Aga, Niigata

Aga (阿賀町, Aga-machi) is a town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2020, the town had an estimated population of 10,386 in 4490 households, and a population density of 11 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 952.89 square kilometres (367.91 sq mi).

Aga

阿賀町
Town
Aga town hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Aga in Niigata Prefecture
Aga
 
Coordinates: 37°40′32″N 139°27′31.6″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
DistrictHigashikanbara
Area
 • Total952.89 km2 (367.91 sq mi)
Population
 (November 2020)
 • Total10,386
 • Density11/km2 (28/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeCryptomeria
• FlowerCamellia
• BirdJapanese bush-warbler
Phone number0254-92-3111
Address580 Tsugawa, Aga-machi, Higashikanbara-gun, Niigata-ken 959-4402
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography
The Agano River flows through the town

Aga is located in northeastern Niigata Prefecture. Covering 6.8% in area of the entire prefecture, Aga is the third largest municipality in Niigata after Jōetsu and Murakami. The Agano River and its tributary, the Tokonami River, flow through the center of the town.

Surrounding municipalities

Niigata Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

Climate

Aga has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aga is 12.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1715 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.5 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Aga has declined sharply over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 38,431—    
1960 35,111−8.6%
1970 24,632−29.8%
1980 20,280−17.7%
1990 17,557−13.4%
2000 15,813−9.9%
2010 13,303−15.9%

History
4 former municipalities in a merger in 2005 (blue area)

The area of present-day Aga was part of ancient Echigo Province, and was part of the territories held by Aizu Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji restoration, the area was organised as part of Higashikanbara District, Niigata. The town of Aga was established on April 1, 2005 in a merger of the towns of Kamikawa and Kanose and the villages of Mikawa, and Tsugawa, all from Higashikanbara District.

Government

Aga has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Aga, together with the city of Gosen contributes two members to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Niigata 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is dominated by agriculture. The Kamikawa (上川) area of Aga is particularly famous for its Koshihikari rice, which is also used to make sake in two local breweries, which are also among the main employers of the district. The Mikawa (三川) area is also famous for mushrooms, and is host to a mushroom park where people can either pick their own mushrooms or choose from a wide variety of locally grown produce.

Education

Aga has three public elementary schools and two public middle school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation
Banetsu Monogatari at Tsugawa Station

Railway

JR East - Ban'etsu West Line

Highway

Local attractions

National Historic Sites

References
  1. "Aga town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Aga climate data
  3. Aga population statistics
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