Ashikaga, Tochigi

Ashikaga (足利市, Ashikaga-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020, the city had an estimated population of 143,653, in 62,123 households[1] and a population density of 810 persons per km². The total area of the city is 177.76 square kilometres (68.63 sq mi).

Ashikaga

足利市
City
From top, Ashikaga School, Ashikaga Flower Park, View of Downtown Ashikaga and Watarase River, Banna-ji, Ashikaga Municipal Art Museum, Soun Art Museum, Kurita Art Museum
Flag
Emblem
Location of Ashikaga in Tochigi Prefecture
Ashikaga
 
Coordinates: 36°20′24.6″N 139°26′59″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi
Area
 • Total177.76 km2 (68.63 sq mi)
Population
 (August 2020)
 • Total143,653
 • Density810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeMaple
- FlowerAzalea
Phone number0284-20-2222
Address3-2145 Honjo, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi-ken 326-8601
WebsiteOfficial website
Ashikaga City Hall

Geography

Ashikaga is located in the northern Kanto plain in the far southwestern corner of Tochigi Prefecture, bordering on Gunma Prefecture to the north, west and south. The Watarase River flows through the center of the city. It is located approximately 80 km north of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

Tochigi Prefecture

Gunma Prefecture

Climate

Ashikaga has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ashikaga is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1280 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ashikaga has declined over the past 20 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 146,209—    
1970 156,004+6.7%
1980 165,756+6.3%
1990 167,686+1.2%
2000 163,140−2.7%
2010 154,462−5.3%

History
Ashikaga from Nearby Mountain

During the Heian Period, Ashikaga was developed by Minamoto no Yoshikuni, whose descendants later became the Ashikaga clan. The area was noted from this period for its academy, the Ashikaga Gakkō. During the Edo period, it was the center of Ashikaga Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Ashikaga within Ashikaga District, Tochigi was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to city status on January 1, 1921. Ashikaga annexed the neighboring village of Keno on March 3, 1951 and the town of Yamabe on April 1, 1953. This was followed on August 1, 1954 by the villages of Mie and Yamamae, and on November 1, 1954 by the villages of Kitago and Nagusa. On April 1, 1959, Ashikaga annexed the village of Tomita, and the northern half of the village of Yabagawa on July 1, 1960. On October 1, 1962, Ashikaga annexed the towns of Mikuriya and Sakanishi. Ashikaga District was dissolved by this final merger.

Government

Ashikaga has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 24 members. Ashikaga contributes four members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tochigi 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Ashikaga has long been noted for its textile industry, but in recent years, it has also become known as an industrial and commercial city producing various aluminum, machine metal works and products. In the agricultural sector, Ashikaga is noted for its tomatoes.

Education

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Ryōmō Line

Tōbu Railway – Tobu Isesaki Line

Highway

Local attractions
Ashikaga Gakko's main gate
Ashikaga Banna-ji
  • Ashikaga Gakkō (足利学校): referred to as the oldest school in Japan.
  • Ashikaga Flower Park (足利フラワーパーク): Japan's oldest and largest wisteria.
  • Orihime Shrine (織姫神社): This shrine was built in 1879, the guardians of the textile city, Ashikaga.
  • Bannaji Temple (鑁阿寺): A temple known for its association with the Ashikaga clan.
  • Kurita Museum (栗田美術館): This museum has a fine collection of Imari and Nabeshima porcelains.
  • Watarase River Fireworks display, which takes places on the first Saturday of August attracts thousands of people from around the Kantō area.
  • Watarasebashi Monument: A stele erected near Watarase Bridge in 2007 in honor of Chisato Moritaka's 1993 song "Watarasebashi". The stele features a speaker that plays a portion of the song.[4]
  • Coco Farm & Winery, located in the foothills on the outskirts of town. Founded around 1950, the vineyards are tended by adults with special needs and staff members living in community. During the third weekend of November, a harvest festival is held with live music and wine tasting. Thousands of visitors attend every year.

Sister city relations

Noted people

See also
  • Asteroid 9887 Ashikaga, named after the city

References
  1. "Ashikaga CIty official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Ashikaga climate data
  3. Ashikaga population statistics
  4. "森高千里　『渡良瀬橋』MVの高画質映像を発掘公開". News Post Seven. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  5. Ashikaga City official home page

Media related to Ashikaga, Tochigi at Wikimedia Commons

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