35-611: The Rikuu West Line ( 陸羽西線 , Rikuu-sai-sen ) is a railway line in Yamagata Prefecture , Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinjō Station to Amarume Station , and trains continue on to Sakata Station , even though it is not officially a part of the Rikuu West Line. Its name refers to the ancient provinces of Mutsu ( 陸奥 ) and Dewa ( 出羽 ) (or alternatively,
70-683: A glimpse of rural or traditional Japan. Some famous examples are the Akita Kantō, the Omagari Fireworks, Namahage Festival, and the Yokote Kamakura Festivals. Kakunodate , known as the little Kyoto , features many preserved samurai houses. The Aoyagi house is the former residence of Odano Naotake, who illustrated Japan's first modern guide to human anatomy. The house is now a museum and gallery of medical illustrations and traditional crafts. Starting in 2009, Akita began experiencing
105-483: A push for home stays, farmers markets for locally produced foods, and the integration of outsiders into local cultural practices. The Namahage ritual in Oga on New Year's Eve draws a large number of tourists to Akita Prefecture every year. Near Lake Tazawa , there are a number of hot springs resorts ( onsen ). These are popular with tourists from all over Japan. In addition, numerous seasonal festivals ( matsuri ) offer
140-514: A season with depths up to 8 metres (26 ft) at higher elevations. Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced. As of October 2020, Yamagata Prefecture had a population of 1,068,027. As of October 2019, 33.4% of the population was over 65 with 15.5% aged between 65 and 74 and 17.9% over 75. This
175-546: A three-year project in which the Buddhist art of the city's temples would be catalogued and compared to a set of guidelines in order to identify "cultural assets". One hundred and ninety temples have had their works of art examined and several significant examples of Buddhist sculpture have been discovered. At Heisenji Temple, in the Hirashimizu district, a particularly rare statue, a seated Vairocana Buddha made from zelkova wood,
210-558: Is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . Its population is estimated 915,691 (as of 1 August 2023) and its geographic area is 11,637 km (4,493 sq mi ). Akita Prefecture is bordered by Aomori Prefecture to the north, Iwate Prefecture to the east, Miyagi Prefecture to the southeast, and Yamagata Prefecture to the south. Akita is the capital and largest city of Akita Prefecture. Other major cities include Yokote , Daisen , and Yurihonjō . Akita Prefecture
245-452: Is a famous example of an Akita bijin . Akita is known for the following regional specialties ( tokusanhin ): Recently there have been efforts to revitalize rural communities facing depopulation with different forms of green tourism and agritourism. These efforts are primarily aimed at attracting urbanites and foreign tourists to Akita Prefecture, advertising its pristine forests, sprawling rice fields, and range of cultures. There has been
280-404: Is also the location with the most western hotels and the primary place of lodging for visitors visiting this region. This city serves as a good hub to visit the surrounding cities and towns around this prefecture with bus lines and train lines linking almost every part of Yamagata from the station. There are also many bars near the station giving this city a good night life for visitors to enjoy at
315-480: Is an increase of 8.5% over census data from 2004 where 12.8% of the population was aged between 65 and 74, and 12.1% was over 75. Yamagata prefecture experienced its greatest growth period following the end of World War II, but then quickly began to slow down and eventually decline steadily. Today, the population is nearly the same as it was in 1930. Yamagata City is the central hub for Yamagata Prefecture and has many shops and restaurants around its main station. It
350-458: Is known for its local dialect Yamagata-ben , sometimes thought of as backward sounding in other parts of Japan. The 2004 movie Swing Girls (スウィングガールズ), co-written and directed by Shinobu Yaguchi , is set in Yamagata and makes use of Yamagata-ben for comedic purposes. The sports teams listed below are based in Yamagata. Football Volleyball Basketball The temple of Yama-dera , carved into
385-514: Is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan and extends east to the Ōu Mountains , the longest mountain range in Japan, at the border with Iwate Prefecture. Akita Prefecture formed the northern half of the historic Dewa Province with Yamagata Prefecture. The region of Akita was created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu . Separated from the principal Japanese centres of commerce, politics, and population by several hundred kilometres and by
SECTION 10
#1732884686692420-689: Is the home of the bi-annual Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in October. In February, a snow lantern festival is held in Yonezawa at the Uesugi Shrine . Hundreds of candle-lit lanterns light pathways dug into the snow around the shrine. Yonezawa is also the site of the Uesugi Festival (上杉祭り, uesugi matsuri ) in mid-spring. The festival's highlight is a re-enactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima on
455-592: The Bandai-Asahi National Park ; Chōkai , Kurikoma , and Zaō Quasi-National Parks; and Goshōzan , Kabusan , Kennan , Mogamigawa , Shōnai Kaihin , and Tendō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Parks. Thirteen cities are located in Yamagata Prefecture: These are the towns and villages in each district : The climate of Yamagata Prefecture is characterized by long, hot, and humid summers and long, snowy winters. Both spring and autumn are short,
490-499: The Fujiwara ( 藤原 ) family ruled the area. Yamagata City flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867) due to its status as a castle town and post station, famous for beni (red safflower dye used in the production of handspun silk). In 1689, the famous haiku poet, Matsuo Bashō visited Yamagata during his five-month trip to the northern regions of Japan. Yamagata Prefecture is located in
525-634: The Meiji-era provinces of Rikuzen ( 陸前 ) and Uzen ( 羽前 ) ), although strictly speaking, only the Rikuu East Line connects both areas. Symbols: The line was opened in sections between 1913 and 1914. Freight services ceased in 1987, and CTC signalling was commissioned in 1991. Due to the construction of a tunnel, that is part of Shinjo Sakata Road of National Route 47 , the Rikuu West Line has temporarily suspended services since 14 May 2022 until at least 2024~2025, with replacement buses operating in
560-594: The Sea of Japan ), established a fort on the Mogami River , and thus began the Japanese settlement of the region. In 733, a new military settlement (later renamed Akita Castle ) was built in what is now the Takashimizu area of Akita, and more permanent roads and structures were developed. The region was used as a base of operations for the Japanese empire as it drove the native Ezo people from northern Honshū. Governance of
595-462: The Ōu and Dewa mountain ranges to the east, Akita remained largely isolated from Japanese society until after the year 600. Akita was a region of hunter-gatherers and principally nomadic tribes. The first historical record of what is now Akita Prefecture dates to 658, when Abe no Hirafu conquered the native Ezo tribes at what are now the cities of Akita and Noshiro . Abe, then governor of Koshi Province (the northwestern part of Honshū bordering
630-541: The banks of the Matsukawa River. In September, Yamagata Prefecture is famous for its imoni , a taro-root stew popular in Northern Japan during the autumn. Imonikai, taro-root soup parties, are very popular during this season, and many tourists come to Yamagata Prefecture specifically for its particular style of imoni. Beginning in 2003, Yamagata city officials with the aid of Tōhoku University of Art and Design began
665-676: The decline in population. This decline, combined with an aging population , has been concerning for rural communities. Akita, 秋田, meaning autumn rice paddy, is famous for rice farming and its sake breweries. It is well known for having the highest consumption of sake in Japan and is thought to be the origin of the Akita breed of dog which carries the prefecture's name. The women of the region, referred to as Akita bijin ( 秋田美人 , 'beauties of Akita' ) , have also gained widespread renown for their white skin, rounded faces and high voices, all of which are considered highly desirable. Ono no Komachi
700-513: The former often cold, the latter often warm, but both quite dry and sunny. Yamagata Prefecture, along with northern parts of Miyagi and Iwate are the transition areas from humid subtropical climate ( Koppen Cfa / Cwa ) to humid continental within the Japan mainland. Winter temperatures rarely fall below −10 °C (14 °F) in populated areas; they frequently rise above 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August. Precipitation falls all year round and
735-585: The front of the station as well as the nanukamachi district in the downtown area of the city. Yamagata Prefecture has a number of annual festivals and events. The largest is the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (花笠祭り) which takes place in Yamagata City on the first weekend in August, when thousands of people perform the hanagasa dance in the city centre and attracts up to 300,000 spectators. Yamagata City
SECTION 20
#1732884686692770-732: The lowest percentage of children (defined as under the age of 15), at 9.3% in 2022, down from 11.2% in 2010. 38.6% of residents are 65 or older, the highest percentage of any Japanese prefecture. As of October 1, 2022, it has an estimated population of 944,902 people. The high rate of depopulation in Akita Prefecture has led smaller communities to merge with each other, which has affected the smallest of these merged communities. As depopulation in these communities continues, educational and health facilities have closed in some areas, encouraging families to migrate to larger cities for better access to health and educational opportunities and perpetuating
805-479: The modern-day borders of Akita. The famous Heian period waka poet, Ono no Komachi , is said to have been born in Yuzawa City, Ogachi Town, located in the southeast of the prefecture. Located on the north-western side of Honshu, Akita Prefecture is adjacent to the Sea of Japan to the west and borders four other prefectures: Aomori in the north, Iwate in the east, Miyagi in the southeast, and Yamagata in
840-465: The mountainside near the city of Yamagata , is a major attraction. The Dewa Sanzan are three holy mountains that form a traditional pilgrimage for followers of the Shugendō branch of Shintō. The famous Gojudo (five-story pagoda) is at the base of Mount Haguro , the lowest of the three mountains. Mount Zaō is a famous winter ski resort, also known for its snow monsters (frozen snow-covered trees) in
875-483: The neighbour towns of stations. This article about a Japanese railway line–related topic is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Yamagata Prefecture Yamagata Prefecture ( 山形県 , Yamagata-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,028,055 (1 August 2023) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km (3,600 sq mi ). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to
910-518: The north, Miyagi Prefecture to the east, Fukushima Prefecture to the south, and Niigata Prefecture to the southwest. Yamagata is the capital and largest city of Yamagata Prefecture, with other major cities including Tsuruoka , Sakata , and Yonezawa . Yamagata Prefecture is located on Japan's western Sea of Japan coast and its borders with neighboring prefectures are formed by various mountain ranges , with 17% of its total land area being designated as Natural Parks . Yamagata Prefecture formed
945-623: The region shifted hands several times. During the Tokugawa shogunate it was appropriated to the Satake clan , who ruled the region for 260 years and developed the agriculture and mining industries that are still predominant today. Throughout this period, it was classified as part of Dewa Province . In 1871, during the Meiji Restoration , Dewa Province was reshaped and the old daimyō domains were abolished and administratively reconstructed, resulting in
980-497: The remnants of one or perhaps two typhoons usually pass through between August and October. The winters see heavy snowfall especially at higher elevations, though the Japan Sea coast ( Sakata ) is milder and has more rain. Snowfall for Shinjō is typical of populated mountainous areas, snowfall for Yamagata City typical of the valleys. The central mountains around Gassan may see as much as 3,000 centimetres (98.43 ft) of snow in
1015-588: The sea. As of 31 March 2019, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture is designated as Natural Parks , namely the Towada-Hachimantai National Park ; Chōkai , Kurikoma , and Oga Quasi-National Parks; and Akita Shirakami , Hachimori Iwadate , Kimimachizaka , Magi Mahiru , Moriyoshizan , Taiheizan , Tashirodake , and Tazawako Dakigaeri Prefectural Natural Parks. Thirteen cities are located in Akita Prefecture: These are
1050-447: The south. The borders of Akita Prefecture roughly form a rectangle that is 169 kilometres (105 miles) from north to south and 86 kilometres (54 miles) from west to east. The Oga Peninsula is a prominent feature of the western edge, while the Ōu Mountains mark the eastern border and the higher Dewa Mountains run parallel through the center. Like much of northern Japan, the prefecture has cold winters, particularly in areas farther from
1085-596: The southern half of the historic Dewa Province with Akita Prefecture and is home to the Three Mountains of Dewa , which includes the Haguro Five-story Pagoda, a recognised National Treasure of Japan . The aboriginal Ezo ( 蝦夷 ) people once inhabited the area now known as Yamagata. Yamagata and Akita Prefecture were known as Dewa Province until the Meiji Restoration . During the Heian period (794–1185),
Rikuu West Line - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-432: The southwest corner of Tōhoku, facing the Sea of Japan . It borders Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture on the south, Miyagi Prefecture on the east, and Akita Prefecture on the north. All of these boundaries are marked by mountains, with most of the population residing in a limited central plain. As of 31 March 2020, 17 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely
1155-549: The towns and villages in each district : Like much of the Tōhoku Region , Akita's economy remains dominated by traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry. This has led many young people to migrate to Tokyo and other large cities. Akita Prefecture has seen some of the most severe population decline in Japan: it is one of four prefectures in Japan registering declines in population since 1955. Its population also has
1190-714: The winter, and the Okama crater lake , also known as the Goshiki Numa (Five Color Lake) because its colour changes according to the weather. Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉) is a Silver Mountain hot spring town located in the mountains of Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The area originally developed around a silver mine. Yamagata is pictured in the 1991 Studio Ghibli film Only Yesterday directed by Isao Takahata. 38°26′N 140°8′E / 38.433°N 140.133°E / 38.433; 140.133 Akita Prefecture Akita Prefecture ( 秋田県 , Akita-ken ) [a̠kʲita̠]
1225-546: Was found. Other significant works include sculptures from the Heian period (794–1185) and Kamakura period (1192–1333). The Yamagata Museum of Art, located in Yamagata City, was opened in 1964 through the efforts of a foundation led by Yoshio Hattori, the president of Yamagata Shimbun and Yamagata Broadcasting Co, Ltd. The permanent collection consists of three types of art: Japanese and Asian, regional, and French. Special exhibitions are held periodically. Yamagata Prefecture
#691308