Kariwa

Kariwa
刈羽村
Village
Kariwa village hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Kariwa in Niigata
Kariwa
 
Coordinates: 37°25′20.1″N 138°37′21.1″E / 37.422250°N 138.622528°E / 37.422250; 138.622528Coordinates: 37°25′20.1″N 138°37′21.1″E / 37.422250°N 138.622528°E / 37.422250; 138.622528
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture NIigata
District Kariwa
Area
 • Total 26.27 km2 (10.14 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
 • Total 4,742
 • Density 181/km2 (470/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols  
• Tree Japanese black pine
• Flower Peach
Phone number 0257-45-2244
Address 215-1 Warimachi-Shinden, Kariwa-mura, Kariwa-gun, Niigata-ken 945-0308
Website http://www.vill.kariwa.niigata.jp/

Kariwa (刈羽村, Kariwa-mura) is a village located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2016, the village had an estimated population of 4,742, and a population density of 181 persons per km². Its total area is 26.27 square kilometres (10.14 sq mi).

Geography

Kariwa is located in central Niigata Prefecture, sandwiched between the cities of Nagaoka and Kashiwazaki, and consists of two discontinuous areas. Kariwa is located near the Sea of Japan but has no coastline. It takes over 3 hours to reach Tokyo by train (using local trains and Joetsu Shinkansen from Nagaoka), or by driving a car on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of present-day Kariwa was part of ancient Echigo Province. The village of Kariwa was established on November 1, 1901. On September 30, 1956 a part of the neighbouring village of Nakadori was absorbed into Kariwa. Likewise, on April 10, 1959 a part of neighbouring Futada village was absorbed into Kariwa

2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Kashiwazaki, killing 10 people, and injuring more than 1,200, causing massive power outages. Total over 340 houses were destroyed and thousands of people were forced to live at the shelters. The quake caused a fire at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in an electrical transformer, a leak of water from the spent fuel pool, and a host of other safety related events.[1]]][2][3]

Economy

Together with Kashiwazaki city, Kariwa is the home of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, once the largest nuclear generating station in the world by net electrical power rating. After the April 2011 earthquake, all restarted units were shut down and safety improvements are being carried out. As of August 2016 no units have been restarted.

Education

Kariwa has three public elementary schools and one public middle school. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister cities

Local attractions

  • Kariwa Midden (Pre-historic site)
  • Tohuku-in (temple)
  • Joraku-ji (temple)
  • Hozo-ji (temple)
  • Katsuyama castle remains (Now used as hiking paths)
  • Akada castle remains (Now used as hiking paths)
  • Kariwa Village Life Learning Center "Rapika"

Festivals

  • Takiya Toro Oshiai Matsuri (Lantern Battle Festival) (April)
  • Peach Flower Festival (April)
  • Kariwa-mura Furusato Matsuri (Village Festival) (August)

References

  1. ↑ The European Parliament's Greens-EFA Group - The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2007 p. 23.
  2. ↑ Niigata earthquake death toll rises to eleven Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine. Japan News Review, July 23
  3. ↑ "Japanese nuke plant leaked after earthquake". Associated Press. July 16, 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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