Towada, Aomori
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in central Aomori
in Tōhoku region
of Japan
. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population
of 65,818 and a density
of 90.7 persons per km². Its total area was 725.67 km², making it the largest municipality in Aomori Prefecture in terms of area.
. The Oirase River
passes through the town. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. It is at the northern limit of rice cultivation in Japan. Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park
.
from 1855. The project was headed by Nitobe Tsutō, the grandfather of Inazō Nitobe
. The project was continued by the Meiji government, and the area was designated a ranch area for breeding cavalry
horses by the Imperial Japanese Army
in 1885. The inclement climate of the area was considered ideal for breeding horses that would be suitable for use in the cold climate areas of Manchuria
and Siberia
. On September 1, 1910, Sanbongi was designated a town. It was elevated to the status of a city on February 1, 1955. In October 1956, it changed its name to “Towada”. The city merged with the neighboring town of Towadako
on January 1, 2005.
. Agriculture and forestry also continue to play a major role. There are still ample equestrian locations, and Sanbongi Agricultural High School has one of the highest ranked equestrian teams in Japan.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in central Aomori
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
in Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 65,818 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 90.7 persons per km². Its total area was 725.67 km², making it the largest municipality in Aomori Prefecture in terms of area.
Geography
Towada is located in the foothills of the Hakkoda Mountains and encompasses the Aomori portion of Lake TowadaLake Towada
is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, it lies 400 meters above sea level and is 327.0m depth, and is drained by the Oirase river. With a surface area of 61.1 km², Towada is Japan's 12th largest lake, its bright blue...
. The Oirase River
Oirase River
The is a river located in eastern Aomori prefecture, Japan.The Oirase River is the only river draining Lake Towada, a large caldera lake on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures. The river flows in a generally eastern direction, through the municipalities of Towada, Rokunohe, Oirase and...
passes through the town. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. It is at the northern limit of rice cultivation in Japan. Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National Park is a national park in the Tohoku region, Honshū, Japan. The park covers Lake Towada, most of the Oirase River valley and the nearby Hachimantai plateau.-External links:...
.
Neighbouring municipalities
- AomoriAomori, Aomoriis the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
- Kamikita DistrictKamikita District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the east-central portion of the prefecture, south of Shimokita Peninsula.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 100,526 and a density of 78.5 persons per km². The total area was 1281.05 km².- Towns and villages...
- TōhokuTohoku, Aomoriis a town located in the Kamikita District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 19,051 and a density of 58.3 persons per km². Its total area was 326.71 km².-Geography:...
- RokunoheRokunohe, Aomoriis a town located in the Kamikita District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 10,197 and a density of 121 persons per km². Its total area was 84.06 km².-Geography:...
- ShichinoheShichinohe, Aomoriis a town located in the Kamikita District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 17,445 and a density of 51.7 persons per km². Its total area was 337.23 km².-Geography:...
- Tōhoku
- Sannohe DistrictSannohe District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the southeast corner of the prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 73,955 and a density of 76.3 persons per km². The total area was 969.38 km².- Towns and villages :The...
- GonoheGonohe, Aomoriis a town located in Sannohe District, Aomori, Japan. Gonohe Town is located in the north-eastern part of Sannohe-gun, approximately 16 kilometres west of Hachinohe City and 10 kilometres southeast of Towada City. The town is adjacent to Hachinohe City to the east, Shingo Village to the west, Nanbu...
- ShingōShingo, Aomoriis a village located in the Sannohe District of south-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 2,830 and a density of 18.8 persons per km². Its total area was 150.85 km²...
- Gonohe
- HirakawaHirakawa, Aomoriis a city located in south-central Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 34,040 and a density of 98.4 persons per km². Its total area was 345.81 km².-Geography:...
- Kazuno, AkitaKazuno, Akitais a city located in Akita, Japan.As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 33,664 and the density of 47.6 persons per km². The total area is 707.34 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1972.-External links:...
- Kosaka, AkitaKosaka, Akitais a town located in Kazuno District, Akita, Japan.As of 2011, the town has an estimated population of 6,046 and a density of 29.9 persons per km². The total area is 178.00 km²....
History
The area around present-day Towada was formerly a wasteland known as , which became the location of a colonization and land reclamation project initiated by the Nambu clan of Morioka DomainMorioka Domain
The was a han or feudal domain that encompasses present-day the middle-northern part of Iwate Prefecture and eastern part of Aomori Prefecture. It is sometimes colloquially called . The domain was tozama daimyo and was governed by the Satake clan. Its income was 100,000...
from 1855. The project was headed by Nitobe Tsutō, the grandfather of Inazō Nitobe
Inazo Nitobe
was a Japanese agricultural economist, author, educator, diplomat, politician, and Christian during Meiji and Taishō period Japan.-Early Life:Nitobe was born in Morioka, Mutsu Province . His father was a retainer to the local daimyō of the Nambu clan. His infant name was Inanosuke...
. The project was continued by the Meiji government, and the area was designated a ranch area for breeding cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
horses by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in 1885. The inclement climate of the area was considered ideal for breeding horses that would be suitable for use in the cold climate areas of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
and Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. On September 1, 1910, Sanbongi was designated a town. It was elevated to the status of a city on February 1, 1955. In October 1956, it changed its name to “Towada”. The city merged with the neighboring town of Towadako
Towadako, Aomori
was a town located in Kamikita District in central Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Hōosawa Village was founded in 1889 from the merger of the hamlets of Hōryō, Oirase, and Sawada. It changed its name to Towada Village in 1931 and was elevated to town status in 1955. In April 1975, it changed its name to...
on January 1, 2005.
Economy
The economy of Towada is heavily dependent on tourism to Lake Towada and the surrounding Towada-Hachimantai National Park, with numerous hot spring resortsOnsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
. Agriculture and forestry also continue to play a major role. There are still ample equestrian locations, and Sanbongi Agricultural High School has one of the highest ranked equestrian teams in Japan.
Railway
- Towada Kankō Electric RailwayTowada Kanko Electric RailwayThe , or , is a railway company that provides transportation services over a wide range of southeastern and central Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The company operates the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line, which connects Misawa Station in the city of Misawa and Towadashi Station in the city of Towada...
- Towada Kankō Electric Railway LineTowada Kanko Electric Railway LineThe is a railway route operated by Towada Kankō Electric Railway . It runs between Misawa Station and Towadashi Station in eastern Aomori Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
- , , , ,
- Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line
Highway
- Route 4 (Japan)Route 4 (Japan)National Route 4 is a major highway in eastern Honshū, Japan. The longest of the ordinary highways in Japan, it originates in Chūō, Tokyo and stretches north for 743.6 km to the city of Aomori in Aomori Prefecture. From Saitama Prefecture to Iwate Prefecture, it parallels the Tōhoku...
- Route 45 (Japan)
- Route 102 (Japan)Route 102 (Japan)National Route 102 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hirosaki, Aomori and Towada, Aomori in Japan, with a total length of 101.8 km ....
- Route 103 (Japan)Route 103 (Japan)National Route 103 is a national highway of Japan connecting Aomori, Aomori and Ōdate, Akita in Japan, with a total length of 133.6 km ....
- Route 394 (Japan)Route 394 (Japan)National Route 394 is a national highway of Japan connecting Mutsu, Aomori and Hirosaki, Aomori in Japan, with a total length of 185 km ....
Noted people from Towada
- Takashi Okita – professional wrestler
- Koji Kumagai – soccer player
- Hidenori Tabata – soccer player
- Maikaze Masahiro – sumo wrestler
- Ken'ichi Kawakami – movie director
- Tsuzuko Sugawara – singer
- Akira Mutsu - songwriter