Shimane Prefecture
Template:Infobox Prefecture Japan Shimane Prefecture (島根県, Shimane-ken) is located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, next to the Tottori Prefecture that is a neighboring prefecture on the east side. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to the Sea of Japan on the north side. Most of the cities are near the shoreline of the Sea of Japan. There is Izumo Taisha in Izumo City, which is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.
The Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan are also part of Shimane Prefecture, which also claims to have jurisdiction over the South Korea-controlled island of Dokdo (Takeshima).
History
Old provinces
Geography
Cities
Eight cities are located in Shimane Prefecture:
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each district:
Mergers
- On October 12004, the town of Saigou and the villages of Fuse, Goka and Tsuma (all from Oki District) merged to form the new town of Okinoshima.
- On October 12004, the towns of Iwami and Mizuho and the village of Hasumi (all from Ochi District) merged to form the new town of Oonan.
- On October 12004, the town of Ochi and the village of Daiwa (both from Ochi District) merged to form the new town of Misato.
- On October 12004, the town of Sakurae from Ochi District merged into the city of Gotsu.
- On October 12004, the towns of Hakuta and Hirose from Nogi District merged with the city of Yasugi to form the new city of Yasugi. Nogi District was dissolved as a result.
- On November 12004, the towns of Daito, Kamo and Kisuki from Ohara District and the towns and villages of Kakeya, Mitoya and Yoshida from Iishi District merged to form the new city of Unnan. Ohara District was dissolved as a result.
- On January 12005, the towns of Akagi and Tonbara from Iishi District merged to form the new town of Iinan.
- On March 222005, the cities of Izumo and Hirata and the towns of Koryo, Sada, Taisha and Taki from Hikawa District merged to form the new the city of Izumo.
- On January 312005, the towns of Nita and Yokota from Nita District merged to form the new town of Okuizumo.
- On March 312005, the towns of Kashima, Mihonoseki, Shimane, Shinji, Tamayu and Yatsuka and the village of Yakumo (all from Yatsuka District) merged with the city of Matsue to form the new city of Matsue.
- On September 252005, the towns of Nichihara and Tsuwanofrom Kanoashi District merged to form the new town of Tsuwano.
- On October 12005, the village of Kakinoki and the town of Muikaichi from Kanoashi District merged to form the new town of Yoshika.
- On October 12005, the towns of Nima and Yunotsu from Nima District merged with the city of Oda to form the new city of Oda. Nima District was dissolved as a result.
- On October 12005, the towns of Asahi, Kanagi, Misumi and Yasaka from Naka District merged with the city of Hamada to form the new city of Hamada. Naka District was dissolved as a result.
Economy
Demographics
Culture
Universities in Shimane Prefecture
- Shimane University (National university) [1]
- The University of Shimane (Prefectural university) [2]
Tourism
Prefectural symbols
Miscellaneous topics
See also
External links
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