Naka, Ibaraki

Naka 那珂市
City
Naka city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Naka in Ibaraki Prefecture
Naka
Coordinates: 36°27′26.6″N 140°29′12.3″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	97.82 km2 (37.77 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
• Total	53,534
• Density	547/km2 (1,420/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Sunflower
- Bird	Swan
Phone number	029-298-1111
Address	Fukuda 1819-5, Naka-shi, Ibaraki 311-0192
Website	http://www.city.naka.ibaraki.jp/

Naka (那珂市, Naka-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 53,534, and a population density of 547 persons per km². Its total area is 97.82 square kilometres (37.77 sq mi).

Geography

Naka is located in north-central Ibaraki Prefecture, with the Naka River and Kuji River flowing through the city.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Mito
  • Hitachinaka
  • Hitachiōta
  • Hitachi
  • Hitachiōmiya
  • Tōkai
  • Shirosato

History

On March 31, 1955 the town of Sugaya and villages of Godai, Nakata, Kanzaki, Toda, Yoshino and Kizaki were merged to become the town of Naka (within Naka District). The town was the 4th largest population within the prefecture, following the town of Kamisu (from Kashima District), the town of Sōwa (from Sashima District), and the town of Ami (from Inashiki District). Om January 21, 2005 - Naka absorbed the town of Urizura (from Naka District) to become the city of Naka. Naka annexed the town of Urizura on January 21, 2005.

Education

Naka has 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and two high schools, as well as the Ibaraki Women's Junior College.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Suigun Line
  • Godai - Shimo-Sugaya - Naka-Sugaya - Kami-Sugaya - Hitachi-Kōnosu - Urizura - Shizu
• JR East – Suigun Line - Hitachi-Ōta Branch
  • Kami-Sugaya - Minami-Sakaide - Nukada

Highway

• Jōban Expressway – Naka IC
• Japan National Route 6
• Japan National Route 118
• Japan National Route 349

Sister city relations

• Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States

Local attractions

• The Japan Atomic Energy Agency operates a Fusion research facility in the town, which houses the JT-60, one of the premiere tokamak fusion reactors in the world.
• Ibaraki Botanical Garden
• Kiuchi Brewery
• Kasamatsu Park and Stadium
• Shizu Jinja
• Shizumine Furusato Park

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)