Wakayama

Wakayama 和歌山市
Downtown viewed from Wakayama Castle
Wakayama's location in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Wakayama's location in Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Wakayama Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	210.23 km2 (81.17 sq mi)
Population (as of 2007)
Total	373,655
Location	34°14′N 135°10′E / 34.233°N 135.167°E / 34.233; 135.167Coordinates: 34°14′N 135°10′E / 34.233°N 135.167°E / 34.233; 135.167
Symbols
Flag
Wakayama Government Office
Official website: City of Wakayama

Wakayama (和歌山市, Wakayama-shi^?) is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.

Background

Wakayama occupies 4 percent of the land area, and has 40 percent of the population, of Wakayama prefecture. The city was founded on April 1, 1889.

The city population rose from 382,155 in 2003 to 386,501 in 2004, a growth of 1.87 percent. The density as of 2003 was 1,826.74 persons per km². The total area is 209.20 km².

This population increase has occurred despite Wakayama's beleaguered economy, which has suffered since Sumitomo Steel moved much of its steel producing operations to China. The Wakayama steel mills have since been reduced and restructured, with part of the industry completely shutting in 2004.

Additionally, Wakayama is famous across Japan for its umeboshi and mikan.

Wakayama is cleft in two by the Kinokawa River. The city is bordered at the north by mountains and Osaka Prefecture.

In the city center is Wakayama Castle, built on Mt. Torafusu (the name means "a tiger leaning on his side"). During the Edo period, the Kishū Tokugawa daimyo ruled from Wakayama Castle. Tokugawa Yoshimune, the fifth Kishū Tokugawa daimyo, became the eighth Tokugawa shogun.

Wakayama is home to one of Japan's three Melody Roads, which is made from grooves cut into the ground, which when driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body.^[1][2]

Wakayama Castle is in the city center.

Sister cities

Wakayama has sister-city relationships with four overseas municipalities:[1]

• Bakersfield, California, United States
• Jeju, South Korea
• Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
• Jinan, China

References

1. ^ Johnson, Bobbie (13 November 2007). "Japan's melody roads play music as you drive". The Guardian (Farringdon Road, London, England: GMG): p. 19 (International section). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/13/japan.gadgets. Retrieved on 20 October 2008. 
2. ^ "Your car as a musical instrument - Melody Roads". Noise Addicts. 29 September 2008. http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2008/09/car-musical-instrument-melody-roads-japan/. Retrieved on 20 October 2008. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wakayama, Wakayama

• Official website

Wakayama Prefecture
Cities
Arida | Gobō | Hashimoto | Iwade | Kainan | Kinokawa | Shingū | Tanabe | Wakayama (capital)
Districts
Arida | Hidaka | Higashimuro | Ito | Kaisō | Nishimuro
See also: Towns and villages by district edit

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