Kikugawa, Shizuoka
| Kikugawa 菊川市 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| City | |||
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  Kikugawa | |||
| Coordinates: 34°45′N 138°5′E / 34.750°N 138.083°ECoordinates: 34°45′N 138°5′E / 34.750°N 138.083°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Chūbu (Tōkai) | ||
| Prefecture | Shizuoka Prefecture | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Junichi Ota (since January 2005, and former Kikugawa leader since January 1997) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 94.24 km2 (36.39 sq mi) | ||
| Population (June 2012) | |||
| • Total | 46,881 | ||
| • Density | 497/km2 (1,290/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| - Tree | Camellia sinensis | ||
| - Flower | Chrysanthemum | ||
| - Bird | Grey Wagtail | ||
| Phone number | 0537-35-2111 | ||
| Address |
Horinouchi-61, Kikugawa-shi, Shizuoka-ken 439-8650 | ||
| Website | www.city.kikugawa.shizuoka.jp | ||
Kikugawa (菊川市 Kikugawa-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is known for production of green tea. The city's slogan is "Green for the Next Generation".
As of June 2012, the city has an estimated population of 46,881 and a population density of 497 persons per km². The total area is 94.24 km².
Geography
Kikugawa is situated on the Makinohara Plateau of east-central Shizuoka. The area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters, and is subject to frequent fogs.
Surrounding Municipalities
History
In the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on April 1, 1889, the area around modern Kikugawa was consolidated into eleven villages within Kitō District, Shizuoka Prefecture from 38 hamlets within former Tōtōmi Province. Kikugawa Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line train between Shizuoka and Hamamatsu opened on April 16, 1889 leaving to an influx of population and development. Kitō District merged with neighboring Sano District to form Ogasa District, Shizuoka in 1896. Through the Taishō and Shōwa periods, Kikugawa developed as a center of green tea production and the tea trade. Kikugawa Town was created on January 1, 1954 through the merger of former Horinouchi Town with four surrounding villages.
The modern city of Kikugawa was established on January 17, 2005, from the merger of the former town of Kikugawa, absorbing the town of Ogasa (both from Ogasa District).
Economy
The economy of Kikugawa is primarily agricultural, with major crops including green tea, lettuce, blueberries, cantelope and aloe. Light industries include agricultural equipment manufacturing and automobile components manufacturing.
Transportation
Highway
- Tōmei Expressway - Kikugawa Interchange
- Japan National Route 473
Rail
Noted people from Kikugawa
- Yū Koyama - manga artist
- Kaduya Shinba - politician
- Miuna Saito - pop singer
External links
- Kikugawa City official website (Japanese)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kikugawa, Shizuoka. |
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