| Murata | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 38.1185°N 140.7224°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tōhoku |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Miyagi |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Shibata |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 78.38 |
| Population Total: | 10675 |
| Population As Of: | May 31, 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City symbols |
| Blank Info Sec1: | |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | • Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Pine |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | • Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Osmanthus fragrans |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | • Bird |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Green pheasant |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | • Insect |
| Blank5 Name Sec1: | • Fish |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0224-83-2111 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | Murata-machi, Shibata-gun, Miyagi-ken 989-1392 |
thumb|right|270px|Traditional buildings in downtown Murata is a town located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 10,675, and a population density of 140 persons per km2 in 4026 households.[1] The total area of the town is 78.38sqkm. In September 2014, the 7.4 hectare old centre of town was protected as an Important Preservation District by the national government for its traditional merchant quarter architecture.[2]
Murata is located in south-central Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. The Shiroishi River runs through the town.
Miyagi Prefecture
Murata has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Murata is 12.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1271 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.5 °C.[3]
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Murata declined over the past 30 years.
The area of present-day Murata was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and was part of the holdings of Sendai Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. The modern village of Murata was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of post-Meiji restoration modern municipalities system. It was promoted to town status on October 31, 1895. The town merged with the neighboring towns on Tomioka and Numabe on April 20, 1955.
Murata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Murata, collectively with the other municipalities in Shibata District contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The economy of Murata is largely based on agriculture, and the town is especially known for its production of fava beans.
Murata has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education.