Wakayama Prefecture

is a prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan on the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Wakayama. Wakayama Prefecture is surrounded by Osaka Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture.
History.
In the Meiji period, Wakayama Prefecture was created from the western part of Kii Province.
Geography.
Wakayama's southwestern coastline faces the Seto Inland Sea and its southeastern coastline is on the Pacific Ocean. The northern borders of the prefecture meet Osaka Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, and Mie Prefecture.
Cities.
There are nine cities in Wakayama Prefecture:
Towns and villages.
These are the towns and villages in each district:
National Parks.
National Parks are established in about 9% of the total land area of the prefecture.
Shrines and Temples.
"Hinokuma-kunikakasu jinjū" is the chief Shinto shrine ("ichinomiya") in the prefecture.