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Shiga Prefecture facts for kids

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Shiga Prefecture

滋賀県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 滋賀県
 • Rōmaji Shiga-ken
Flag of Shiga Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Shiga Prefecture
Symbol
Location of Shiga Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Capital Ōtsu
Subdivisions Districts: 3, Municipalities: 19
Area
 • Total 4,017.38 km2 (1,551.12 sq mi)
Area rank 38th
Population
 (October 1, 2015)
 • Total 1,412,916
 • Rank 26th
 • Density 351.7009/km2 (910.9010/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-25
Website
Symbols
Bird Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Flower Rhododendron (Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense)
Tree Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県, Shiga-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of 4,017 km² (1,551 sq mi). Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the northeast, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, and Kyoto Prefecture to the west.

Ōtsu is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture, with other major cities including Kusatsu, Nagamhama, and Higashiōmi. Shiga Prefecture encircles Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, and 37% of the total land area is designated as Natural Parks, the highest of any prefecture. Shiga Prefecture's southern half is located adjacent to the former capital city of Kyoto and forms part of Greater Kyoto, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Japan. Shiga Prefecture is home to Ōmi beef, the Eight Views of Ōmi, and Hikone Castle, one of four national treasure castles in Japan.

History

Shiga used to be called Ōmi Province or Gōshū before Japan began using the prefectural system.

Geography

Shiga borders Fukui Prefecture in the north Gifu Prefecture is in the east. Mie Prefecture is in the southeast. Kyoto Prefecture is in the west.

Lake Biwa is at the center of this prefecture. The lake divides the prefecture into four areas:

  • Kohoku (湖北), north of lake and centered at Nagahama
  • Kosei (湖西), west of lake and centered at Imazu
  • Kotō (湖東), east of lake and centered at Hikone
  • Konan (湖南), south of lake and centered at Ōtsu

Cities

Cities in Shiga Prefecture include

  • Higashiōmi
  • Hikone
  • Iga
  • Kōka
  • Konan
  • Kusatsu
  • Maibara
  • Moriyama
  • Nagahama
  • Ōtsu (capital)
  • Ōmihachiman
  • Rittō
  • Takashima
  • Yasu

National Parks

National Parks are established in about 37% of the total land area of the prefecture.

Education

The University of Shiga Prefecture
University of Shiga Prefecture

There are ten universities, two junior colleges, and a learning center of The Open University of Japan in Shiga.

  • Shiga University (Hikone and Otsu)
  • Shiga University of Medical Science (Otsu)
  • University of Shiga Prefecture (Hikone)
  • Shiga Junior College (Otsu)
  • Shiga Bunkyo Junior College (Nagahama)
  • Seian University of Art and Design (Otsu)
  • Seisen University (Hikone)
  • Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology (Nagahama)
  • Biwako-Gakuin University (Higashiomi)
  • Biwako-Gakuin College (Higashiomi)
  • Biwako Seikei Sport College (Otsu)
  • Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto and Kusatsu)
  • Ryukoku University (Kyoto and Otsu)

Sister states

Shiga has agreements with three states.

Shrines and Temples

Takebe jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Prefectura de Shiga para niños

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