Meiwa, Mie

Meiwa (明和町, Meiwa-chō) is a town located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2012, the town had an estimated population of 22,726 and a population density of 555 persons per km². The total area was 40.92 km².

Geography

Meiwa is located in eastern Kii Peninsula in central Mie Prefecture, bordering Ise Bay on the Pacific Ocean.

Adjacent municipalities

History

In pre-modern Japan, Meiwa was best known as the location of the ancient Saikū, the residence of the Saiō, an unmarried Imperial princess who, in place of the Emperor, was dispatched to serve as the High Priestess of Ise Grand Shrine to perform three important Shinto rituals. During the Edo period the area developed into a thriving agricultural center and post-town, providing lodging to people making the pilgrimage to Ise Grand Shrine.

Modern Ōyodo Village was established on April 1, 1889 during the Meiji period establishment of municipalities. It was elevated to town status on February 1, 1924, and was renamed Sanwa on September 3, 1955. In 1958, the town of Sanwa and the village of Saimei merged to form the town of Meiwa.