninohe, Iwate|Ninohe]]
* [[Ōfunato, Iwate|Ōfunato]]
* [[Ōshū, Iwate|Ōshū]]
* [[Rikuzentakata, Iwate|Rikuzentakata]]
* [[Tōno, Iwate|Tōno]]
|}

===National Parks===
National parks cover about 5% of the total land area of the prefecture.<ref>Japan Ministry of the Environment, [http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"]. Retrieved 2012-3-13.</ref> They include:
* [[Towada-Hachimantai National Park]]<ref>Japan Ministry of the Environment, [http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/towada_e.html "Towada-Hachimantai National Park"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516004257/http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/towada_e.html |date=2006-05-16 }}. Retrieved 2012-3-19.</ref>
* [[Rikuchu Kaigan National Park]]<ref>Japan Ministry of the Environment, [http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/rikuchu_e.html "Rikuchu Kaigan National Park"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516004405/http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/rikuchu_e.html |date=2006-05-16 }}. Retrieved 2012-3-19.</ref>

==Shrines and temples==
''Tsutsukowake jinja'' is the main [[Shinto shrine]] (''ichinomiya'') of the prefecture.<ref>[http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/images/uploads/EOS070712Ab.pdf "Nationwide List of ''Ichinomiya''," p. 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517061440/http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/images/uploads/EOS070712Ab.pdf |date=2013-05-17 }}. Retrieved 2012-1-17.</ref>

The Buddhist temples of [[Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi|Hiraizumi]] include [[Chūson-ji]] and [[Mōtsū-ji]]. Hiraizumi was added to the [[World Heritage List]] in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/heritage/index.html |title=World Heritage Hiraizumi |accessdate=2013-07-10 }}</ref>

==Related pages==
* [[Provinces of Japan]]
* [[Prefectures of Japan]]
* [[List of regions of Japan]]
* [[List of islands of Japan]]
* [[Iwate Museum of Art]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Other websites==
* http://www.pref.iwate.jp/info.rbz?ik=1&nd=4334 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119130428/http://www.pref.iwate.jp/info.rbz?ik=1&nd=4334 |date=2012-01-19 }}; [http://www.pref.iwate.jp/  {{in lang|ja}}]

{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwate Prefecture}}
[[Category:Iwate Prefecture| ]]