Gifu Prefecture

	Name	Gifu
	JapaneseName	岐阜県 ''Gifu-ken''
	Symbol	PrefSymbol-Gifupng
	Capital	Gifu (city)
	Region	Chūbu
	Island	Honshu
	TotalArea	10,59818
	AreaRank	7<sup>th</sup>
	PCWater	02
	PopDate	October 1 , 2000
	Population	2,107,687
	PopRank	18<sup>th</sup>
	Density	199
	Districts	9
	Municipalities	42
	ISOCode	JP-21
	Flower	Chinese milk vetch ('' Astragalus sinicus'')
	Tree	Japanese Yew (''Taxus cuspidata'')
	Bird	Rock Ptarmigan (''Lagopus muta'')
	Map	Japan Gifu largepng
	Website	wwwprefgifulgjp

, is located in the Chūbu Region of central Japan . The capital is the city of Gifu .

HISTORY

Gifu prefecture consists of the Old Provinces of Hida and Mino .

GEOGRAPHY

It is landlocked and is located North of Aichi in the mountains. Most of the northern and eastern part of the prefecture is dominated by high mountains, and most of the population lives in the south, near the Nagoya metropolitan area.

Cities

21 cities are located on Gifu Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each District .

Mergers

(as of March 27, 2006)

On April 1 , 2003 the towns and villages of Ijira , Miyama , and Takatomi from Yamagata District (dissolved by this action) merged, forming the city of Yamagata .

On May 1 , 2003 , the towns of Hodzumi and Sunami merged to form the new city of Mizuho .

On February 1 , 2004 the towns of Itonuki , Motosu , Neo , and Shinsei from Motosu District merged to form the new city of Motosu .

On February 1 , 2004 the towns of Furukawa , Miyagawa , Kawai , and Kamioka from Yoshiki District merged to form the new city of Hida .

On March 1 , 2004 all seven towns and villages from the former Gujo District (dissolved by this action) merged, forming the city of Gujo . The towns and villages that merged were Hachiman , Meihou , Minami , Shitori , Takasu , Wara , and Yamato .

On March 1 , 2004 all four towns and the village from the former Mashita District (dissolved by this action) merged, forming the city of Gero . The towns and village that merged were Gero (town) , Hagiwara , Kanayama , Kosaka , and Maze .

On October 25 , 2004 four towns and a village from Ena District merged into the new city of Ena . The municipalities involved in this merger were the old city of Ena , Akechi , Iwamura , Kamiyahagi , Kushihara , and Yamaoka .

On November 1 , 2004 the former town of Kawashima from Hashima District merged into the expanded city of Kakamigahara .

On January 31 , 2005 five villages from Ibi District merged into the expanded town of Ibigawa . The villages involved in this merger were Fujihashi , Kasuga , Kuze , Sakauchi , and Tanigumi .

On February 1 , 2005 nine towns and villages from Ono District and the former Yoshiki District (dissolved by this action) merged into the expanded city of Takayama . The towns and villages participating in this merger were, from Ono District, Asahi , Kiyomi , Kuguno , Miya , Nyukawa , Shokawa , and Takane , and, from Yoshiki District, Kamitakara and Kokufu .

On February 7 , 2005 five towns and villages from the former Mugi District (dissolved by this action) merged into the expanded city of Seki . The towns and villages involved in this merger were Horado , Itadori , Kaminoho , Mugegawa , and Mugi .

On February 13 , 2005 six towns and villages from the former Ena District (dissolved by this action) merged into the expanded city of Nakatsugawa . The towns and villages involved in this merger were Fukuoka , Hirukawa , Kashimo , Kawaue , Sakashita , and Tsukechi .

On March 28 , 2005 the towns of Hirata , Kaizu and Nannou from Kaizu District merged into the new city of Kaizu . Kaizu District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On May 1 , 2005 the town of Kaneyama from Kani District merged into the city of Kani .

On January 1 , 2006 the town of Yanaizu from Hashima District merged into the city of Gifu .

On January 23 , 2006 the town of Kasahara from Toki District merged into the city of Tajimi . Toki District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On March 27 , 2006 the town of Kamiishizu from Yoro District and the town of Sunomata from Anpachi District merged into the city of Ogaki .

ECONOMY

Gifu's economy includes many traditional industries such as agriculture and woodworking, but it is dominated by manufacturing industries extending from the Nagoya area, such as aerospace and automotive industry. A major characteristic of Gifu's industry is a wealth of small component manufacturers, such as precision machining, die and mold making, and plastic forming.

DEMOGRAPHICS

CULTURE

TOURISM

PREFECTURAL SYMBOLS

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

EXTERNAL LINKS

Official Gifu Prefecture homepage

Information About

Gifu Prefecture