Towada, Aomori

This article is about the city in Aomori Prefecture. For the lake, see Lake Towada.
Towada
十和田市
City

Oirase Valley in Towada

Flag
Seal

Location of Towada in Aomori Prefecture
Towada

 

Coordinates: 40°37′N 141°12′E / 40.617°N 141.200°ECoordinates: 40°37′N 141°12′E / 40.617°N 141.200°E
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori Prefecture
Government
 • - Mayor Hisashi Oyamada (since January 2009)
Area
 • Total 725.67 km2 (280.18 sq mi)
Population (September 1, 2014)
 • Total 63,960
 • Density 88.1/km2 (228/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Japanese Red Pine
Phone number 0176-23-5111
Address 6-1 Nishi Jūni-ban-chō, Towada-shi, Aomori-ken
034-8615
Website www.city.towada.lg.jp
Towada City Hall

Towada (十和田市 Towada-shi) is a city located in central Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan.

As of September 2014, the city had an estimated population of 63,960 and a population density of 88.1 persons per km². The total area was 725.67 km².

Geography

Towada is located in the foothills of the Hakkoda Mountains and encompasses the Aomori portion of Lake Towada. The Oirase River passes through the town. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

History

The area around present-day Towada was formerly a wasteland known as Sanbongihara (三本木原), which became the location of a colonization and land reclamation project initiated by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain 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”.

On January 1, 2005, the town of Towadako (from Kamikita District) was merged into Towada.

Transportation

Rail

The Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line, which had following five stations in the city, was discontinued in 2012:

Highway

Local attractions

Sister city relations

Noted people from Towada

References

  1. ↑ Lethbridge Twinning Society homepage

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Towada, Aomori.