Ojiya, Niigata

Ojiya 小千谷市
City
Ojiya City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ojiya in Niigata
Ojiya
Coordinates: 37°18′51.7″N 138°47′42.3″E / 37.314361°N 138.795083°E / 37.314361; 138.795083Coordinates: 37°18′51.7″N 138°47′42.3″E / 37.314361°N 138.795083°E / 37.314361; 138.795083
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	NIigata
Area
• Total	155.19 km2 (59.92 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
• Total	36,182
• Density	233/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Flower	Narcissus
• Fish	Japanese carp
Phone number	0250-62-2510
Address	2-7-5 Jonai, Ojiya-shi, Niigata-ken 947-8501
Website	www.city.ojiya.niigata.jp

Ojiya (小千谷市, Ojiya-shi) is a city located in north-central Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. As of 1 June 2016, the city had an estimated population of 36,182 and a population density of 233 persons per km². Its total area was 155.19 square kilometres (59.92 sq mi).

Geography

Ojiya is located in an inland region of central Niigata Prefecture. The Shinano River flows through the city. The area has very heavy snow in winter.

Surrounding municipalities

• Niigata Prefecture
  • Nagaoka
  • Uonuma
  • Tokamachi

History

Cracked roadway caused by 2004 Chūetsu earthquake

The area of present-day Ojiya was part of ancient Echigo Province. The modern town of Ojiya was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the municipalities system, within Kitauonuma District. It was raised to city status on March 10, 1954. On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Ojiya, causing shaking measured at Intensity 6+ on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale and causing fatalities. Electricity was cut off for three days after the earthquake.

Education

Ojiya has eight public elementary schools and five public middle schools. There are two public high school, and also one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Jōetsu Line
  • Ojiya Station
• JR East – Iiyama Line
  • Echigo-Iwasawa - Uchigamaki

Highway

• Kan-Etsu Expressway – Ojiya IC
• Japan National Route 17
• Japan National Route 117
• Japan National Route 291
• Japan National Route 351
• Japan National Route 403

Local attractions

• Ojiya Balloon Festival
• Katakai Fireworks Festival

Notable people from Ojiya

• Junzaburō Nishiwaki, poet

Ojiya city panorama

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ojiya, Niigata.

• Ojiya City official website (in Japanese)