Kōka, Shiga

Kōka (甲賀市, Kōka-shi) is a city located in southern Shiga Prefecture, Japan. (The word 'Kōka' is often rendered as 'Koga' in English, especially when referring to the Koga Ninja.)

Kōka

甲賀市
Kōka City Hall
Flag
Emblem
Location of Kōka in Shiga
Kōka
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°58′N 136°10′E
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureShiga
Government
  MayorHiroki Iwanaga
Area
  Total481.62 km2 (185.95 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
  Total89,202
  Density190/km2 (480/sq mi)
Symbols
  TreeCryptomeria
  FlowerSasayuri (Lilium japonicum)
  BirdCommon kingfisher
Time zoneUTC+9 (JST)
City hall address6053, Minakuchi, Minakuchichō, Kōka-shi, Shiga-ken
528-8502
Websitewww.city.koka.shiga.jp

As of June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 89,202 and a population density of 185 persons per km2. The total area is 481.62 km2.

The modern city of Kōka was established on October 1, 2004, from the merger of the former town of Kōka, absorbing the towns of Kōnan, Minakuchi, Shigaraki and Tsuchiyama (all from Kōka District).

Kōka is quite well known for its ninja history,[1] fine quality ceramics (Shigaraki ware) and for containing two shukuba post stations (Tsuchiyama-juku and Minakuchi-juku) from the historic Tōkaidō. The city launched a new English version of their homepage in April 2007, and they have begun to actively promote themselves as a little-known, yet highly authentic, sightseeing destination.

Geography

Neighboring municipalities

Transport

Shuriken theme at one of the train stations in Kōka, 2011

Koka is served by local buses as well as two train lines.

Rail

Koka sits on the Kusatsu Line of the JR. The line runs from Kusatsu to Tsuge Station in Iga, Mie Prefecture. There are five stops in Koka - Kibukawa, Kōnan, Terashō, Kōka, and Aburahi.

Kibukawa Station also has lines for the Shigaraki Kōgen Railway: Shigaraki Line and the Ohmi Railway: Main Line.

See also

References


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