Overview of Okayama Prefectureand list of its municipalities

1．Okayama
Okayama (岡山市, Okayama-shi, Japanese: [okaꜜjama]) is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of February 2017, the city has an estimated population of 720,841 and a population density of 910 persons per km2. The total area is 789.88 square kilometres (304.97 square miles). The city is the site of Kōraku-en, known as one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan, and Okayama Castle, which is ranked among the best 100 Japanese castles. The city is famous as the setting of the Japanese fable "Momotarō". Okayama joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.
Population:718,638 size of the Municipality:789.95km2
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2．Kurashiki
Kurashiki (倉敷市, Kurashiki-shi) is a historic city located in western Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 483,576 and a population density of 1,400 persons per km². The total area is 355.63 km².
Population:470,734 size of the Municipality:355.63km2
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3．Tsuyama
Tsuyama (津山市, Tsuyama-shi) is a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2017, the city had an estimated population of 102,294 and a population density of 200 persons per km². The total area was 185.73 km². The area increased in 2005 as the result of a merger with adjacent towns, which also boosted the city's population to more than 100,000.
Population:97,583 size of the Municipality:506.33km2
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4．Tamano
Tamano (玉野市, Tamano-shi) is a city located in southern Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was officially founded on August 3, 1940. As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 60,101 and a population density of 580 persons per km². The total area is 103.61 km². The JR Uno Line connects it to Okayama. Before the Great Seto Bridge was opened, there was a train ferry between Uno Port in Tamano and Takamatsu on Shikoku. Then, Tamano was the major entrance to Shikoku. Today there still exist many ferry lines between Uno port and Takamatsu, and also the islands of Shōdoshima and Naoshima. Its major industry is ship construction and metal refining, another important industry being fishing. One of the largest shipbuilding yards in Japan, operated by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, is located in Tamano.
Population:54,083 size of the Municipality:103.58km2（境界未定部分あり）
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5．Kasaoka
Kasaoka (笠岡市, Kasaoka-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1952. The municipal district also includes 31 outlying islands including seven inhabited islands in the Kasaoka Islands group. As of February 28, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 50,160, with 22,446 households and a population density of 370 persons per km². The total area is 136.03 km².
Population:44,222 size of the Municipality:136.24km2
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6．Ibara
Ibara (井原市, Ibara-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023, the city had an estimated population of 37,835 in 16677 households and a population density of 160 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 243.54 square kilometres (94.03 sq mi).
Population:37,042 size of the Municipality:243.54km2
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7．Sōja
Sōja (総社市, Sōja-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2020, the city has an estimated population of 69,343 and a population density of 322 persons per km2. The total area is 211.90 km2.
Population:69,181 size of the Municipality:211.90km2
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8．Takahashi, Okayama
Takahashi (高梁市, Takahashi-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on May 1, 1954. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 31,556, with 14,519 households and a population density of 58 persons per km². The total area is 547.01 km². Bitchū Matsuyama Castle overlooks the town. Another significant location is Raikyū-ji, a Buddhist temple with an historic garden. On October 1, 2004, Takahashi absorbed the town of Ukan (from Jōbō District), and the towns of Nariwa, Kawakami and Bitchū (all from Kawakami District) to become the new and expanded city of Takahashi. Kawakami District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Population:27,252 size of the Municipality:546.99km2
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9．Niimi
Niimi (新見市, Niimi-shi) is a city located in northwestern Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 30,583 (14,628 males, 15,955 females), with 12,857 households and a population density of 39 persons per km2. The total area is 793.27 km2. Niimi is located on the upper reaches of the Takahashi River (110.7 kilometres (68.8 mi).
Population:26,747 size of the Municipality:793.29km2
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10．Bizen, Okayama
Bizen (備前市, Bizen-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Population:30,767 size of the Municipality:258.14km2
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11．Setouchi, Okayama
Setouchi (瀬戸内市, Setouchi-shi) is a city located in southern Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of March 1, 2017, the city had an estimated population of 37,934, with 15,396 households and a population density of 300 persons per km². The total area is 125.51 km2 (48.46 sq mi). The modern city of Setouchi was founded on November 1, 2004, by the merger of the former towns of Oku, Osafune and Ushimado (all from Oku District). Its city hall is the former town hall of Oku. The name Setouchi is derived from Seto Inland Sea (in Japanese: Setonaikai). The city faces the Inland Sea on its eastern and southern parts. The climate is moderate. Its main industries are fishery, agriculture, pottery, and sightseeing.
Population:35,516 size of the Municipality:125.45km2
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12．Akaiwa
Akaiwa (赤磐市, Akaiwa-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 44,498, with 18,119 households and a population density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 209.43 km². The modern city of Akaiwa was established on March 7, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Akasaka, Kumayama, San'yō and Yoshii (all from Akaiwa District). Akaiwa is one of three remaining places in Japan that produces the bamboo stalk for fude ink brushes. The harvested bamboo stalks are spread in the dry riverbed of the Yoshii River during the winter to dry under the sun. The stalks are then boiled in the town to remove impurities.Akaiwa is home to the Kumayama Archeological Site. The site was utilized as a sacred spot as early as the Yayoi period. A Buddhist temple, Reizan-ji, was active on Mount Kuma (507.8 m (1,666 ft)) from the early Nara to the Muromachi period. A 11.7 m (38 ft) stone base remains on the site, and is protected by the Japanese government. The stone base originally supported a large Buddhist statue.
Population:42,044 size of the Municipality:209.36km2
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13．Maniwa
Maniwa (真庭市, Maniwa-shi) is a city located in north-central Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Its northernmost border meets that of Tottori Prefecture. The modern city of Maniwa was established on March 31, 2005, from the merger of the town of Hokubō (from Jōbō District); the towns of Katsuyama, Ochiai, Yubara and Kuse, and the villages of Mikamo, Kawakami, Yatsuka and Chūka (all from Maniwa District), the latter three which make up the area of Hiruzen as a whole. As of April 1, 2018, Maniwa has an area of 828.43 km², 11.6% of Okayama Prefecture, giving it the largest area of any municipality in the prefecture. It measures roughly 55 km from North to South, and 35 km from East to West. Its population was 44,265, with 17,828 households. The city is known for Mount Hiruzen (1,202 m (3,944 ft)) and the Hiruzen Highlands. Mount Hiruzen (also known as the Hiruzen Sanza, for its 3 sloping peaks) is also the source of the Asahi River (142 kilometres (88 mi)), which flows through much of Okayama Prefecture.Maniwa is also currently known for its Biomass initiatives, and has been given the title of a "Biomass Town", alongside 317 other areas within Japan. It has a biomass electric power plant, which runs using woody biomass in the forms of by-products of the city's lumber industries and household waste. The plant products over 10,000 kW, and can power more than 22,000 of Maniwa's homes, of which it sells some of the energy back to the National Grid. The City Office in Kuse is also fueled by a biomass boiler, and also uses solar panels in an attempt to reduce its carbon footprint.
Population:40,989 size of the Municipality:828.53km2
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14．Mimasaka, Okayama
Mimasaka (美作市, Mimasaka-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the city had an estimated population of 25,946 in 12287 households and a population density of 60 persons per km². The total area of the city is 429.29 square kilometres (165.75 sq mi).
Population:24,953 size of the Municipality:429.29km2
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15．Asakuchi
Asakuchi (浅口市, Asakuchi-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.The modern city of Asakuchi was established on March 21, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Kamogata, Konkō and Yorishima (all from Asakuchi District). As of 2019, the city has an estimated population of 34,263, with 14,236 households and a population density of 530 persons per km². The total area is 66.46 square kilometres (25.66 sq mi).
Population:32,131 size of the Municipality:66.46km2
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16．Wake, Okayama
Wake (和気町, Wake-chō) is a town located in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of October 2016, the town has an estimated population of 14,191. The total area is 144.21 km².The town is famous in the region for the 'Wamojiyaki' festival that takes place every year on August 15 during the Obon period, and the town is also home to the largest Wisteria park in Japan. On March 1, 2006 Wake was officially merged with the neighboring town of Saeki, also from Wake District. The newly merged town retains the name 'Wake'. Wake is also the sister town of Hanna, Alberta, Canada.
Population:13,137 size of the Municipality:144.21km2
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17．Hayashima
Hayashima (早島町, Hayashima-chō) is a town located in Tsukubo District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2020, the town has a population of 12,671 and a density of 1,700 persons per km². This is the highest population density of any municipality in Okayama Prefecture. The total area is 7.62 km², making it also the smallest municipality.
Population:12,299 size of the Municipality:7.62km2
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18．Satoshō
Satoshō (里庄町, Satoshō-chō) is a town located in Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of March 2017, the town has an estimated population of 11,204 and a density of 920 persons per km². The total area is 12.23 km². Industries include food processing factories (Amano Foods), electronics (Sharp), medicines (Fusso) etc.
Population:10,835 size of the Municipality:12.23km2
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19．Yakage, Okayama
Yakage (矢掛町, Yakage-chō) is a town located in Oda District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of june 1 2020, the town has an estimated population of 14,041 and a density of 147 persons per km². The total area is 90.62 km². The town is home to a former post station along the San'yōdō and contains a sub-honjin from the Edo period. A samurai parade (大名行列) is held every November in commemoration of the town's history as a major stopping point on the daimyō's trip to Edo during the era of sankin-kōtai.
Population:12,880 size of the Municipality:90.62km2
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20．Shinjō, Okayama
Shinjō (新庄村, Shinjō-son) is a village located in Maniwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. In March 2017, the village had an estimated population of 951 and a density of 14 persons per km². The total area is 67.1 km². This village is known for the cherry trees along its main street, which is called Triumphal return Cherry Blossom Street (がいせん桜通り, Gaisen sakura dōri). These trees were planted to celebrate the Japanese victory over the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. There are many old buildings along Victory Cherry Blossom Street. Many of these buildings used to be hotels that were built to accommodate the sankin kōtai annual mandatory processions of feudal lords from their domains to the capital and back. It is also said that Emperor Go-Toba passed this way in exile on his way to an island in the Sea of Japan where he died. Shinjō grows a variety of rice called hime no mochi. This rice is used to make the mochi rice cakes for which this town is also known. The hime no mochi factory is a major employer in Shinjō.
Population:759 size of the Municipality:67.11km2
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21．Kagamino
Kagamino (鏡野町, Kagamino-chō) is a town located in Tomata District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. On March 1, 2005, Kagamino absorbed the town of Okutsu, and the villages of Kamisaibara and Tomi, all from Tomata District, to form the new town of Kagamino, with a combined total area of 419.69 km2 (162 sq mi). The combined population of the towns, using the 2003 estimates, would be 14,651. As of 2003 (before the merger), the town had an estimated population of 11,188 and a density of 91.52 persons per km2. The total area was 122.24 km2 (47 sq mi).
Population:11,757 size of the Municipality:419.68km2
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22．Shōō
Shōō (勝央町, Shōō-chō) is a town located in Katsuta District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 September 2022, the town had an estimated population of 10,900 in 4713 households and a population density of 83 persons per km². The total area of the town is 54.05 square kilometres (20.87 sq mi). Shōō is said to be the place where Kintarō died.
Population:10,683 size of the Municipality:54.05km2
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23．Nagi, Okayama
Nagi (奈義町, Nagi-chō) is a town located in Katsuta District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 September 2022, the town had an estimated population of 5,738 in 1512 households and a population density of 83 persons per km². The total area of the town is 69.52 square kilometres (26.84 sq mi).
Population:5,507 size of the Municipality:69.52km2
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24．Nishiawakura
Nishiawakura (西粟倉村, Nishiawakura-son) is a village located in Aida District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of 1 February 2023, the village had an estimated population of 1,361 in 593 households and a population density of 29 persons per km². The total area of the village is 57.97 square kilometres (22.38 sq mi).
Population:1,334 size of the Municipality:57.97km2
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25．Kumenan
Kumenan (久米南町, Kumenan-chō) is a town located in Kume District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of 31 December 2022, the town had an estimated population of 4,483 in 2192 households and a population density of 57 persons per km². The total area of the town is 78.65 square kilometres (30.37 sq mi). Kumenan is known as the birthplace of Honen, the founder of the Jodo sect of Buddhism.
Population:4,321 size of the Municipality:78.65km2
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26．Misaki, Okayama
Misaki (美咲町, Misaki-chō) is a town located in Kume District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of 31 December 2022, the town had an estimated population of 13,060 in 5867 households and a population density of 56 persons per km². The total area of the town is 232.17 square kilometres (89.64 sq mi).
Population:12,457 size of the Municipality:232.17km2
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27．Kibichūō
Kibichūō (吉備中央町, Kibichūō-chō) is a town located in Kaga District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of March 1, 2017, the town has an estimated population of 11,989 and a density of 45 persons per km². The total area is 268.73 km². Kibichūō was founded on October 1, 2004 by the merger of the town of Kamogawa, from Mitsu District, and the town of Kayō, from Jōbō District.
Population:10,418 size of the Municipality:268.78km2
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Municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture