Iwate, Iwate

Iwate (岩手町, Iwate-machi) is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 29 February 2020, the town had an estimated population of 13,111, and a population density of 36 persons per km² in 5455 households. The total area of the town is 360.46 square kilometres (139.17 sq mi).[1]

Iwate

岩手町
Town
Iwate Town Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Iwate in Iwate Prefecture
Iwate
Location of Iwate in Iwate Prefecture
Coordinates: 39°58′22″N 141°12′43.8″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureIwate
DistrictIwate
Government
 • MayorKōji Sasaki
Area
 • Total360.46 km2 (139.17 sq mi)
Population
 (February 29, 2020)
 • Total13,111
 • Density36/km2 (94/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreePine
• FlowerRindo
• BirdGreen pheasant
Phone number0195-62-2111　
AddressItsukaichi dai-10 jiwari 44, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate-ken 028-4395
WebsiteOfficial website
Tando River in Iwate

Geography

Iwate is located in an inland region in northwest Iwate Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

Iwate Prefecture

Climate

Iwate Town has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwate is 8.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1384 mm with September as the wettest month, and February as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.1 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iwate has steadily declined over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 12,922—    
1930 14,592+12.9%
1940 16,134+10.6%
1950 20,744+28.6%
1960 23,230+12.0%
1970 21,725−6.5%
1980 20,350−6.3%
1990 19,141−5.9%
2000 17,372−9.2%
2010 14,988−13.7%

History

The area of present-day Iwate was part of ancient Mutsu Province. It was under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Numakunai, Kawaguchi, Ikkatai and Midō villages were created within Kita-Iwate District on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipality system. Kita-Iwate and Minami-Iwate Districts merged to form Iwate District on March 29, 1896. The four villages merged to form Iwate Town on July 21, 1955.[4]

Government

Iwate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Iwate, together with the city of Hachimantai and the town of Kuzumaki, contributes two seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture. Iwate is famous for its blueberry production.

Education

Iwate has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen

Iwate Ginga Railway Line

Highway

Local attractions
  • Ishigami-no-Oka Art Museum

Notable people from Iwate

References
  1. Iwate Town official statistics
  2. Iwate climate data
  3. Iwate population statistics
  4. 町の歴史 (in Japanese). 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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