Ushiku, Ibaraki

Ushiku (牛久市, Ushiku-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 84,285 and a population density of 1,430 persons per km². Its total area is 58.92 square kilometres (22.75 sq mi).

Ushiku

牛久市
City
Ushiku city hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Ushiku in Ibaraki Prefecture
Ushiku
 
Coordinates: 35°58′45.7″N 140°8′58.4″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki Prefecture
Area
 • Total58.92 km2 (22.75 sq mi)
Population
 (September 2015)
 • Total84,285
 • Density1,430/km2 (3,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeOsmanthus fragrans
- FlowerChrysanthemum
- BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number029-873-2111
Address3-15-1 Chuo, Ushiku-shi, Ibaraki-ken 300-1292
Websitehttp://www.city.ushiku.lg.jp/

Geography

Ushiku is located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying marshy flatlands south of Lake Kasumigaura. It is about 50 kilometers from central Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of Ushiku developed as a castle town around Ushiku Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period.

The village of Ushiku was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On January 1, 1954 it was elevated to town status and to city status on June 1, 1986.

2020 Earthquake

On January 31, 2020, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit 6 Kilometre west of the town. The official time of the earthquake was 17:07:47 (UTC). [1]

Economy

Ushiku is a local commercial center and has a small industrial park. However, the local economy remains based on agriculture, primarily rice cultivation.

Education

Ushiku has eight elementary schools, six middle schools, and four high schools.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions
  • Ushiku Daibutsu, one of the world's tallest statues
  • Chateau Kamiya, a wine chateau started in 1901
  • Ushikunuma, a scenic lake that is said to be the birthplace of the mythical kappa beast.
  • Higashi Nihon Immigration Center, Japan's largest detention center for the incarceration of immigrants.[5]

Noted people from Ushiku

References
  1. "M 5.3 - 6km W of Ushiku, Japan". Earthquake.gov. National Earthquake Center. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. "Sister City Exchange Program - Ushiku, Japan". Whitehorse, The Wilderness City. Whitehorse, Yukon official home page. 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. "Sister Cities". Orange City Council, Australia's Colour City. Orange City official home page. 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  5. "Detainees' families fighting for dignity — and hugs | The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
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