Sotogahama, Aomori

Sotogahama
外ヶ浜町
Town

Cape Tappi, northernmost point of Tsugaru Peninsula

Flag
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Location of Sotagahama in Aomori Prefecture
Sotogahama

 

Coordinates: 41°02′37″N 140°37′58″E / 41.04361°N 140.63278°ECoordinates: 41°02′37″N 140°37′58″E / 41.04361°N 140.63278°E
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori Prefecture
District Higashitsugaru
Area
 • Total 230.29 km2 (88.92 sq mi)
Population (February 2015)
 • Total 6,156
 • Density 26.7/km2 (69/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols  
- Tree Pine
- Flower Hydrangea
- Bird Common gull
Phone number 0174-31-1111
Address
Kanita, Takadoya 44-2, Sotogahama-machi, Higashitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 030-1393
Website www.town.sotogahama.lg.jp

Sotogahama (外ヶ浜町 Sotogahama-machi) is a town located in Higashitsugaru District of northwestern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of February 2015, the town had an estimated population of 6,156 and a population density of 26.7 persons per km2. Its total area was 230.29 km2.

Geography

Sotogahama occupies the eastern coastline of Tsugaru Peninsula, facing the Tsugaru Strait and the inlet to Mutsu Bay. The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. Much of the town is within the limits of the Tsugaru Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

History

The Tsugaru Peninsula has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and some of the world's oldest pottery has been discovered at the Odai Yamamoto I site. The area around Sotogahama was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain during the Edo period. During the cadastral reform of 1889, Minmaya, Kanita and Tairadate villages were separated from Imabetsu. On March 28, 2005, these three municipalities merged to form the new town of Sotogahama. Minmaya is a geographically discontinuous enclave from the town's center in Kanita.

Economy

The economy of Sotogahama is heavily dependent on commercial fishing. Some of the locally caught seafood include sea urchin roe, sea pineapple, sea cucumber, scallops, abalone and squid.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Noted people from Sotogahama

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sotogahama, Aomori.