Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture
和歌山県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese和歌山県
 • RōmajiWakayama-ken
Anthem: Wakayama kenminka
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
IslandHonshū
CapitalWakayama (city)
SubdivisionsDistricts: 6, Municipalities: 30
Government
 • GovernorIzumi Miyazaki
Area
 • Total
4,724.69 km2 (1,824.21 sq mi)
 • Rank30th
Population
 (1 February 2025)
 • Total
876,030
 • Rank39th
 • Density185/km2 (480/sq mi)
 • Dialects
Kishū
GDP
 • TotalJP¥ 3,996 billion
US$ 29.5 billion (2022)
ISO 3166 codeJP-30
Websitewww.wakayama.lg.jp/
english/
Symbols of Japan
BirdJapanese white-eye (Zosterops japonica)
FlowerUme blossom (Prunus mume)
TreeUbame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides)

Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山, Wakayama-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [wa.kaꜜ.ja.ma, wa.ka.ja.maꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Wakayama Prefecture has a population of 876,030 (as of 1 February 2025) and a geographic area of 4,724 square kilometres (1,824 sq mi). Wakayama Prefecture borders Osaka Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture and Nara Prefecture to the northeast.

Wakayama is the capital and largest city of Wakayama Prefecture, with other major cities including Tanabe, Hashimoto, and Kinokawa. Wakayama Prefecture is located on the southwestern coast of the Kii Peninsula on the Kii Channel, connecting the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, across from Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku.