Shingū, Wakayama
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Shingū 新宮市 |
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| City | ||
Skyline of Shingū viewed from Kamikura Shrine
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 Location of Shingū in Wakayama Prefecture |
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 Shingū
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| Coordinates: 33°43′N 136°0′E / 33.717°N 136.000°ECoordinates: 33°43′N 136°0′E / 33.717°N 136.000°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Kansai | |
| Prefecture | Wakayama Prefecture | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Michitoshi Taoka (since November 2009) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 255.43 km2 (98.62 sq mi) | |
| Population (May 1, 2011) | ||
| • Total | 32,288 | |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) | |
| Symbols | ||
| • Tree | Nageia nagi, Kumano sugi, Tendaiuyaku (Lindera strychnifolia) | |
| • Flower | Crinum asiaticum and Kawasatsuki | |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
| City hall address | 1-1 Kasuga, Shingū-shi, Wakayama-ken 647-8555 |
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| Website | www |
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Shingū (新宮市 Shingū-shi?) is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1933.
As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 32,288, with 16,003 households and a population density of 126.41 persons per km². The total area is 255.43 km2 (98.62 sq mi).
Shingū literally means 'New Shrine' and refers to Hayatama Shrine, one of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (See). The 'old shrine' would be Kamikura Shrine.
Shingū is the central commercial city of the Kumano Region in Japan where Shingū Station is situated, and is one of the largest cities in Wakayama Prefecture.
It is a sister city to Santa Cruz, California.
Each Spring, The City of Santa Cruz sends about 14 middle school/ high school delegates to visit Shingū and to interact with the Japanese society.
On October 1, 2005 the town of Kumanogawa (from Higashimuro District) was merged with Shingū.
Shingū Castle, a.k.a. Tankaku Castle. Only the foundations remain, for during the Meiji Restoration, it was torn down.
For over a thousand years, pilgrims have traveled to the Kumano Region to pray at The Three Sacred Kumano Shrines: Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi. Hayatama Grand Shrine is located in Northwest corner of the original town. It is believed that the city started being referred to as "Shingū" (literally "new shrine"), when this shrine was first established. Hayatama Grand Shrine predates Japan's earliest written records, the Kojiki, so there is no way to establish the year it was founded. However, excavations have unearthed remains of religious rituals dating back as far as 300 AD.
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Wikipedia