Omitama

Omitama (小美玉市, Omitama-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 48,776 in 18,311 households and a population density of 337 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 30.0%.[1] The total area of the city is 144.74 square kilometres (55.88 sq mi).

Omitama

小美玉市
City
Omitama city hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Omitama in Ibaraki Prefecture
Omitama
 
Coordinates: 36°14′21.4″N 140°21′9.2″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki
Area
 • Total144.74 km2 (55.88 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total48,754
 • Density340/km2 (870/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerCosmos
- BirdEgret
Phone number0299-48-1111
Address835 Katakura, Omitama-shi, Ibarak-ken 319-0192
WebsiteOfficial website
Lake Kasumigaura from Omitama

Geography

Omitama is located in central Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying flatlands north of Lake Kasumigaura.

Surrounding municipalities

Ibaraki Prefecture

Climate

Omitama has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Omitama is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1357 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Omitama has been steadily increasing over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 25,143—    
1930 26,330+4.7%
1940 28,341+7.6%
1950 37,280+31.5%
1960 35,675−4.3%
1970 36,967+3.6%
1980 48,200+30.4%
1990 52,269+8.4%
2000 51,593−1.3%
2010 47,026−8.9%

History

The city of Omitama was established on March 27, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Ogawa and Minori (both from Higashiibaraki District), and the village of Tamari (from Niihari District). The new city took its name from portions of the three older town and village names from which it was formed, Ogawa, Minori, Tamari.

Government

Omitama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Omitama contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy, with cash crops including chives, strawberries and melons.

Education

Omitama has 11 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation
Aerial view of Ibaraki Airport

Railway

JR East – Jōban Line

Highway

Airport

Military facilities

Sister city relations

Noted people from Omitama

References
  1. "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Omitama climate data
  3. Omitama population statistics
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