| Namegata | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 35.9905°N 140.489°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kantō |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ibaraki |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 222.48 |
| Population Total: | 31960 |
| Population As Of: | September 2015 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City Symbols |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Ginkgo biloba |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Lilium auratum |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | Bird |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Egret |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0299-72-0811 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | Aso 1561-9, Namegat-shi, Ibaraki-ken 311-3892 |
is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 32,144 in 11,412 households and a population density of 144.5 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 35.9%.[1] The total area of the city is 222.48sqkm.
Namegata is located in south-central Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by Lake Kasumigaura to the east and Lake Kitaura to the west. It is located about 70 kilometers from central Tokyo and about 40 kilometers from the prefectural capital at Mito.
Ibaraki Prefecture
Namegata has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Namegata is 14.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1410 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Namegata has declined over the past 40 years.
During the Edo period, portions of what later became the city of Namegata were under the control of Asō Domain, a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. The towns of Asō and Tamazukuri were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The village of Kitaura was established on April 1, 1955, and elevated to town status on October 1, 1997. The three towns merged to form the city of Namegata on September 2, 2005.
Namegata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Namegata 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.
The economy of Namegata is primarily agriculture, with aquaculture on Lake Kasumigaura taking a predominant role.
Namegata has 16 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.
Namegata has many attractions including: