Aichi Prefecture(愛知県, Aichi-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [aꜜi.tɕi,ai.tɕi̥ꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 (as of 1January2025[update]) and a geographic area of 5,172.92square kilometres(1,997.28sqmi) with a population density of 1,442 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,730/sqmi). Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east. Nagoya is the capital and largest city of the prefecture.

Overview

Nagoya is the capital and largest city of Aichi Prefecture, and the fourth-largest city in Japan. Other major cities include Toyota, Okazaki, and Ichinomiya. Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya form the core of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Aichi Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast and forms part of the Tōkai region, a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region. Aichi Prefecture is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation. Aichi Prefecture had many locations with the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Chubu Centrair International Airport, and the Legoland Japan Resort.

Geography

Map of Aichi Prefecture Government Ordinance Designated City City Town Village
Aichi Prefectural Government Office
Satellite photo of Mikawa Bay

Located near the centre of the Japanese main island of Honshu, Aichi Prefecture faces the Ise and Mikawa Bays to the south and borders Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Nagano Prefecture to the northeast, Gifu Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture to the west. It measures 106km (66mi) east to west and 94km (58mi) south to north and forms a major portion of the Nōbi Plain. With an area of 5,172.48 square kilometres (1,997.11sqmi) it accounts for approximately 1.36% of the total surface area of Japan. The highest spot is Chausuyama at 1,415m (4,642ft) above sea level.

The western part of the prefecture is dominated by Nagoya, Japan's third largest city, and its suburbs, while the eastern part is less densely populated but still contains several major industrial centres. Due to its robust economy, for the period from October 2005 to October 2006, Aichi was the fastest growing prefecture in terms of population, beating Tokyo, at 7.4% and around with after Saitama Prefecture.

As of 1April2012,[update] 23% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Aichi Kōgen, Hida-Kisogawa, Mikawa Wan, and Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Parks along with seven Prefectural Natural Parks.

Cities

Thirty-eight cities are located in Aichi Prefecture.

NameArea (km2)PopulationMap
RōmajiKanji
Aisai愛西市66.7061,320
Amaあま市27.4987,651
Anjō安城市86.05188,693
Chiryū知立市16.3171,992
Chita知多市45.9083,891
Gamagōri蒲郡市56.9280,063
Handa半田市47.42118,259
Hekinan碧南市36.6872,864
Ichinomiya一宮市113.82380,073
Inazawa稲沢市79.35135,580
Inuyama犬山市74.9073,420
Iwakura岩倉市10.4747,929
Kariya刈谷市50.39153,162
Kasugai春日井市92.78306,764
Kitanagoya北名古屋市18.3786,068
Kiyosu清須市17.3569,687
Komaki小牧市62.81148,872
Kōnan江南市30.2097,903
Miyoshiみよし市32.1962,782
Nagakute長久手市21.5561,503
Nagoya (capital)名古屋市326.452,337,864
Nishio西尾市161.22169,984
Nisshin日進市34.9191,795
Ōbu大府市33.6692,179
Okazaki岡崎市387.20386,999
Owariasahi尾張旭市21.0381,954
Seto瀬戸市111.40127,659
Shinshiro新城市499.2344,581
Tahara田原市191.1260,206
Takahama高浜市13.1148,736
Tōkai東海市43.43113,698
Tokoname常滑市55.9057,872
Toyoake豊明市23.2269,525
Toyohashi豊橋市261.86377,453
Toyokawa豊川市161.14183,930
Toyota豊田市918.32426,162
Tsushima津島市25.0961,647
Yatomi弥富市49.0044,589

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictMap
RōmajiKanji
Agui阿久比町23.8028,291Chita District
Fusō扶桑町11.1934,144Niwa District
Higashiura東浦町31.1450,182Chita District
Kanie蟹江町11.0937,082Ama District
Kōta幸田町56.7242,200Nukata District
Mihama美浜町46.2022,701Chita District
Minamichita南知多町38.3717,393Chita District
Ōguchi大口町13.6124,160Niwa District
Ōharu大治町6.5932,318Ama District
Shitara設楽町273.944,531Kitashitara District
Taketoyo武豊町26.3843,147Chita District
Tobishima飛島村22.424,609Ama District
Tōei東栄町123.383,033Kitashitara District
Tōgō東郷町18.0344,109Aichi District
Toyone豊根村155.881,031Kitashitara District
Toyoyama豊山町6.1815,630Nishikasugai District

Demographics

Aichi prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18901,473,099—
19031,752,042+1.34%
19132,073,224+1.70%
19202,089,762+0.11%
19252,319,494+2.11%
19302,567,413+2.05%
19352,862,701+2.20%
19403,166,592+2.04%
19452,857,851−2.03%
19503,390,585+3.48%
19553,769,209+2.14%
19604,206,313+2.22%
19654,798,653+2.67%
19705,386,163+2.34%
19755,923,569+1.92%
19806,221,638+0.99%
19856,455,172+0.74%
19906,690,603+0.72%
19956,868,336+0.53%
20007,043,300+0.50%
20057,254,704+0.59%
20107,410,719+0.43%
20157,484,094+0.20%
Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

As of 2001, Aichi Prefecture's population was 50.03% male and 49.97% female. 139,540 residents (nearly 2% of the population) are of foreign nationality.

Population by age (2001)

Age% population% male% female
0–910.2110.459.96
10–1910.7511.0210.48
20–2915.2315.7114.75
30–3914.8115.3114.30
40–4912.2112.4112.01
50–5915.2215.3115.12
60–6911.3111.2211.41
70–796.766.017.52
Over 803.122.014.23
Unknown0.380.540.23

Mergers

History

Originally, the region was divided into two provinces of Owari and Mikawa. After the Meiji Restoration, Owari and Mikawa were united into a single entity. In 1871, after the abolition of the han system, Owari, with the exception of the Chita Peninsula, was established as Nagoya Prefecture, while Mikawa combined with the Chita Peninsula and formed Nukata Prefecture. Nagoya Prefecture was renamed to Aichi Prefecture in April 1872 and was united with Nukata Prefecture on 27 November of the same year.

The government of Aichi Prefecture is located in the Aichi Prefectural Government Office in Nagoya, which is the old capital of Owari. The Aichi Prefectural Police and its predecessor organisations have been responsible for law enforcement in the prefecture since 1871.

The Expo 2005 World Exposition was held in Seto and Nagakute.

Etymology

In the third volume of the Man'yōshū there is a poem by Takechi Kurohito that reads: "The cry of the crane, calling to Sakurada; it sounds like the tide, draining from Ayuchi flats, hearing the crane cry". Ayuchi is the original form of the name Aichi, and the Fujimae tidal flat is all that remains of the earlier Ayuchi-gata. It is now a protected area.

For a time, an Aichi Station existed on the Kansai Line (at the time the Kansai Railway) between Nagoya and Hatta stations, but its role was overtaken by Sasashima-raibu Station on the Aonami Line and Komeno Station on the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Economy

Chūkyō Metropolitan Area

Gross domestic product (2018) is the second largest in Japan, the shipment value of manufactured goods (2018) is the first in Japan, annual product sales (2019) is the third largest in Japan, and its agricultural output (2018) is eighth in Japan. Aichi's agriculture industry and commerce are all ranked high in Japan, and the industrial structure is well-balanced.

Main industry

Companies headquartered in Aichi include the following.

Aichi SteelTōkai
Aisin SeikiKariya
Brother Industries, Ltd.Nagoya
Central Japan Railway CompanyNagoya
Denso CorporationKariya
Eisaku Noro CompanyIchinomiya
Kanesue CorporationIchinomiya
Makita CorporationAnjō
MatsuzakayaNagoya
Mizkan CorporationHanda
Nagoya RailroadNagoya
Nippon SharyoNagoya
NoritakeNagoya
Okuma CorporationŌguchi
Sumitomo RikoKomaki
Toyota Motor CorporationToyota

Companies such as Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Motors, Pfizer, Sony, Suzuki, Bodycote, and Volkswagen Group also operate plants or branch offices in Aichi.

International relations

Expo 2005

Sister regions

Transport

Rail

Nagoya Station and Nagoya Station building
Toyohashi Station and Toyohashi Railroad
Komaki Junction
Nagoya Expressway
Chubu Centrair International Airport, constructed on an artificial island
Nagoya Airfield
Port of Nagoya
Port of Mikawa

JR Central

Tokaido Shinkansen

■Tokaido Line

■Chūō Main Line

■Kansai Line

■Taketoyo Line

■Iida Line

Meitetsu

NHNagoya Line

IYInuyama Line

KMKomaki Line

TACentrair Line

TATokoname Line

STSeto Line

TKToyokawa Line

GNGamagori Line

TTToyota Line

KCChita Line

MUMYMikawa Line

TBBisai Line

CHChikko Line

TBTsushima Line

Kintetsu

ENagoya Line

Aonami Line

Nagoya Municipal Subway

Higashiyama Line

Meijo Line

Tsurumai Line (connecting to Meitetsu Toyota and Inuyama Line)

Sakura-dori Line

Meiko Line

Kamiiida Line (connecting to Meitetsu Komaki Line)

Toyohashi Railroad

Aichi Loop Line

People movers and tramways

  • Linimo
  • Nagoya Guideway Bus
  • Toyohashi Railroad

Road

Expressways and toll roads

National highways

Airports

Ports

  • Kinuura Port – Handa and Hekinan
  • Mikawa Port – mainly automobile and car parts export and part of inport base
  • Nagoya Port – International Container hub and ferry route to Sendai and Tomakomai, Hokkaido

Education

Universities

National universities

Public universities

Private universities

Senior high schools

Sports

Nagoya Dome （Nagoya Higashi-ku）
Toyota Stadium （Toyota）
Wing Arena Kariya （Kariya）
Teva Ocean Arena （Nagoya Minato-ku）
Paloma Mizuho Stadium （Nagoya Mizuho-ku）

The sports teams listed below are based in Aichi.

Baseball

Central League

Soccer

J.League

JFL

Tokai Regional League

L.League

Basketball

B.League

Volleyball

V.League

Rugby

Japan Rugby League One

Futsal

F.League

Football

X-League

AFL

Tourism

Nagoya Castle
Ōsu Kannon, Naka, Nagoya
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
SCMaglev and Railway Park
Daiju-ji
Akabane Beach, Tahara
Twin Arch 138 Tower in Kiso River Park, Ichinomiya

Notable sites in Aichi include the Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum in Inuyama, which preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji and Taishō periods, including the reconstructed lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright's old Imperial Hotel (which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967).

Other popular sites in Aichi include the tour of Toyota car factory in the city by the same name, the monkey park in Inuyama, and the castles in Nagoya, Okazaki, Toyohashi, and Inuyama.

Aichi Prefecture has many wonderful beaches. For example, Himakajima Beach, Shinojima Beach, Akabane Beach and Utsumi Beach.

Notable people from Aichi

Festival and events

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • Owari Tsushima Tennōsai (eve)
  • Inuyama Festival
  • Kamezaki Shiohi Festival
  • Chiryu Festival
  • Sunari Festival

Others

  • Nagoya Festival
  • Tsutsui-chō/Dekimachi Tennō Festival
  • Miya Festival
  • Toyohama Sea bream Festival
  • Okkawa Festival
  • Hōnen Matsuri
  • Omanto festival
  • Kōnomiya Hadaka Matsuri
  • Toyokawa Tezutsu Matsuri
  • Nagashino festival
  • Mando festival
  • Isshiki Lantern Festival
  • Toba Fire Festival
  • Owari Tsushima Autumn Festival

External links