Editing Mie Prefecture (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Mie géolocalisation relief.svg|thumb|250px|Physical map of Mie prefecture]]
[[File:気象庁の三重県の区分.jpg|thumb|Regional division of Mie as used by the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]: The primary division is between North/Central and South, the former being further subdivided into North, Central and Iga, the latter into Ise-Shima and KiSei/East Kishū; [[Ise Province|Ise/Sei-shū]], [[Shima Province|Shima/Shi-shū]], [[Iga Province|Iga/I-shū]] and [[Kii Province|Kii/Ki-shū]] are the four Ritsuryō provinces that are partly or entirely part of modern Mie.]]

Mie Prefecture forms the eastern part of the [[Kii Peninsula]], and borders on [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]], [[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]], [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]], [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]], [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]], and [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]. It is considered{{by whom|date=February 2013}} part of the [[Kansai]] and [[Tōkai region|Tōkai]] regions due to its geographical proximity to [[Aichi Prefecture]] and its cultural influence from [[Kansai]], such as the fact that [[Kansai dialect]] is spoken in Mie. Traditionally, though, the [[Iga, Mie|Iga]] region of Mie is considered to have always been a part of [[Kansai]].

Mie Prefecture measures {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} from north to south, and {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=on}} from east to west, and includes five distinct geographical areas:<ref name="pref.mie.jp">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/overview/e_p04_05.pdf |title=Mie Prefecture homepage: Mie's Geography and Climate (pdf) |access-date=2008-04-10 |archive-date=2008-05-20 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080520220049/http%3A//www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/overview/e_p04_05.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

# the north-west of Mie consists of the Suzuka Mountains
# along the coast of [[Ise Bay]] from the [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]] border to [[Ise, Mie|Ise City]] lies the Ise Plain, where most of the population of Mie live
# south of the Ise Plain is the [[Shima, Mie|Shima Peninsula]]
# bordering [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]] in the central-west is the [[Iga, Mie|Iga Basin]]
# running from central Mie to its southern borders is the Nunobiki Mountainous Region.

[[File:Ise Shima Skyline DSC5445.jpg|thumb|right|Mie coastline, near [[Toba, Mie|Toba]]]]
[[File:Yokkaichi fromtarusaka.JPG|thumb|right|Yokkaichi]]
[[File:Ise banner.jpg|thumb|right|Ise]]
[[File:IgaUenojyo08.jpg|thumb|right|Iga]]
[[File:Owase, Mie.JPG|thumb|right|[[Owase]]]]

Mie has a coastline that stretches {{convert|1094.9|km|abbr=on}} and, as of 2000, Mie's {{convert|5776.44|km2|abbr=on}} landmass is 64.8 percent [[forest]], 11.5 percent [[agriculture]], 6 percent residential area, 3.8 percent [[road]]s, and 3.6 percent [[river]]s. The remaining 10.3 percent are not classified.

The Ise Plain has a relatively moderate climate, averaging {{convert|14|to|15|C}} for the year. The Iga Basin has more daily temperature variance and averages temperatures 1 to 2 degrees cooler than the Ise Plain. Southern Mie, south of the [[Shima Peninsula]], has a warmer [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] marine climate, with [[Owase, Mie|Owase Region]] having one of the heaviest rainfall figures for all of Japan.<ref name="pref.mie.jp"/>

{{as of|2019|03|31|post=,}} 36% of the total area of the prefecture comprised designated [[Prefectural Natural Park|Natural Parks]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> namely:

* [[Akame Ichishikyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Ise-no-Umi Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Ise-Shima National Park]]
* [[Kahadakyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Murō-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park]]
* [[Okuise Miyagawakyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Suigō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Suzuka Quasi-National Park]]
* [[Yoshino-Kumano National Park]]

=== Municipalities ===
{{See also|List of cities in Mie Prefecture by population}}
Since 2006, Mie consists of 29 [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]]: 14 [[Cities of Japan|cities]] and 15 [[Towns of Japan|towns]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Flag, name <small>w/o suffix</small>
! colspan="3" | Full name
! rowspan="2" | [[Districts of Japan|District]]<br />''(-gun)''
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
! rowspan="2" | [[Local Autonomy Law|Local public entity]] code<br /><small>(w/o checksum)</small>
|-
! <small>[[Japanese writing system|Japanese]]</small> || <small>[[Romanization of Japanese|transcription]]</small> || <small>[[English language|translation]]</small>
|-
|[[File:Flag of Iga, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Iga, Mie|Iga]]
|伊賀市 || Iga-shi || Iga City || –
|558.17
|95,137
|[[File:Iga in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24216
|-
|[[File:Flag of Inabe, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Inabe]]
|いなべ市 || Inabe-shi || Inabe City || –
|219.58
|45,589
|[[File:Inabe in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24214
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ise, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ise, Mie|Ise]]
|伊勢市 || Ise-shi || Ise City || –
|208.52
|123,129
|[[File:Ise in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24203
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kameyama Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kameyama, Mie|Kameyama]]
|亀山市 || Kameyama-shi || Kameyama City || –
|190.91
|50,230
|[[File:Kameyama in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24210
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kumano, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kumano, Mie|Kumano]]
|熊野市 || Kumano-shi || Kumano City || –
|373.35
|17,727
|[[File:Kumano in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24212
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kuwana, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuwana, Mie|Kuwana]]
|桑名市 || Kuwana-shi || Kuwana City || –
|136.68
|139,587
|[[File:Kuwana in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24205
|-
|[[File:Flag of Matsusaka, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Matsusaka]]
|松阪市 || Matsusaka-shi || Matsusaka City || –
|623.64
|165,166
|[[File:Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24204
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nabari, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nabari, Mie|Nabari]]
|名張市 || Nabari-shi || Nabari City || –
|129.77
|78,190
|[[File:Nabari in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24208
|-
|[[File:Flag of Owase, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Owase]]
|尾鷲市 || Owase-shi || Owase City || –
|192.71
|17,953
|[[File:Owase in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24209
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shima, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shima, Mie|Shima]]
|志摩市 || Shima-shi || Shima City || –
|179.67
|53,056
|[[File:Shima in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24215
|-
|[[File:Flag of Suzuka, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Suzuka, Mie|Suzuka]]
|鈴鹿市 || Suzuka-shi || Suzuka City || –
|194.46
|196,835
|[[File:Suzuka in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24207
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toba, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toba, Mie|Toba]]
|鳥羽市 || Toba-shi || Toba City || –
|107.34
|19,227
|[[File:Toba in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24211
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tsu, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]] (capital)
|津市 || Tsu-shi || Tsu City || –
|711.11
|279,304
|[[File:Tsu in Mie prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24201
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yokkaichi]]
|四日市市 || Yokkaichi-shi || Yokkaichi City || –
|206.44
|306,107
|[[File:Yokkaichi in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24202
|-
|[[File:Flag of Asahi, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Asahi, Mie|Asahi]]
|朝日町 || Asahi-chō || Asahi Town
| rowspan="3" | [[Mie District, Mie|Mie]]
|5.99
|9,941
|[[File:Asahi in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24343
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kawagoe Mie.svg |frameless|25x25px]] [[Kawagoe, Mie|Kawagoe]]
|川越町 || Kawagoe-chō || Kawagoe Town
|8.73
|14,999
|[[File:Kawagoe in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24344
|-
|[[File:Flag of Komono, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Komono]]
|菰野町 || Komono-chō || Komono Town
|106.89
|40,289
|[[File:Komono in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24341
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kiho Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kihō]]
|紀宝町 || Kihō-chō || Kihō Town || rowspan="2" | [[Minamimuro District, Mie|Minami-Muro]]<br />(South [[Muro District, Kii|Muro]])
|79.66
|11,454
|[[File:Kiho in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24562
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mihama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mihama, Mie|Mihama]]
|御浜町 || Mihama-chō || Mihama Town
|88.28 
|9,089
|[[File:Mihama in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24561
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kihoku, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kihoku, Mie|Kihoku]]
|紀北町 || Kihoku-chō || Kihoku Town || [[Kitamuro District, Mie|Kita-Muro]]<br />(North [[Muro District, Kii|Muro]])
|257.01
|17,885
|[[File:Kihoku in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24543
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kisosaki Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kisosaki]]
|木曽岬町 || Kisosaki-chō || Kisosaki Town || |[[Kuwana District, Mie|Kuwana]]
|15.72
|6,730
|[[File:Kisosaki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24303
|-
|[[File:Flag of Meiwa, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Meiwa, Mie|Meiwa]]
|明和町 || Meiwa-chō || Meiwa Town || rowspan="3" | [[Taki District, Mie|Taki]]
|40.92
|22,726
|[[File:Meiwa in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24442
|-
|[[File:Flag of Odai Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōdai]]
|大台町 || Ōdai-chō || Ōdai Town
|362.94
|9,345
|[[File:Odai in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24443
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taki, Mie|Taki]]
|多気町 || Taki-chō || Taki Town
|103.06
|14,846
|[[File:Taki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24441
|-
|[[File:Flag of Minamiise Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Minamiise, Mie|Minamiise]]
|南伊勢町 || Minami-Ise-chō || South [[Ise Province|Ise]] Town || rowspan="4" | [[Watarai District, Mie|Watarai]]
|242.98
|14,217
|[[File:Minamiise in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24472
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taiki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taiki, Mie|Taiki]]
|大紀町 || Taiki-chō || Taiki Town
|233.54
|9,543
|[[File:Taiki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24471
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tamaki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tamaki, Mie|Tamaki]]
|玉城町 || Tamaki-chō || Tamaki Town
|40.94
|15,280
|[[File:Tamaki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24461
|-
|[[File:Flag of Watarai Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Watarai]]
|度会町 || Watarai-chō || Watarai Town
|134.97
|8,534
|[[File:Watarai in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24470
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toin Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōin]]
|東員町 || Tōin-chō || Tōin Town || [[Inabe District, Mie|Inabe]]
|22.66
|25,552
|[[File:Toin in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24324
|-
![[File:Flag of Mie Prefecture.svg|frameless|25x25px]] Mie
!三重県 || Mie-ken || Mie Prefecture || –
! 5,774.41 || 1,781,948
|[[File:Map of Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
!24000<br />ISO: JP-24
|}

=== Mergers ===
{{main|List of mergers in Mie Prefecture}}

When the modern municipalities were introduced in 1889, Mie initially consisted of 336 municipalities: 1 [[Cities of Japan|(by definition: district-level) city]] and 21 [[Districts of Japan|districts]] with 18 [[Towns of Japan|towns]] and 317 [[Villages of Japan|villages]]. With the Great Shōwa mergers of the 1950s, the number of municipalities in Mie had dropped to 88 by 1956. The Great Heisei mergers of the 2000s reduced the total from 69 to 29 between 2000 and 2006.