Tōkamachi

Tōkamachi

十日町市
Tōkamachi 十日町市
City
	Gimyo Rice Terrace
	Flag Seal
	Location of Tōkamachi in Niigata
	Tōkamachi
	Coordinates: 37°8′0″N 138°45′0″E / 37.13333°N 138.75000°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Niigata
Government
• Mayor	Yoshifumi Sekiguchi
Area
• Total	590.39 km2 (227.95 sq mi)
Population (September 30, 2018)
• Total	53,333
• Density	90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Fagus crenata
• Flower	Lilium
• Bird	Swan
Phone number	025-757-3111
Address	3-3　Chitose, Tokamachi-shi, Niigata-ken 948-8501
Website	Official website

Tōkamachi (十日町市, Tōkamachi-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 September 2018^[update], the city had an estimated population of 53,333 in 19,823 households,^[2] and a population density of 91.6 persons per km². The total area of the city was 590.39 square kilometres (227.95 sq mi), although some borders of the city are not well defined. Tōkamachi derives its name from the fact that a market was held every tenth day of the month. Similarly, the nearby former town of Muikamachi had its own local market held on days ending in six each month.^[3]

Geography

Tōkamachi is located in an inland region of southwest Niigata Prefecture. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park.

Surrounding municipalities

Niigata Prefecture
- Nagaoka
- Jōetsu
- Kashiwazaki
- Ojiya
- Uonuma
- Minamiuonuma
- Tsunan
- Yuzawa
Nagano Prefecture
- Iiyama
- Sakae

Climate

Tōkamachi has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tōkamachi is 12.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2077 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.4 °C.^[4] Because Tōkamachi lies in a valley, wind patterns bring in clouds from both the Sea of Japan as well as the Pacific Ocean. The mountains surrounding the city (though not terribly high in altitude) act as any other mountains that affect rain and snow patterns providing a barrier for cloud patterns. This causes a great deal of the built up precipitation to drop on the city. The Tōkamachi area receives the most snow of any area on the main island of Honshu.^{[citation needed]}

Climate data for Tokamachi, Niigata (1981-2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	3.0 (37.4)	3.7 (38.7)	7.4 (45.3)	15.3 (59.5)	21.8 (71.2)	25.2 (77.4)	28.4 (83.1)	30.4 (86.7)	25.6 (78.1)	19.5 (67.1)	13.1 (55.6)	6.5 (43.7)	16.7 (62.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−0.2 (31.6)	0.0 (32.0)	2.7 (36.9)	9.0 (48.2)	15.5 (59.9)	19.9 (67.8)	23.5 (74.3)	24.9 (76.8)	20.5 (68.9)	14.1 (57.4)	8.0 (46.4)	2.6 (36.7)	11.7 (53.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−3.0 (26.6)	−3.4 (25.9)	−1.2 (29.8)	3.6 (38.5)	10.0 (50.0)	15.6 (60.1)	19.8 (67.6)	20.9 (69.6)	16.6 (61.9)	9.8 (49.6)	3.9 (39.0)	−0.4 (31.3)	7.7 (45.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	415.2 (16.35)	268.4 (10.57)	179.4 (7.06)	102.1 (4.02)	106.3 (4.19)	141.2 (5.56)	209.9 (8.26)	156.1 (6.15)	171.5 (6.75)	164.9 (6.49)	231.9 (9.13)	349.1 (13.74)	2,496 (98.27)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	417 (164)	308 (121)	175 (69)	39 (15)	1 (0.4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	12 (4.7)	212 (83)	1,164 (457.1)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	55.9	79.4	111.6	166.5	192.4	150.7	153.4	192.5	125.7	125.8	98.7	71.3	1,523.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[5] the population of Tōkamachi has declined steadily over the past 40 years.

Census Year	Population
1970	85,365
1980	78,791
1990	70,938
2000	65,033
2010	58,911

History

The area of present-day Tōkamachi was part of ancient Echigo Province, and was part of the tenryō territories held directly by then Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, was the capital of the newly-formed Nakauonuma District of Niigata Prefecture, and was proclaimed a village on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on September 24, 1897. Tōkamachi gained city status on March 31, 1954, by merging with the neighbouring villages of Nakajō, Kawaji and Rokka. The village of Yoshida (from Nakauonuma District) was annexed on December 1, 1954 followed by the village of Shimojō (from Nakauonuma District) on February 1, 1955. On April 1, 1962 - Tōkamachi absorbed the village of Mizusawa (from Nakauonuma District). The Chūetsu earthquake of October 23, 2004 caused only minor damage to the city. On April 1, 2005 Tōkamachi absorbed the towns of Matsudai and Matsunoyama (both from Higashikubiki District); the town of Kawanishi, and the village of Nakasato (both from Nakauonuma District) to create the new and expanded city of Tōkamachi.

Government

Tōkamachi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 24 members.^[6] The city contributes two members to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata District No.6 of the lower house of the National Diet of Japan.

Economy

Sericulture and the production of silk is a traditional mainstay of the local economy. Agriculture, notably the production of Koshihikari rice is also very important.

Education

Tōkamachi has 18 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools operated by the city government and one private elementary and one private middle school. There are four public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates three special education schools.