Komatsu, Ishikawa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Komatsu**
**小松市**
Komatsu's location in Ishikawa, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Ishikawa
Physical characteristics
Area	371.13 km² (143.29 sq mi)
Population (as of January 2008)
Total	109,285
Density	294 /km² (761 /sq mi)
Location	36°25′N, 136°27′E
Symbols
Tree	Pine
Flower	Ume
Flag
Komatsu Government Office
Mayor	Tōru Nishimura
Address	〒923-8650 91 Konmademachi, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa-ken
Phone number	0761-22-4111
Official website: Komatsu City

Komatsu (小松市, Komatsu-shi^?) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 109,285 with a density of 294 persons per km². The total area is 371.13 km².

The modern city was founded on December 1, 1940, although its history extends to feudal times. It is the third-largest city in the population in Ishikawa prefecture after Hakusan city was formed and came to the second in 2005.

Komatsu Airport is the main airport of Ishikawa. It is located about an hour driving distance southwest from Kanazawa (the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture). It is served by JR West Hokuriku Main Line, Hokuriku Expressway and National Highways Routes 8, 305, 360 and 416.

Komatsu Limited, the construction and mining equipment company, was named after the city.

Interesting places in Komatsu are the Nata-Dera Buddhist temple complex, the Yunokuni-no-mori traditional handicrafts village, and the Motorcar Museum of Japan which is the largest museum dedicated to motor vehicles in Japan with a 12,000 square metre display area. Nearby is the well-known Kaga hot-springs district.

Komatsu is twinned with Gateshead Council (North East England, United Kingdom) and operates an exchange program involving 10 students (aged 13-17) every two years.