Editing Wakayama Prefecture

{{short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Wakayama Prefecture
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|和歌山県}}}}
| settlement_type    = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1     = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|和歌山県}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Wakayama-ken}}
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | border      = infobox
  | total_width = 300
  | perrow      = 1/2/2
  | image1      = Pagoda and Nachi Falls 2017-10-12.jpg
  | caption1               = [[Seiganto-ji]]'s pagoda and [[Nachi Falls]]
  | image2      = 橋杭岩 夜明け - panoramio.jpg
  | caption2               = [[Kushimoto, Wakayama|Kushimoto]]
  | image3      = 131221 Shirahama Onsen Shirahama Wakayama pref Japan17bs.jpg
  | caption3               = [[Shirahama, Wakayama|Shirahama]]
  | image4      = Danjogaran Koyasan12n3200.jpg
  | caption4               = [[Kongōbu-ji]]
  | image5      = Wakayama Castle21nt3200.jpg
  | caption5               = [[Wakayama Castle]]

 }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Wakayama Prefecture.svg
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Wakayama Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size  = 80px
| blank_emblem_type  = Symbol
| image_map          = Map of Japan with highlight on 30 Wakayama prefecture.svg
| coordinates        = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Honshū]]
| seat_type          = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat               = [[Wakayama (city)]]
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 6
| p2                 = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 30
| leader_title       = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[Izumi Miyazaki]] <small>(acting; since April 15, 2025)</small>
| area_total_km2     = 4,724.69
| area_water_percent = 0.04
| area_rank          = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|30th]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 876,030
| population_as_of   = 1 February 2025
| population_rank    = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|39th]]
| population_density_km2 = 185
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[JP¥]] 3,745 billion<br />[[US$]] 34.4 billion (2019)
| iso_code           = JP-30
| website            = [http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/english/ www.wakayama.lg.jp/<br/>english/]
| module             = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country  = Japan
| bird     = Japanese white-eye ([[Zosterops]] japonica)
| fish     = 
| flower   = [[Ume]] blossom (''Prunus mume'')
| tree     = Ubame [[oak]] (''Quercus phillyraeoides'')
}}
| anthem             = [[:ja:和歌山県民歌|Wakayama kenminka]]
| population_blank1_title = Dialects
| population_blank1  = [[Kishū dialect|Kishū]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Wakayama Prefecture'''|{{linktext|和歌山|県}}|Wakayama-ken|{{IPA|ja|wa.kaꜜ.ja.ma, wa.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Kansai region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Wakayama prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 1026|page=1026}}; "Kansai" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 477|page=477}}.</ref>{{rp|page=1026}} Wakayama Prefecture has a population of 876,030 ({{as of|2025|02|01|lc=y}}) and a geographic area of {{convert|4724|km2|sqmi|lk=on}}. Wakayama Prefecture borders [[Osaka Prefecture]] to the north, and [[Mie Prefecture]] and [[Nara Prefecture]] to the northeast.

[[Wakayama (city)|Wakayama]] is the capital and largest city of Wakayama Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Tanabe, Wakayama|Tanabe]], [[Hashimoto, Wakayama|Hashimoto]], and [[Kinokawa, Wakayama|Kinokawa]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Wakayama" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 1025|page=1025}}.</ref>{{rp|page=1025}} Wakayama Prefecture is located on the southwestern coast of the [[Kii Peninsula]] on the [[Kii Channel]], connecting the [[Pacific Ocean]] and [[Seto Inland Sea]], across from [[Tokushima Prefecture]] on the island of [[Shikoku]].

== History ==
{{See also|Historic Sites of Wakayama Prefecture}}
Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of [[Kii Province|Kii]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

=== 1953 flood disaster ===
{{Main|1953 Wakayama flood}}
On July 17–18, 1953, a torrential heavy rain occurred, followed by collapse of levees, river flooding and landslides in a wide area. Many bridges and houses were destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=南紀豪雨　昭和28年（1953年）　７月16日～７月25日 |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/data/bosai/report/1953/19530716/19530716.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.data.jma.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=紀州大水害 ｜日本の災害について｜携帯メール連絡網のマ・メール |url=https://www.mamailcn.com/saigai/%E7%B4%80%E5%B7%9E%E5%A4%A7%E6%B0%B4%E5%AE%B3/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=メール連絡網 マ・メール |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NHK |title=1953年 南紀豪雨｜災害｜NHKアーカイブス |url=https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0026010200_00000 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=1953年　南紀豪雨｜災害｜NHKアーカイブス |language=ja}}</ref> According to an officially confirmed report by the [[Government of Japan]], 1,015 people died, with 5,709 injured and 7,115 houses lost.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

== Geography ==
[[File:Map of Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|250px|Map of Wakayama Prefecture.<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]
As of 31 March 2020, 13 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[Prefectural Natural Park|Natural Parks]], namely the [[Setonaikai National Park|Setonaikai]] and [[Yoshino-Kumano National Park|Yoshino-Kumano]] National Parks; [[Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park|Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen]] and [[Kōya-Ryūjin Quasi-National Park|Kōya-Ryūjin]] Quasi-National Parks; and [[Enju Kaigan Prefectural Natural Park|Enju Kaigan]], [[Hatenashi Sanmyaku Prefectural Natural Park|Hatenashi Sanmyaku]], [[Hikigawa Prefectural Natural Park|Hikigawa]], [[Jōgamori Hokodai Prefectural Natural Park|Jōgamori Hokodai]], [[Kōyasanchō Ishimichi-Tamagawakyō Prefectural Natural Park|Kōyasanchō Ishimichi-Tamagawakyō]], [[Kozagawa Prefectural Natural Park|Kozagawa]], [[Nishiarida Prefectural Natural Park|Nishiarida]], [[Oishi Kōgen Prefectural Natural Park|Oishi Kōgen]], [[Ōtōsan Prefectural Natural Park|Ōtōsan]], [[Ryūmonzan Prefectural Natural Park|Ryūmonzan]], [[Shiramisan-Wadagawakyō Prefectural Natural Park|Shiramisan-Wadagawakyō]], and [[Shirasaki Kaigan Prefectural Natural Park|Shirasaki Kaigan]] Prefectural 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]] |date=31 March 2020 |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{See also|List of cities in Wakayama Prefecture by population}}
Nine cities are in Wakayama Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Arida, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Arida, Wakayama|Arida]]
|有田市
|36.91
|27,963
|[[File:Arida in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Gobo, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Gobō, Wakayama|Gobō]]
|御坊市
|43.78
|27,483
|[[File:Gobo in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hashimoto, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hashimoto, Wakayama|Hashimoto]]
|橋本市
|130.31
|62,941
|[[File:Hashimoto in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Iwade, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Iwade, Wakayama|Iwade]]
|岩出市
|38.5
|53,280
|[[File:Iwade in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kainan, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kainan, Wakayama|Kainan]]
|海南市
|101.18 
|51,112
|[[File:Kainan in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kinokawa, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kinokawa, Wakayama|Kinokawa]]
|紀の川市
|228.24
|61,850
|[[File:Kinokawa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shingu, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shingū, Wakayama|Shingū]]
|新宮市
|255.43
|26,815
|[[File:Shingu in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tanabe, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tanabe, Wakayama|Tanabe]]
|田辺市
|1,026.91
|70,410
|[[File:Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Wakayama (city)|Wakayama]] (capital)
|和歌山市
|210.25
|360,664
|[[File:Wakayama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|}

===Towns and villages===
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 Aridagawa, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Aridagawa, Wakayama|Aridagawa]]
|有田川町
|351.77
|26,245
|[[Arida District, Wakayama|Arida District]]
|Town
|[[File:Aridagawa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hidaka, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hidaka, Wakayama|Hidaka]]
|日高町
|46.42
|7,666
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hidaka in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hidakagawa, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hidakagawa, Wakayama|Hidakagawa]]
|日高川町
|331.61
|9,615
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hidakagawa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hirogawa, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hirogawa, Wakayama|Hirogawa]]
|広川町
|65.35
|7,059
|[[Arida District, Wakayama|Arida District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hirogawa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Inami Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Inami, Wakayama|Inami]]
|印南町
|113.63
|7,949
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Inami in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kamitonda Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamitonda, Wakayama|Kamitonda]]
|上富田町
|57.49
|15,047
|[[Nishimuro District, Wakayama|Nishimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kamitonda in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Katsuragi, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Katsuragi, Wakayama|Katsuragi]]
|かつらぎ町
|151.73 
|16,686
|[[Ito District, Wakayama|Ito District]]
|Town
|[[File:Katsuragi in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kimino Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kimino, Wakayama|Kimino]]
|紀美野町
|128.31
|8,989
|[[Kaisō District, Wakayama|Kaisō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kimino in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kitayama Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kitayama, Wakayama|Kitayama]]
|北山村
|48.21
|432
|[[Higashimuro District, Wakayama|Higashimuro District]]
|Village
|[[File:Kitayama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Koya, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kōya, Wakayama|Kōya]]
|高野町
|137.08
|3,279
|[[Ito District, Wakayama|Ito District]]
|Town
|[[File:Koya in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kozagawa, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kozagawa, Wakayama|Kozagawa]]
|古座川町
|294.52
|2,749
|[[Higashimuro District, Wakayama|Higashimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kozagawa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kudoyama, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kudoyama, Wakayama|Kudoyama]]
|九度山町
|44.19
|4,295
|[[Ito District, Wakayama|Ito District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kudoyama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kushimoto, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kushimoto, Wakayama|Kushimoto]]
|串本町
|135.78
|16,243
|[[Higashimuro District, Wakayama|Higashimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mihama Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mihama, Wakayama|Mihama]]
|美浜町
|12.79
|7,391
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Mihama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Minabe, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Minabe, Wakayama|Minabe]]
|みなべ町
|120.26
|12,561
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Minabe in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nachikatsuura, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nachikatsuura]]
|那智勝浦町
|183.45
|17,261
|[[Higashimuro District, Wakayama|Higashimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shirahama Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shirahama, Wakayama|Shirahama]]
|白浜町
|201.04
|23,325
|[[Nishimuro District, Wakayama|Nishimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Susami, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Susami, Wakayama|Susami]]
|すさみ町
|174.71
|4,011
|[[Nishimuro District, Wakayama|Nishimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Susami in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taiji, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taiji, Wakayama|Taiji]]
|太地町
|5.96 
|3,428
|[[Higashimuro District, Wakayama|Higashimuro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yuasa Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yuasa, Wakayama|Yuasa]]
|湯浅町
|20.8
|11,960
|[[Arida District, Wakayama|Arida District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yuasa in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yura, Wakayama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yura, Wakayama|Yura]]
|由良町
|30.74 
|5,738
|[[Hidaka District, Wakayama|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yura in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|62x62px]]
|}

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

== Demographics ==
[[File:Wakayama prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Wakayama prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
Since 1996, population of Wakayama Prefecture has kept declining, and since 2010, it has been the only prefecture in Kansai region with population below 1,000,000. In 2017, Wakayama is ranked 40th by population in Japan with a population of 944,320. In the 2020 census, close to 32% of the population was over 65 years of age - the highest percentage in Japan and one of the highest for national subdivisions worldwide.<ref>2020 population census of Japan. https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/kokusei/2020/summary.html</ref>

== Politics ==
{{See also|1999 Wakayama gubernatorial election|2006 Wakayama gubernatorial election|2018 Wakayama gubernatorial election}}
The current governor [[Shūhei Kishimoto]] was elected on 27 November 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kishimoto Wins 1st Term as Governor of Japan's Wakayama Pref. |url=https://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/23343 |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=時事通信ニュース |date=28 November 2022}}</ref>
=== Prefectural assembly ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ As of 17 May 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=和歌山県議会会派名簿 |url=https://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/200100/cms/d00154525_d/fil/kaihabetu.pdf |website=Wakayama Prefecture |access-date=26 July 2023 |language=Japanese |date=17 May 2023 |trans-title=List of factions in the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly}}</ref>
|-
! Political party !! Number of seats
|-
| [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] || 28
|-
| Reform Club (改新クラブ) || 5
|-
| [[Komeito]] || 3
|-
| [[Nippon Ishin no Kai]] || 3
|-
| [[Japanese Communist Party]] || 1
|-
| Independent society || 1
|-
| Independent || 1
|}

== List of governors of Wakayama==
State-appointed governors:
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* Masaomi Tsuda ({{lang|ja|津田正臣}}): from 25 November 1871 to 25 January 1872
* Hidetomo Kitajima ({{lang|ja|北島秀朝}}): from 25 January 1872 to 13 October 1873
* Kunikiyo Kōyama ({{lang|ja|神山郡廉}}): from 13 October 1873 to 20 October 1873
* Kanae Matsumoto ({{lang|ja|松本鼎}}): from 20 October 1873 to 26 December 1889
* Tadaakira Ishii ({{lang|ja|石井忠亮}}): from 26 December 1889 to 9 April 1891
* [[Sadaaki Senda]] ({{lang|ja|千田貞暁}}): from 9 April 1891 to 15 January 1892
* Morikata Oki ({{lang|ja|沖守固}}): from 15 January 1892 to 7 April 1897
* Kan'ichi Kubota ({{lang|ja|久保田貫一}}): from 7 April 1897 to 8 October 1898
* Masaaki Nomura ({{lang|ja|野村政明}}): from 8 October 1898 to 7 April 1899
* Hisashi Ogura ({{lang|ja|小倉久}}): from 7 April 1899 to 25 October 1900
* Shin'ichirō Tsubaki ({{lang|ja|椿蓁一郎}}): from 25 October 1900 to 29 June 1903
* Ienori Kiyosu ({{lang|ja|清棲家教}}): from 29 June 1903 to 11 January 1907
* [[Takio Izawa]] ({{lang|ja|伊沢多喜男}}): from 11 January 1907 to 30 July 1909
* Chikaharu Kawakami ({{lang|ja|川上親晴}}): from 30 July 1909 to 4 September 1911
* Takeji Kawamura ({{lang|ja|川村竹治}}): from 4 September 1911 to 9 June 1914
* Kogorō Kanokogi ({{lang|ja|鹿子木小五郎}}): from June 1914 to 17 December 1917
* Tokikazu Ikematsu ({{lang|ja|池松時和}}): from 17 December 1917 to 3 February 1920
* Shinzō Obara ({{lang|ja|小原新三}}): from 3 February 1920 to 6 June 1923
* Yoshibumi Satake ({{lang|ja|佐竹義文}}): from 6 June 1923 to 24 June 1924
{{col-2}}
* Kyūichi Hasegawa ({{lang|ja|長谷川久一}}): from 24 June 1924 to 22 March 1927
* Tokutarō Shimizu ({{lang|ja|清水徳太郎}}): from 22 March 1927 to 17 May 1927
* Umekichi Miyawaki ({{lang|ja|宮脇梅吉}}): from 17 May 1927 to 17 November 1927
* Taeru Node ({{lang|ja|野手耐}}): from 17 November 1927 to 5 July 1929
* Senzō Tomobe ({{lang|ja|友部泉蔵}}): from 5 July 1929 to 26 August 1930
* Toshikatsu Kurahara ({{lang|ja|蔵原敏捷}}): from 26 August 1930 to 18 December 1931
* Toshiki Karasawa ({{lang|ja|唐沢俊樹}}): from 18 December 1931 to 28 July 1932
* Ryōsaku Shimizu ({{lang|ja|清水良策}}): from 28 July 1932 to 10 November 1934
* Nagakazu Fujioka ({{lang|ja|藤岡長和}}): from 10 November 1934 to 22 April 1936
* [[Tokiji Yoshinaga]] ({{lang|ja|吉永時次}}): from 22 April 1936 to 11 January 1939
* Shigeo Shimizu ({{lang|ja|清水重夫}}): from 11 January 1939 to 15 October 1940
* Jirō Imamatsu ({{lang|ja|今松治}}): from 15 October 1940 to 20 October 1941
* Seizō Hirose ({{lang|ja|広瀬永造}}): from 20 October 1941 to 1 August 1944
* Chiaki Kobayashi ({{lang|ja|小林千秋}}): from 1 August 1944 to 27 October 1945
* Uichirō Koike ({{lang|ja|小池卯一郎}}): from 27 October 1945 to 25 January 1946
* [[Masao Kanai]] ({{lang|ja|金井正夫}}): from 25 January 1946 to 8 July 1946
* Wakichi Kawakami ({{lang|ja|川上和吉}}): from 8 July 1946 to 28 February 1947
* Yoshimaro Takahashi ({{lang|ja|高橋良麿}}): from 28 February 1947 to 15 April 1947
{{col-end}}
Publicly-elected governors:
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* Shinji Ono ({{lang|ja|小野真次}}): from 19 April 1947 to 22 April 1967
* Masao Ohashi ({{lang|ja|大橋正雄}}): from 23 April 1967 to 4 October 1975
* Shiro Kariya ({{lang|ja|仮谷志良}}): from 23 November 1975 to 22 November 1995
* Isamu Nishiguchi ({{lang|ja|西口勇}}): from 23 November 1995 to 13 July 2000
{{col-2}}
* Yoshiki Kimura ({{lang|ja|木村良樹}}): from 3 September 2000 to 2 December 2006
* [[Yoshinobu Nisaka]] ({{lang|ja|仁坂吉伸}}): from 17 December 2006 to 16 December 2022
* [[Shūhei Kishimoto]] ({{lang|ja|岸本周平}}): from 17 December 2022 to 15 April 2025
* Izumi Miyazaki ({{lang|ja|宮崎泉}}): from 15 April 2025 to present 
{{col-end}}

== Culture ==
{{nihongo|[[Mount Kōya]]|高野山|Kōya-san}} in the [[Ito District]] is the headquarters of the [[Shingon]] sect of [[Japanese Buddhism]]. It is home to one of the first Japanese style [[Buddhist temple]]s in Japan and remains a [[pilgrimage]] site and an increasingly popular tourist destination as people flock to see its ancient temples set amidst the towering cedar trees at the top of the mountain. The [[Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range|Sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii Mountain Range]] extend for miles throughout the prefecture and together have been recognized as Japan's 11th [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/jp UNESCO.org]</ref>

The [[Kumano Shrine]]s are on the southern tip of the prefecture. [[Tomogashima]] (a cluster of four islands) is part of the prefecture.

== Agriculture ==

=== Orange ===
Wakayama Prefecture ranks first in the production of oranges in Japan. Wakayama has its own brand of oranges, which is produced in Arida District and called 'Arida-Orange'. Arida District, where oranges have been produced for more than 400 years,<ref>[http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/070300/syokuiku1/tisantisyo/syun/mikan.html 今月の旬] Wakayama Prefecture website, accessed May 31, 2017</ref> yields about half of the orange crops in Wakayama today.<ref>[http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/000200/photomuseum/139.html 農林水産　特産品] Wakayama Prefecture website, accessed May 31, 2017</ref> Furthermore, the yield of Arida-Oranges accounts for about 10 percent of Japanese domestic production of oranges.<ref>[http://www.ja-arida.or.jp/orange/mikan06.php 有田みかんについて]　JA Arida website, accessed May 31, 2017</ref>

=== Chinese flowering plum (Ume) ===
According to the survey by the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries]] of Japan, Wakayama stands first in the production of [[Prunus mume|Chinese flowering plum]], or ''ume'' in Japanese, in Japan. As of 2016, Wakayama made up about 70 percent of Japanese domestic production of ''ume''.<ref>[http://www.maff.go.jp/j/tokei/kouhyou/sakumotu/sakkyou_kazyu/index.html 作況調査（果樹）：　農林水産省] The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website, accessed June 1, 2017</ref>

== International relations ==
Wakayama Prefecture has friendship and sister relationships with six places outside Japan:<ref>[http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/022100/kokusaikouryu/yuko.html 友好・姉妹提携] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611072502/http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/022100/kokusaikouryu/yuko.html |date=2011-06-11 }} Wakayama Prefecture website, retrieved May 16, 2008</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Florida]], [[United States]] 
*{{flagicon|SPA}} [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Spain]] 
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Pyrénées-Orientales]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shandong]], [[China|People's Republic of China]] 
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Sichuan]], [[China|People's Republic of China]]
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Sinaloa]], [[Mexico]]

== Tourism ==
Wakayama Prefecture has hot springs such as [[Nanki-Shirahama Onsen]], {{ill|Kawayu Onsen, Wakayama|lt=Kawayu Onsen|ja|川湯温泉 (和歌山県)}}, and [[Yunomine Onsen]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Saikazaki Wakaura01bs4272.jpg|Saikazaki, Wakanoura
File:Wakayama castle02s3200.jpg|[[Wakayama Castle]]
File:121013 The museum of modern art, wakayama01s3.jpg|The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama
File:KonponDaido.jpg|Konpon Daido<br />([[Mount Kōya]])
File:Chohoji03s3200.jpg|[[Chōhō-ji]]
File:Onsen in Nachikatsuura, Japan.jpg|[[Nanki-Katsuura Onsen]]
File:NachiNoTaki.jpg|[[Nachi Falls]]
File:Daimonzaka28-640.jpg|Daimonzaka<br />([[Kumano Kodō]])
</gallery>

== Transportation ==

=== Rail ===
* [[JR Central]]
** [[Kisei Line]]
* [[JR West]]
** [[Hanwa Line]]
** [[Kisei Line|Kinokuni Line]]
** [[Wakayama Line]]
* Kishu Railway
* [[Nankai Electric Railway|Nankai]]
** [[Nankai Kada Line|Kada Line]]
** [[Nankai Koya Line|Koya Line]]
** [[Nankai Main Line|Nankai Line]]
* Wakayama Electric Railway

=== Road ===

==== Expressway ====
* Hanwa Expressway
* Keinawa Expressway
* Nachi Katsuura Road
* Yuasa Gobo Road

==== National highways ====
* Route 24
* Route 26
* Route 42
* Route 168 (Shingu-[[Gojo, Nara|Gojo]]-[[Ikoma, Nara|Ikoma]]-[[Hirakata]])
* Route 169 (Shingu-[[Kumano, Mie|Kumano]]-Kawakami-Yoshino-[[Asuka, Nara|Asuka]]-[[Kashihara]]-[[Nara, Nara|Nara]])
* Route 311 (Kamitonda-Tanabe-Shingu-kumano-[[Owase]])
* Route 370 (Kainan-Hashimoto-Gojo-[[Uda, Nara|Uda]]-Nara)
* Route 371 ([[Kawachinagano]]-Hashimoto-Koya-Kushimoto)
* Route 424

=== Ferry ===
* Wakayama-[[Tokushima]]

=== Airport ===
* [[Nanki Shirahama Airport]]

== Education ==

=== Universities ===
* [[Kinki University]]
* [[Koyasan University]]
* [[Wakayama Medical University]]
* [[Wakayama University]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 58053128]

== External links ==
{{commons category|Wakayama prefecture}}
*[https://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/ Official Wakayama Prefecture Web Site]
*[https://en.visitwakayama.jp/ The Official Wakayama, Kansai Travel Guide]

{{coord|34|3|N|135|21|E|scale:500000|display=title}}
{{Wakayama}}
{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Wakayama Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Kansai region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]