Kitayama, Wakayama

Kitayama (北山村, Kitayama-mura) is an exclave village that belongs to Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, but is located on the border between Mie and Nara Prefectures.

It lies along the Kitayama River and has become a popular spot for log rafting.

Kitayama is known in Japan for growing a fruit called jabara,[2] which is considered a potent cure for hay fever.

Kitayama has a long history associated with logging, cutting trees and sending the timber to be sold in nearby Shingū.

When the transition from the Edo period to the modern era of prefectures occurred, the people of Kitayama desired to remain a part of Wakayama prefecture due to their close connections with Shingu City, and as a result this request was granted and the village remains an exclave.

Flag of Wakayama Prefecture
Flag of Wakayama Prefecture