Editing Kōchi Prefecture (section)

== Geography ==
{{see also|List of cities in Kōchi Prefecture by population}}
Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of [[Shikoku]], facing the [[Pacific Ocean]]. It is bordered by [[Ehime]] to the north-west and [[Tokushima]] to the north-east. It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures. Most of the province is mountainous, and in only a few areas such as around Kōchi and [[Nakamura, Kōchi|Nakamura]] is there a coastal plain. Kōchi is famous for its many rivers. [[Inamura-yama]] in Tosa-cho is the highest peak in Kōchi prefecture with an [[altitude]] of 1,506 meters [[above sea level]].

Kōchi Prefecture has the highest percentage of land covered in mountains out of all Japanese prefectures at 89% with the national average being 66%. The highest peak in Kōchi Prefecture is [[Mt. Miune]] at 1,894 meters (the highest peak in Kōchi Prefecture is Tebakoyama at 1,806 meters). Due to its location in the Shimanto Group geological area, Kōchi Prefecture has many sedimentary rocks and is prone to landslides. Kōchi Prefecture has many rivers such as the [[Shimanto River]] in the western part of the prefecture, [[Niyodo River]] flowing from [[Mount Ishizuchi]] into the [[Tosa Bay]], and [[Yoshino River]] flowing into [[Tokushima Prefecture]].

Historically, Kōchi Prefecture has not suffered from a lack of water, however [[River engineering|river management]] has been a consistent issue. In the early [[Edo period|Edo Period]], samurai Nonaka Kenzan oversaw large scale improvements to the [[Tosa Domain|Tosa Domain's]] major rivers. Modern Kōchi Prefecture is known for its river management and minimal water damage despite receiving a large amount of rainfall.

The [[Kuroshio Current]] flows by Kōchi Prefecture's coast. The climate of Kōchi Prefecture is heavily influenced by the Kuroshio Current. Even during the winter the water is still warm, and causes frequent [[Typhoon|typhoons]]. Kōchi Prefecture experiences the 2nd most typhoons out of all the Japanese prefectures after [[Kagoshima Prefecture]]. [[1934 Muroto typhoon|The 1934 Muroto Typhoon]] was especially notorious, with the lowest central pressure of any recorded typhoon in Japan at 911.6 hPa when it made landfall on the Muroto Cape. The Ashizuri and Muroto capes are known for their strong winds.

As of April 1, 2012, 7% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]], namely the [[Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park]]; [[Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park|Ishizuchi]], [[Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park|Muroto-Anan Kaigan]], and [[Tsurugisan Quasi-National Park|Tsurugisan]] Quasi-National Parks; and eighteen Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Map of Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Map of Kōchi Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]
[[File:高知城 天守からの景色3 Kochi Castle - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|Skyline of [[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi City]]]][[File:Sakamoto Ryoma.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Sakamoto Ryōma]]]]

===Cities===
Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Flag
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Aki, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Aki, Kōchi|Aki]]
|安芸市
|317.34
|17,810
|[[File:Aki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kami, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kami, Kōchi|Kami]]
|香美市
|537.95
|26,526
|[[File:Kami in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kochi, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]] (capital)
|高知市
|309.22
|319,077
|[[File:Kochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Konan, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kōnan, Kōchi|Kōnan]]
|香南市
|126.75
|32,786
|[[File:Konan in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Muroto, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Muroto, Kōchi|Muroto]]
|室戸市
|248.25
|14,006
|[[File:Muroto in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nankoku, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Nankoku, Kōchi|Nankoku]]
|南国市
|125.35
|47,776
|[[File:Nankoku in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimanto, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto]]
|四万十市
|632.42
|34,433
|[[File:Shimanto in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sukumo Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Sukumo, Kōchi|Sukumo]]
|宿毛市
|286.11
|21,097
|[[File:Sukumo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Susaki, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Susaki, Kōchi|Susaki]]
|須崎市
|135.46
|22,508
|[[File:Susaki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosa, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Tosa, Kōchi|Tosa]]
|土佐市
|91.59
|27,602
|[[File:Tosa city in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosashimizu, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Tosashimizu, Kōchi|Tosashimizu]]
|土佐清水市
|266.54
|14,666
|[[File:Tosashimizu in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Kochi Japan.jpg|[[Kōchi City]]
File:Okouzyou02.jpg|[[Nankoku, Kōchi|Nankoku City]]
File:SHIMANTO CITY.jpg|[[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto City]]
File:Susaki city view.jpg|[[Susaki, Kōchi|Susaki City]]
File:手結漁港 - panoramio.jpg|[[Kōnan, Kōchi|Kōnan City]]
File:Sukumo-Station-square-rotary.jpg|[[Sukumo, Kōchi|Sukumo City]]
</gallery>

=== Towns and villages ===
[[File:Kochi prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Kochi prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
These are the towns and villages in each [[Districts of Japan|district]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Type
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Geisei, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Geisei, Kōchi|Geisei]]
|芸西村
|39.63
|3,846
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Geisei in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hidaka, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hidaka, Kōchi|Hidaka]]
|日高村
|44.88
|4,896
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Village
|[[File:Hidaka in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ino Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ino, Kōchi|Ino]]
|いの町
|470.71
|22,155
|[[Agawa District, Kōchi|Agawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ino in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kitagawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kitagawa, Kōchi|Kitagawa]]
|北川村
|196.18
|1‚328
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Kitagawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kuroshio Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuroshio, Kōchi|Kuroshio]]
|黒潮町
|188.38
|11,559
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kuroshio in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mihara, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mihara, Kōchi|Mihara]]
|三原村
|85.35
|1,627
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Village
|[[File:Mihara in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Motoyama, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Motoyama, Kōchi|Motoyama]]
|本山町
|134.21
|3,605
|[[Nagaoka District, Kōchi|Nagaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Motoyama in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nahari, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nahari, Kōchi|Nahari]]
|奈半利町
|28.32 
|3,359
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nahari in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nakatosa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakatosa]]
|中土佐町
|193.19
|7,156
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakatosa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Niyodogawa, Kōchi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niyodogawa]]
|仁淀川町
|332.96
|5,676
|[[Agawa District, Kōchi|Agawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Niyodogawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ochi, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ochi, Kōchi|Ochi]]
|越知町
|111.58
|5,847
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Okawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōkawa, Kōchi|Ōkawa]]
|大川村
|95.28
|521
|[[Tosa District, Kōchi|Tosa District]]
|Village
|[[File:Okawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Otoyo, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōtoyo, Kōchi|Ōtoyo]]
|大豊町
|314.94
|4,950
|[[Nagaoka District, Kōchi|Nagaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otoyo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Otsuki, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōtsuki, Kōchi|Ōtsuki]]
|大月町
|103.03
|5,719
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otsuki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sakawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sakawa, Kōchi|Sakawa]]
|佐川町
|101.21
|13,223
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Sakawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimanto-town, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimanto, Kōchi (town)|Shimanto]]
|四万十町
|642.06
|18,269
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shimanto town in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tano, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tano, Kōchi|Tano]]
|田野町
|6.56
|2,644
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tano in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosa-town, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tosa, Kōchi (town)|Tosa]]
|土佐町
|212.11
|3,997
|[[Tosa District, Kōchi|Tosa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tosa town in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toyo, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōyō, Kōchi|Tōyō]]
|東洋町
|74.09
|2,598
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tsuno, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsuno, Kōchi|Tsuno]]
|津野町
|197.85
|5,680
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tsuno in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Umaji, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Umaji, Kōchi|Umaji]]
|馬路村
|165.48
|737
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Umaji in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yasuda, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yasuda, Kōchi|Yasuda]]
|安田町
|53.03
|2,614
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yasuda in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yusuhara, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yusuhara]]
|梼原町
|236.51
|3,640
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yusuhara in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:いの町新町付近 - panoramio.jpg|[[Ino, Kōchi|Ino Town]]
File:くろ鉄奈半利駅からの眺め・南向き - panoramio.jpg|[[Nahari, Kōchi|Nahari Town]]
File:Irino no Matsubara, enkei.jpg|[[Kuroshio, Kōchi|Kuroshio Town]]
File:土佐あかうしの放牧.jpg|[[Motoyama, Kōchi|Motoyama Town]]
File:Yokokurayama07.jpg|[[Ochi, Kōchi|Ochi Town]]
</gallery>

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