Mie

About Mie

Mie Prefecture covers about 5,774.48 sq km and about 1.68 million inhabitants (about 1.69 million in recent estimates) with its capital at Tsu City with 270,000 people but largest city Yokkaichi with 310,000. It straddles Tokai and Kansai between Kii Peninsula and Ise Bay, bordering Aichi to the north, Gifu to the north-northwest, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara and Wakayama to the west and south, facing Ise Bay and the Pacific Kumano-nada to the east and south, 170 km long north-south and 80 km wide, elongated north-south. Topography includes the Suzuka Mountains 1,200 m and Yoro Mountains in the north with limestone karst, the Ise Plain with fertile alluvial, the Ueno Basin in Iga ninja area surrounded by mountains and fog, the Nunobiki Highlands with wind turbines, and the deeply indented rias coasts of Shima with Ago Bay pearl culturing and Gokasho Bay in the south 3 rias, plus the Median Tectonic Line exposed at Tsukide in Matsusaka designated national natural monument. Eastern coastline faces active Pacific subduction where 1944 Tonankai earthquake generated tsunami. The prefecture comprises four old provinces Ise, Shima, Iga and part of Kii including former Kumano Province centered on Kumanoshi, second only to Hyogo in number of provinces included. It was created in 1871 Haihan-chiken from Anotsu and Watarai Prefectures and finalized in 1876 merging Mie and Watarai with current name derived from Mie District in Yokkaichi where former domain office was. Climate varies north-south: Ise Bay coast is Tokai-type Pacific climate with mild winters and summer heat 35 C, Kumano-nada coast is Nankai-type with heavy rain over 3,000 mm and 4,000 mm at Owase Typhoon Ginza, Iga Basin is inland with fog and cold winters minus 5 C and basin temperature inversion, Owase area is called Typhoon Ginza with annual rainfall over 4,000 mm among Japan's wettest and landslides frequent. Industry is part of Chukyo Industrial Zone centered on Yokkaichi Complex petrochemical and chemicals started 1959, Suzuka and Kameyama host auto parts Honda Suzuka plant producing Fit, Sharp Kameyama plant LCD, semiconductors from Rohm. Candle from Kameyama and key production especially MIWA, fishing net rank first nationwide. Fisheries include Ise lobster, Matoya oyster top brand in Japan, Mikimoto pearl culture first cultured pearls globally invented by Kokichi Mikimoto 1893 in Toba, green tea Ise tea ranking third nationwide. Tourism blends sacred with resort: Ise Jingu Grand Shrine of Amaterasu with 1,500 year history and 20-year Shikinen Sengu rebuilding using unpainted cypress, Futamiura Meoto Iwa wedded rocks sunrise focal, Kumano Kodo World Heritage pilgrimage trails Iseji route steeper stone pavement, Iga Ueno Castle with high stone wall and ninja heritage museum with shuriken throwing experience, Shima Spain Village Par que Espana and British Village, Agu Bay cruiser sunset, Nabana no Sato illumination park 8 million lights in Kuwana, M ake Oy ex rock, Suzuka Circuit hosting the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix since 1987 and 8 Hours endurance motorcycle race famous worldwide, Gozaisho Ropeway and Yunoyama Onsen. Location midway between Nagoya and Osaka attracts both metros.