Ōwani, Aomori Explained

Ōwani
Settlement Type:Town
Image Map1:Owani in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:40.5184°N 140.5678°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Tōhoku
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Aomori
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Minamitsugaru
Area Total Km2:163.43
Population Total:8,669
Population As Of:January 31, 2023
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec2:Phone number
Blank Info Sec2:0172-48-2111
Blank1 Name Sec2:Address
Blank1 Info Sec2:Hagurodate 5-3, Ōwani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-0292
Module:
Embedded:yes

right|thumb|260px|Daien-ji is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 8,669 people in 4108 households[1] and a population density of 53 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 163.41sqkm. Skiing is very popular in Ōwani Town, and seven Olympic athletes have grown up there.

Geography

Ōwani, located in Minamitsugaru District, occupies the hilly southern border between south-central Aomori Prefecture and northern Akita Prefecture, to the southeast of the city of Hirosaki.

Neighbouring municipalities

Aomori Prefecture

Akita Prefecture

Climate

The town has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōwani is 9.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1397 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.0 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ōwani has decreased steadily over the past 60 years.

History

During the Edo period, the area around Ōwani was controlled by the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain. After the Meiji Restoration, it became a village within Minamitsugaru District of Aomori Prefecture with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1923, Ōwani was proclaimed a town. On July 1, 1954, it annexed neighboring Kuradate Town, but lost a portion of its territory to Hirosaki City on September 30, 1964.

Government

Ōwani has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town legislature of 12 members. Ōwani, together with the city of Hirakawa contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Ōwani is heavily dependent on agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Tourism from ski resorts and onsen hot springs also contribute to the local economy. Mount Ajara was a venue for the 2003 Asian Winter Games.

Education

Ōwani has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town's only high school, a branch of Hirosaki Minami High School, closed in 2013.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Ōu Main Line

- Kōnan Railway Ōwani Line

Highway

Local attractions

Noted people from Ōwani

Olympic skiers

Sister cities

Notes and References

  1. http://www.town.owani.lg.jp Ōwani Town official statistics
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/location/50717/ Ōwani climate data
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aomori.php Ōwani population statistics
  4. "About Novi." Novi Public Library. February 11, 2010. Retrieved on November 28, 2012.