Hokota, Ibaraki

Hokota 鉾田市
City
Hokota city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Hokota in Ibaraki Prefecture
Hokota
Coordinates: 36°9′31.2″N 140°30′59.1″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	207.61 km2 (80.16 sq mi)
Population  (September 2015)
• Total	47,396
• Density	228/km2 (590/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Sunflower
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0291-33-2111
Address	1444-1 Hokota, Hokota-shi, Ibaraki-ken 311-1592
Website	http://www.city.hokota.lg.jp/

Hokota (鉾田市, Hokota-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. In September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 47,396, and a population density of 228 per square kilometre (590/sq mi). Its total area is 207.61 square kilometres (80.16 sq mi).

Geography

Hokota is located in central Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Kashima
  • Namegata
  • Omitama
  • Ōarai

History

The town of Hokota was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Hokota was established on October 11, 2005, from the merger of the former town of Hokota, and the villages of Asahi and Taiyō (all from Kashima District).

Economy

The economy of Hokota is primarily agricultural, with melons as a major cash crop.

Education

• Hokota has 20 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• Kashima Rinkai Railway – Ōarai Kashima Line
  • Hinuma - Kashima-Asahi - Tokushuku - Shin-Hokota - Kitaurakohan - Taiyō

Highway

• Japan National Route 51
• Japan National Route 124
• Japan National Route 354

Local attractions

• Otake Beach
• Kashima Littoral Park

Notable people from Hokota

• Tetsuya Asano, soccer player

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)

Media related to Hokota, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons