Kosaka, Akita

Kosaka
小坂町
Town

Kosaka Town Hall

Flag
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Location of Kosaka in Akita Prefecture
Kosaka

 

Coordinates: 40°19′59″N 140°44′10″E / 40.33306°N 140.73611°E / 40.33306; 140.73611Coordinates: 40°19′59″N 140°44′10″E / 40.33306°N 140.73611°E / 40.33306; 140.73611
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Akita
District Kazuno
Area
 • Total 201.70 km2 (77.88 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2017)
 • Total 5,134
 • Density 25.45/km2 (65.9/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Prunus sargentii
- Flower Acacia
-Fish Sockeye salmon
Phone number 0186-29-3901
Address Otarube 37-2, Kosaka-kozan, Kosakamachi, Kazuno-gun, Akita-ken 017-0292
Website http://www.town.kosaka.akita.jp/
Korakukan Kabuki theatre

Kosaka (小坂町, Kosaka-machi) is a town located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2017, the town had an estimated population of 5,134, and a population density 25.45 persons per km² in 2415 households.[1] The total area is 201.70 square kilometres (77.88 sq mi). In 2016, Kosaka was selected as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.[2]

Geography

Kosaka is located in the Ōu Mountains the mountains of far northeastern Akita Prefecture, with Aomori Prefecture on the north, and Lake Towada to the northeast. Much of the town is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Much of the town area is covered in forest. Due to its inland location, the town is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kosaka has declined over the past 40 years, and is less than half of what it once was in 1970.

Census Year Population
1970 13,768
1980 10,526
1990 8,035
2000 7,171
2010 6,054

Climate

Kosaka has a cold Humid continental climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall and (Köppen climate classification Dfa). The average annual temperature in Kosaka is 8.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1466 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.3 °C.[4]

History

The area of present-day Kosaka was part of ancient Mutsu Province and was ruled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain during the Edo period. The “Kosaka-kaido” highway connecting Morioka Domain with Hirosaki Domain passed through Kosaka. Under the Nambu, major deposits of gold and silver were mined by the Fujita-gumi, the predecessor to modern Dowa Holdings for the Nambu clan at the Kosaka mine. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became briefly part of Rikuchū Province before being transferred to Akita Prefecture in 1871. It was organized as part of Kazuno District, Akita Prefecture in 1878. The village of Kosaka was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on May 12, 1914.

Economy

With the depletion of the mineral deposits at the Kosaka Mine from the 1990s, the economy of Kosaka is now largely based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism. Dowa Holdings, the owner of the Kosaka Mine is active in the metal recycling industry. In terms of light manufacturing, the Towada Audio Corporation, a manufacturer of shortwave radio sets, TV tuners and AC adapters in the Sony group, is based in Kosaka.

Education

Kosaka has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

The Kosaka Smelting & Refining Kosaka Line provided passenger services until 1994. At present, the town is not served by any passenger railway line.

Highway

Local attractions

References

  1. ↑ Kosaka official home page(in Japanese)
  2. ↑ 公式サイト > お知らせ > 新たに4つの町村・地域の正式加盟が承認されました
  3. ↑ Kosaka population statistics
  4. ↑ Kosaka climate data
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