TOTTORI PREFECTURE

is located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the ''least populous'' prefecture in Japan.

Contents

History

Geography

Cities

Towns and villages

Mergers

Economy

Demographics

Culture

Sports

Tourism

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

External links

History

Geography

Tottori is home to the Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘; ''tottori-sakyū''), Japan's only large dune system.

Cities

Four cities are located in Tottori Prefecture:

★ Kurayoshi

★ Sakaiminato

★ Tottori (capital)

★ Yonago

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

★ Hino District:Hino:Kōfu:Nichinan ★ Iwami District:Iwami ★ Saihaku District:Daisen:Hiezu:Hōki:Nanbu

★ Tōhaku District:Hokuei:Kotoura:Misasa:Yurihama ★ Yazu District:Chizu:Wakasa:Yazu

Mergers

★ On September 1, 2004 the towns of Tōhaku and Akasaki from Tōhaku District merged to form the new town of Kotoura.

★ On October 1, 2004 the towns of Saihaku and Aimi from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Nanbu.

★ On October 1, 2004 the towns of Hawai and Tōgō and the village of Tomari (all from Tōhaku District) merged to form the new town of Yurihama.

★ On November 1, 2004 the municipalities of Fukube and Kokufu (from Iwami District), Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano (from Ketaka District) and Kawahara, Mochigase and Saji (from Yazu District) merged into the city of Tottori. Ketaka District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

★ On January 1, 2005 the towns of Mizokuchi from Hino District and Kishimoto from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Hōki in Saihaku District.

★ On March 22, 2005 the town of Sekigane from Tōhaku District merged into the city of Kurayoshi.

★ On March 28, 2005 the towns of Nakayama, Daisen, and Nawa from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Daisen.

★ On March 31, 2005 the towns of Kōge, Funaoka and Hattō from Yazu District merged to form the new town of Yazu.

★ On March 31, 2005, the city of Yonago merged with the town of Yodoe from Saihaku District to form the new city of Yonago.

★ On October 1, 2005 the towns of Daiei and Hōjō from Tōhaku District merged to form the new town of Hokuei.

Economy

Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to major cities. Some of the famous products are nashi pear, nagaimo, rakkyo, negi (''shiro-negi'', Welsh onion), and watermelon.

Demographics

Culture

Shan-shan festival

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.
Football (soccer)


★ Gainare Tottori (Yonago)

Tourism

★ Koyama Pond

★ Mount Daisen

★ Tottori Sand Dunes

Prefectural symbols

The symbol is derived from the first mora in Japanese for "と" combined with the picture of a flying bird, and symbolizes peace, liberty, and the advancement of the Tottori prefecture. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100^th year from the first year of the Meiji Era.

Miscellaneous topics

External links

★ Official Tottori Prefecture homepage

★ Tourist report of Tottori