Tonami, Toyama

Tonami 砺波市
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Tonami in Toyama
Tonami
Coordinates: 36°38′51″N 136°57′44″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Toyama
Government
• Mayor	Nobumasa Ueda (since November 2008)
Area
• Total	126.96 km2 (49 sq mi)
Population (April 30, 2011)
• Total	49,470
• Density	389.65/km2 (1,009.2/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Cryptomeria
- Flower	Tulip
- Bird	Brown-eared Bulbul
Phone number	81-(0)763-33-1111
Address	Sakae 7-3, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture (富山県砺波市栄町７番３号) 939-1398

The countryside of Tonami is famous for "dispersed settlements" (散居村, Sankyo-son).

Tonami (砺波市, Tonami-shi) is a city located in Toyama, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1954.

As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 49,470, with 15,438 households and a density of 389.65 persons per km². The total area is 126.96 km².

On November 1, 2004 Tonami was merged with the town of Shōgawa, from Higashitonami District, to form the new city of Tonami.

Local culture and festivals

Sightseeing via hot air balloon is a popular activity in Tonami.

In 2006, the Yotaka festival was held on June 9 and 10th. Many parade floats purposely collide during the festival, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle. The Yotaka festival event originally began in the neighboring town of Fukuno. It features competitions between groups carrying mikoshi portable shrines. "Yoiyasa" is a traditional saying shouted by many during the event. When it is night, lamps using paper shades are lit. This festival is a prayer for a good harvest of the fields.

Tulips

There is a tulip park in Tonami, as well as a nationally recognized tulip festival that is held every year. There are various tulip there, and there is it now old an event is. There is a windmill for water drawers transferred by the Netherlands in Tonami. In this windmill, "DE VRIENDS CHAP" (friendship) is written, and is a symbol of friendship.

The Tonami tulip festival has 450 different kinds of tulips, and one hundred thousand tulips in all. The tulips are usually in full bloom. Many tourists come from the whole of Japan. It is a festival of spring that represents Hokuriku. A new kind of tulip is announced every year.

Why are tulips produced in Tonami when it is a cold district?

• The sandy soil and subsequent drainage is suitable for tulip cultivation.
• The heavy snowfall in winter keeps the soil temperature constant, and is not influenced by changes in meteorological conditions.
• From the end of April and into May, when the bulb growth is enlarged, the duration of sunshine is long.
• It is because of a traditional love of bulb production that farmers especially favor the cultivation of tulips.

External links

Media related to Tonami, Toyama at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)
• Official website (English)
• Official Yotaka Festival website (Japanese)