Sakuragawa, Ibaraki

Sakuragawa (桜川市, Sakuragawa-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 39,072 in 13,721 households and a population density of 217 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 34.3%.[1] The total area of the city is 180.06 square kilometres (69.52 sq mi).

"Sakuragawa" redirects here. For the railway stations, see Sakuragawa Station (disambiguation). For the former village in Inashiki District, see Sakuragawa, Ibaraki (village).
Sakuragawa

桜川市
City
Sakuragawa City Hall
Seal
Location of Sakuragawa in Ibaraki Prefecture
Sakuragawa
 
Coordinates: 36°19′38.3″N 140°5′26″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki
Area
 • Total180.06 km2 (69.52 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total38,905
 • Density220/km2 (560/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSakura
- FlowerLilium auratum
- BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number0296-58-5126
Address1023 Haneda, Sakuragawa-shi, Ibaraki-ken 309-1293
WebsiteOfficial website
Cherry Blossoms of Sakuragawa

Geography

Located in central-western Ibaraki Prefecture, Sakuragawa is bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the north. The city is lined by mountains along its east side, named Tomiya, Amabiki, Kaba and Ashio, from north to south. Mt. Tsukuba dominates the southern side, although it is not located within the borders of the city. The eponymous Sakuragawa River has its source in the Iwase area of the city.

Surrounding municipalities

Ibaraki Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

Sakuragawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sakuragawa is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1355 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakuragawa peaked around 1990 and has steadily declined since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 57,418—    
1960 52,993−7.7%
1970 49,169−7.2%
1980 51,171+4.1%
1990 51,880+1.4%
2000 50,334−3.0%
2010 45,698−9.2%

History

The city of Sakuragawa was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Iwase (in the north), Makabe (in the south) with the village of Yamato (in the center). Iwase was formerly from Nishiibaraki District, while Makabe and Yamato were formerly from Makabe District.

Government

Sakuragawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Sakuragawa contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Sakuragawa is primarily agricultural. Stone quarrying is also important.

Education

Sakuragawa has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private middle school and one private high school.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Mito Line

Highway

Local attractions
  • Makabe old town with 104 buildings listed as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
  • Amibiki Kannon
  • Makabe Doll Festival
  • "Tsukuba Ring-Ring Road" – a bicycle road connecting Iwase to Tsukuba along a former railway line.

Noted people from Sakuragawa

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

Media related to Sakuragawa, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons

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