Komoro, Nagano

Komoro
小諸市
City
Komoro City Hall (used until 2015）

Flag
Seal

Location of Komoro in Nagano Prefecture
Komoro
 
Coordinates: 36°19′36.6″N 138°26′33.5″E / 36.326833°N 138.442639°E / 36.326833; 138.442639Coordinates: 36°19′36.6″N 138°26′33.5″E / 36.326833°N 138.442639°E / 36.326833; 138.442639
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture Nagano
Area
 • Total 98.55 km2 (38.05 sq mi)
Population (October 2016)
 • Total 42,679
 • Density 433/km2 (1,120/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols  
• Tree Prunus mume
• Flower Viola mandshurica f.plena[1]
Phone number 0267-22-1700
Address 3-3-3 Aioi-chō, Komoro-shi, Nagano-ken 384-8501
Website http://www.city.komoro.lg.jp/
Gate of Komoro Castle

Komoro (小諸市, Komoro-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2016, the city had an estimated population of 42,679, and a population density of 433 persons per km². Its total area is 98.55 square kilometres (38.05 sq mi).

Geography

Komoro is located in eastern Nagano Prefecture. The Chikuma River flows thorough the southern and western part of the city. Some extinct volcanic mountains is located between Komoro and Tsumagoi. The highest mountain in Komoro is Mt.Kurofu (ja). Its peak is 2404m (7887ft) above sea level. The lowest point is 540m (1771ft). The old city center is about 700m (2296ft). There are many slopes there, so Komoro is known as a hilly city (坂の町).

Komoro is far from the sea and surrounded by high mountains, so the rainfall is considerably low and diurnal temperature range is great in Japan. The 10-year mean annual precipitation is 879.7mm (346.3in). The average annual temperature of Komoro is relatively cool because of high-altitude, 11.0℃ (51.8°F). The yearly highest temperature is 36.0℃ (96.8°F) and the yearly lowest temperature is -12.4℃ (9.7°F)[2].

Surrounding municipalities

Agriculture and its products

In Komoro, farmers cultivate rice, vegetables and fruits. Among agricultural products in Komoro, potato (known as 白いも), soba, apple, and peach is popular. Komoro has many soba restaurants and apple orchards, so a lot of visitors come there from Shutoken. Komoro is also known for miso, and it made there is sold all over Japan.

History

Nara period and Heian period

The area of present-day Komoro was part of ancient Shinano Province. Tôzandô, one of the national routes passed Komoro and there used to be an Umaya(駅), or a station for government officials and army.

Kamakura period

Komoro first appears in written history in Azuma Kagami. In these days, Komoro Tarô mitsukane(小諸太郎光兼), a gokenin governed some villages in Komoro.

Muromachi period

The OgasawaraÔi family governed whole area of Saku county.

Sengoku period

The governors of Komoro changed so often.

Azuchi-Momoyama period and Edo period

The area was part of the holdings of Komoro Domain.

Meiji period and later

The modern town of Komoro was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the municipalities system. The town of Komoro annexed villages of Kawabe, Kitaoi and Osato (all from Kitasaku District) on February 1, 1954. The city of Komoro was established on April 1, 1954 after absorbing the villages of Minamioi and Mitsuoka (both from Kitasaku District). On April 1, 1959 parts of the town of Tobu (now part of the city of Tomi) was merged into Komoro and the city has been unchanged since.

Education

Komoro has six public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister city relations

Komoro is twinned with:

Local attractions

  • Kaikoen, a park in the center of Komoro containing the foundations of Komoro Castle as well as a museum dedicated to Shimazaki Toson (see below) and a zoo(ja). The third gate of castle (San'nomon) and the fourth gate (Otemon) are chosen for the national important cultural properties. Kyu Komoro Honjin(ja) (the hotel for daimyōs in Edo period) is also chosen for. Kaikoen is known as place famous for cherry blossoms as well, so it is selected as one of the Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites in Japan(ja).
  • Nunobikisan Shakuson-ji (Nunobiki-Kan'non) (ja), a temple which is said to date from 748 (Nara period) located at the top of a deep ravine. About a 10-minute drive outside of town takes you to the car parking space. It takes 15-20 minutes to go to the main temple from the foot. Kan'nondoKûden, the oldest building which was built in 1252 is the one of the national important cultural properties[3]. You can also see Sidare zakura(ja) in April[4].
  • Mountain hiking in Takamine(ja), close to the active volcano Mt Asama, and Mt.Kurofu about a 30-minute drive uphill from Komoro. You can also enjoy skiing in winter, and Onsen in all seasons there.

Notable residents

  • Shimazaki Toson, poet and writer. Toson spent a period teaching in Komoro, and is featured in a dedicated museum located within Komoro's Kaikoen park.
  • Sodo Yokoyama, a leaf-flute Zen Master who lived as a hermit in Komoro's Kaikoen Park until 1980. Yokoyama was inspired by an earlier resident of Komoro, the poet and writer Shimazaki Toson. See Arthur Braverman's excellent article for some personal recollections of Yokoyama.
  • Shuichi Abe, the current governor of Nagano prefecture. He and his family have been living in komoro since 2014.[5]

References

  1. ↑ From Shinshû, The foot of Mt.Asama (Komoro Sumire) (in japanese)
  2. ↑ city website Environment White Paper 2017 (in japanese)
  3. ↑ さわやか信州旅.net 釈尊寺観音堂宮殿 By Nagano Tourism Organization（in japanese）
  4. ↑ さわやか信州旅.net 布引観音の桜 By Nagano Tourism Organization（in japanese）
  5. ↑ The talk with governor Abe | Community Television Komoro（in japanese）
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