Population: 1,001,300 (39th in Japan)

Number of households: 392,500 (39th in Japan)

Area (km²): 4,726.29 (30th in Japan)

Gross prefectural product (in billions of yen): 3,087 (42nd in Japan)

Kumano ancient morality

A pickled plum

A waterfall of Nachi

Located in the southwest of Kii Peninsula, Japan's largest Peninsula, Wakayama has a climate that is warm throughout the four seasons. The magnificent scenery of the coastline, which is washed by the Japan Current, extends over 600 kilometers. In addition, as "Kinokuni," which means land of trees, one of the prefecture's popular names suggests that this region is blessed with abundant natural resources, including old verdant forests.

The prefecture has been known from ancient times for sacred Shinto and Buddhist sites, and many historical landmarks. Foremost among these is Mt. Koya, a sacred mountain with numerous Buddhist temples that were established in the 9th century by the great priest Kukai, and the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano.

In addition to forestry, prosperous industries that make use of the warm climate include the cultivation of plums, persimmons and other fruit trees, as well as vegetables and flowers. The amounts of plums, persimmons, hassaku and a number of other fruits produced here are the greatest in Japan. The mandarin orange harvest is also one of the largest. Moreover, the fishing industry is also prosperous, with the Katsuura harbor bringing in Japan's largest fresh tuna. Textiles, leather and other industries related to materials, as well as machines, metals, chemicals and other industries that make use of cutting-edge technologies have also been developed in the prefecture. Industrial parks number 14, including Cosmo Park Kada and Kitaseida High Tech Park.

Numerous popular hot springs in the prefecture boast long histories and are blessed with beautiful natural environments, including Shirahama Onsen, one of Japan's most famous, as well as Katsuura and Ryujin. In 2004, the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range were designated as a World Cultural Heritage that spans the three prefectures of Mie, Nara and Wakayama.