Aga, Niigata

Aga

阿賀町
Aga 阿賀町
Town
	Aga town hall
	Flag Seal
	Location of Aga in Niigata
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	NIigata
District	Higashikanbara
Area
• Total	952.89 km2 (367.91 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
• Total	11,432
• Density	12/km2 (30/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Cryptomeria
• Flower	Camellia
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
Phone number	0254-92-3111
Address	580 Tsugawa, Aga-machi, Higashikanbara-gun, Niigata-ken 959-4402
Website	www.town.aga.niigata.jp

Aga (阿賀町, Aga-machi) is a town located in Higashikanbara District, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. As of 1 June 2016^[update], the town had an estimated population of 11,432 and a population density of 12 persons per km². Its total area was 952.89 square kilometres (367.91 sq mi).

Geography

Aga is located in northeastern Niigata Prefecture. Covering 6.8% in area of the entire prefecture, Aga is the second largest municipality in Niigata after Jōetsu. The Agano River flows through the town.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of present-day Aga was part of ancient Echigo Province. The town was established on April 1, 2005 in a merger of Kamikawa, Kanose, Mikawa, and Tsugawa.

Economy

The local economy is dominated by agriculture. The Kamikawa (上川) area of Aga is particularly famous for its Koshihikari rice, which is also used to make sake in two local breweries, which are also among the main employers of the district.

The Mikawa (三川) area is also famous for mushrooms, and is host to a mushroom park where people can either pick their own mushrooms or choose from a wide variety of locally-grown produce.

Education

Aga has seven public elementary schools and three public middle school. The town has one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education.