Genkai, Saga

Genkai 玄海町
Town
Location of Genkai in Saga Prefecture
Genkai Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°28′N 129°53′E / 33.467°N 129.883°E / 33.467; 129.883Coordinates: 33°28′N 129°53′E / 33.467°N 129.883°E / 33.467; 129.883
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Saga Prefecture
District	Higashimatsuura
Area
• Total	36.00 km² (13.90 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2009)
• Total	6,496
• Density	180/km² (470/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree	Japanese Zelkova
- Flower	Sakura
Address	348 Ōaza Shoura, Genkai-chō, Higashimatsuura-gun, Saga-ken 847-1421
Phone number	0955-52-2111
Website	Town of Genkai

Genkai (玄海町, Genkai-chō) is a town located in Higashimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

It has an area of 36.00 km² and as of February 1, 2009 has a population of 6,496. It is currently the only municipality in Higashimatsuura District. There was a town with the same name in Fukuoka Prefecture, but it now no longer exists.

Geography

Rice terraces in Hamanoura, Genkai.

A fishing village at Kariya Port in Genkai.

A wind turbine in Genkai.

The town is located on the northwestern edge of the prefecture on the Higashimatsuura Peninsula and faces the Genkai Sea on its west side. It is located about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of the city of Saga and about 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Fukuoka. Genkai is home to one of sixteen nuclear power plants in Japan, with the only other nuclear power plant in the Kyūshū area being located in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the only town in the Higashimatsuura District of Saga that has not merged with Karatsu.

Adjoining municipalities

Karatsu

History

September 30, 1956 - The villages of Chika and Ariura merge to form the town of Genkai.
December 31, 1957 - The neighborhoods of Sosorogawachi, Yunoo, Fujihira, Tashiro from the village of Kirigo are incorporated into Genkai. Kirigo's remaining neighborhoods are incorporated into Karatsu.

The great Heisei merger

All other towns and villages from Higashimatsuura District were incorporated into Karatsu between 2005 and 2006. Genkai originally planned to merge into Karatsu with the rest of the district, but was concerned about the slow administrative response of the surrounding areas. Eventually they withdrew their decision to merge and decided to continue as an autonomous municipality. Genkai is now enjoying a relatively high amount of revenue from the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant, built in 1975, but there is a question as to its administration in the future.