Goshogawara, Aomori

Goshogawara
五所川原市
City
Goshogawara City Hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Goshogawara in Aomori Prefecture
Goshogawara
 
Coordinates: 40°48′28.9″N 140°26′24.3″E / 40.808028°N 140.440083°E / 40.808028; 140.440083Coordinates: 40°48′28.9″N 140°26′24.3″E / 40.808028°N 140.440083°E / 40.808028; 140.440083
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori
Government
 • Mayor Masatoshi Hirayama
Area
 • Total 404.18 km2 (156.05 sq mi)
Population (December 31, 2017)
 • Total 55,746
 • Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols  
• Tree Japanese elm
• Flower Nohanashōbu (iris ensata var. spontanea)
• Bird Oriental greenfinch
Phone number 0173-35-2111
Address 12 Iwakichō, Goshogawara-shi, Aomori-ken 037-8686
Website Official website

Goshogawara (五所川原市, Goshogawara-shi) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2017, the city has an estimated population of 55,746 in 25540 households,[1] and a population density of 140 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 404.18 square kilometres (156.05 sq mi).

Geography

Goshogawara occupies two discontinuous areas on Tsugaru Peninsula in western Aomori Prefecture. The Iwaki River flows through the city. The larger section is landlocked, and is in the middle of the peninsula. It contains the original town of Goshogawara, and is the population centre of the city, The smaller exclave to the north is on the Sea of Japan coast. Parts of the city are within the limits of the Tsugaru Quasi-National Park. The city has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen Cfb) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Goshogawara is 10.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1281 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.5 °C.[2]

Neighbouring municipalities

Aomori Prefecture

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Goshogawara has declined slightly over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 67,047
1980 68,738
1990 63,843
2000 63,208
2010 58,421

History

The area of Goshogawara was part of the holdings of the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo period. After the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reform of 1889, the area became part of Kitatsugaru District, Aomori, and was divided into the village of Goshogawara, Sakae, Miyoshi, Nakagawa, Nagahashi, Nanawa, Matsushima and Itayanagi in 1889. On July 1, 1898, Goshogawara was elevated to town status. On October 1, 1954. Goshogawara absorbed the villages of Sakae, Nakagawa, Nagahashi, Matsushima and Iizume to create the city of Goshogawara. On April 1, 1958, Goshogawara absorbed a portion of the town of Kizukuri.

On March 28, 2005, the town of Kanagi, and the village of Shiura were merged into Goshogawara.

Government

Goshogawara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

Economy

The economy of Goshogawara is mixed. The city serves as a regional commercial center. Agricultural produce includes rice and apples, and commercial fishing includes clams. The Aomori Technopolis High-Tech Industrial Park is located in the city. [4]

Education

Goshogawara has 11 public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has schools and five public high schools operated by the Aomori prefectural Board of Education. The city also has two private high schools.

High schools

Prefectural

  • Goshogawara High School
  • Goshogawara Technical High School
  • Goshogawara Agriculture and Forestry High School
  • Kanagi High School
  • Kanagi High School - Shiura Branch

Private

  • Goshogawara Daiichi High School
  • Goshogawara Commercial High School

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Local attractions

Goshogawara Tachineputa

Goshogawara is famous for its Tachineputa Festival, held annually from August 4th to August 8th. The tachineputa floats are much taller than their counterparts in Aomori and Hirosaki, reaching heights of up to 23 meters.[5]

Noted people from Goshogawara

References

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