Wakayama [key], city (1990 pop. 396,553), capital of Wakayama prefecture, SW Honshu, Japan, on the Inland Sea. It is a railroad hub and a manufacturing center where petroleum, cotton and flannel textiles, iron, and steel are produced. The city has a castle built in 1585 by Hideyoshi. Wakayama prefecture (1990 pop. 1,094,933), 1,824 sq mi (4,724 sq km), yields fish, lumber, and agricultural products. It is a major resort area with many hot springs, temples, and beaches.
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