| Niigata | |||
| Official Name: | Niigata City | ||
| Settlement Type: | Designated city | ||
| Image Map1: | Niigata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg | ||
| Map Caption1: | Location of Niigata in Niigata Prefecture | ||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |||
| Coordinates: | 37.9161°N 139.0364°W | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku) | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Name2: | Niigata | ||
| Established Title: | City Status | ||
| Established Date: | April 1, 1889) | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Yaichi Nakahara (from November, 2018) | ||
| Area Total Km2: | 726.45 | ||
| Population Total: | 797591 | ||
| Population As Of: | July 1, 2019 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Metro Footnotes: | [1] (2015) | ||
| Population Metro: | 1060013 (17th) | ||
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time | ||
| Utc Offset1: | +9 | ||
| Blank Name Sec1: | Phone number | ||
| Blank Info Sec1: | 025-243-4894 | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Address | ||
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 1-602-1 Gakkōchō-dōri, Chūō-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken 951-8550 | ||
| Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||
| Blank Info Sec2: | Cfa | ||
| Module: |
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| Niigata | |
| Pic: | Niigata (Chinese characters).svg |
| Piccap: | "Niigata" in kanji |
| Picupright: | 0.42 |
| Kanji: | 新潟 |
| Romaji: | Niigata |
is a city located in the northern part of Niigata Prefecture. It is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, and one of the cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, located in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the most populous city on the west coast of Honshu, and the second populous city in Chūbu region after Nagoya. It faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island., the city had an estimated population of 779,049, and a population density of 1,072 persons per km2. The total area is 726.45sqkm. Greater Niigata, the Niigata Metropolitan Employment Area, has a GDP of US$43.3 billion as of 2010.[2] [3]
It is the only government-designated city on the west coast of Honshu. It has the greatest habitable area of cities in Japan.
Niigata was one of the cities incorporated by the legislation effective on April 1, 1889 (Meiji 22). With a long history as a port town, Niigata served the function of the network junction between the maritime traffic and those of Shinano and Agano river systems. It was designated as one of the five free treaty ports under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan, signed in 1858, just before the Meiji Restoration, and later started operations in 1869. Its importance in land and water transportation is still current.
Niigata's city government was established in 1889. Mergers with nearby municipalities in 2005 allowed the city's population to jump to 810,000. The annexation of the surrounding area has also given the city the greatest rice paddy field acreage in Japan. On April 1, 2007, it became the first government-designated city on the coast of the Sea of Japan of Honshu. There are eight wards (described later) in the city.
Until the 1950s, a system of canals were lined along by the willow trees in the downtown area of Niigata. Therefore the city is sometimes called the "City of Water" or "City of Willows" as detailed later. Niigata produced many manga artists (see: Artists and writers). It is also known to have an extensive network of bypass roads. Bandai bridge, NEXT21, Toki Messe, Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata Nippo Media Ship are considered to be the key symbol landmarks in the city (see: Local attractions).
The place name "Niigata" was first recorded in 1520 (Eisho 17).[4] Its name in kanji can be translated as "new" and "lagoon".
However, as there is no record about the origin of the name, this had led to many theories.
Niigata is situated on a fertile coastal plain on the Sea of Japan coast, facing Sado Island. The Shinano River and Agano River flow through the city.
Numerous wetlands, such as the Fukushimagata wetlands, can be found within the city limits. The Sakata lagoon is registered as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Niigata City's low elevation and abundant water have made flood control and land reclamation important issues for the area throughout its history.
The city is sometimes called the because of the two rivers that flow through it, its position next to the Sea of Japan, its many wetlands, and the canals that used to run through the city. It is also sometimes referred to as the or because of the willow trees that lined the old canals. In recent years, the city has been promoting itself as a, highlighting its agricultural areas outside of the city center.
Niigata City features a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). However, due to high precipitation, it receives more yearly snowfall than cities with continental climates such as Moscow, Montreal or Oslo. Winters are characterized by their high humidity and strong winds from the Sea of Japan. While many other parts of Niigata Prefecture tend to have heavy snow, Niigata City itself usually receives less due to its low-lying elevation and the shielding effect of Sado Island.
On average, Niigata City has 269 days of precipitation each year, about 170 days of which see rain or snowfall measuring over 1 mm.[6] The rainy season in July brings large amounts of rain, while the winter months, especially November and December, also have much precipitation.[7]
In summer, the south wind makes the weather rather hot. Typhoons usually bring strong foehn winds to this area, generally causing somewhat higher temperatures than in other parts of Japan. The weather on the west coast of Honshu tends to be better during the summer months than on the Pacific coast.
Niigata has a system of wards (ku) since April 1, 2007:[8] Each ward has its own "image color".
| Wards of Niigata | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place Name | Map of Niigata | |||
| Rōmaji | Kanji | Color | ||
| 1 | Akiha Ward | 秋葉区 | Floral green | |
| 2 | Chuo Ward (administrative center) | 中央区 | Waterfront blue | |
| 3 | Higashi Ward | 東区 | Aqua blue | |
| 4 | Kita Ward | 北区 | Nature green | |
| 5 | Konan Ward | 江南区 | Spring green | |
| 6 | Minami Ward | 南区 | Breeze blue | |
| 7 | Nishi Ward | 西区 | Sunset orange | |
| 8 | Nishikan Ward | 西蒲区 | Harvest yellow | |
From the north, following Niigata's border clockwise:
People have inhabited the Niigata area (Furutsu Hachimanyama Site) since the Jōmon period, though much of the current land was still beneath the sea at the time. According to the Nihon Shoki, a fortress was built in the area in AD 647.
A system of canals was constructed throughout the downtown area of Niigata port in the 17th century. During this period, the courses of the Shinano and Agano rivers gradually changed until they poured into the Sea of Japan at the same location. As a result, Niigata prospered as a port town, serving as a port of call for Japanese trade ships traversing the Sea of Japan.
The Matsugasaki Canal was constructed in 1730 to drain the Agano River area, but in 1731, flooding destroyed the canal and caused it to become the main current of the Agano River. As a result, the volume of water flowing into the port of Niigata decreased, which in turn allowed land reclamation efforts and the development of new rice fields to proceed.
In 1858, Niigata was designated as one of the five ports to be opened for international trade in the Japan–U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce. However, the shallow water level in the port delayed the actual opening to foreign ships until 1869. The port also served as a valuable base for fishermen who roamed as far north as the Kamchatka Peninsula to catch salmon and other fish.
In 1886, the first Bandai Bridge was built across the Shinano River to connect the settlements of Niigata on the west and Nuttari on the east. Niigata annexed Nuttari in 1914.
During World War II, Niigata's strategic location between the capital of Tokyo and the Sea of Japan made it a key point for the transfer of settlers and military personnel to the Asian continent, including Manchukuo.
In 1945, near the end of the war, Niigata was one of four cities, together with Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, picked as targets for the atomic bombs if Japan did not surrender. However, Niigata was not actually targeted in the first two missions. There were several theories about the reasons that Niigata was lowered in the priority, such as poor weather conditions, its distance from B-29 bases in the Mariana Islands, and other factors.[9]
On August 11, 1945, after the second atomic bombing in Nagasaki, the governor of Niigata Prefecture ordered the people to evacuate as concerns of an impending bombing heightened, and the city was completely deserted for days until the war ended without more atomic bombings.[10]
A devastating Typhoon Louise and fire in 1955 destroyed much of the downtown area, but eventually the city recovered. In 1958, construction of the relocated Niigata Station was completed, extending the downtown area from Bandai Bridge. The Niigata Thermal Power Station Unit 1 started operation in July 1963. At that time, it was Japan's first power plant capable of using a mixture of natural gas and heavy oil.
In 1964, the old canals that flowed throughout the old downtown area were filled in to make way for more roads.
On June 16, 1964, at 13:01 Japan Standard Time an earthquake of 7.5 Richter scale struck the city, killing 29 people and causing large-scale property damage, with 1,960 totally destroyed buildings, 6,640 partially destroyed buildings, and 15,298 severely inundated by liquefaction.
In 1965, the Agano River running through Niigata was polluted with methylmercury from the chemical plant of the Showa Electrical Company. Over 690 people exhibited symptoms of Minamata disease and the outbreak became known as Niigata Minamata disease.
In 1982, Shinkansen service on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line began between Niigata and Omiya, with service to Ueno added in 1985. The line was extended to Tokyo in 1991.
Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The 2004 Chūetsu earthquake did not cause any significant damage in Niigata City itself, allowing the city to work as a relief base.
The size and the population of Niigata city increased over the four-year period between 2001 and 2005, due to a series of municipal mergers. On April 1, 2007, Niigata City became first city on the west coast of Honshu to become a government-designated city.
In July 2007, the Chūetsu offshore earthquake, measuring 6.9 on Richter scale, rocked Niigata Prefecture. Though the earthquake was felt in the city, there was little damage, which allowed Niigata City to provide aid to the devastated areas.
In May 2008, the city hosted the 2008 G8 Labor Ministers Meeting.
On March 12, 2011, several hours after the massive 9.0 Tohoku earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Niigata and Nagano Prefectures experienced an estimated magnitude 6.6 earthquake.
| Dates | Mayor | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1889 – 3 June 1891 | Komitsu Ogura (小倉幸光) | |
| 30 June 1891 – 30 May 1899 | Chozo Suzuki (鈴木長蔵) | |
| 24 July 1899 – 25 September 1902 | Tomonao Yagi (八木朋直) | |
| 4 November 1902 – 20 February 1904 | Samon Hagino (萩野左門) | |
| 27 April 1904 – 9 May 1916 | Ryojiro Yoshida (吉田良治郎) | |
| 28 December 1916 – 16 January 1919 | Itsusaku Sakurai (桜井市作) | |
| 22 September 1919 – 10 September 1921 | Kenji Watanabe (渡辺兼二) |
| Dates | Mayor | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 January 1922 – 6 May 1925 | Yukijiro Shibasaki (柴崎雪次郎) | |
| 26 August 1925 – 25 August 1929 16 November 1929 – 15 November 1933 | Yoshito Nakamura (中村淑人) | |
| 30 January 1934 – 24 July 1937 | Masae Koyanagi (小柳牧衛) | |
| 17 December 1937 – 26 August 1938 | Takemi Muramatsu (村松武美) | |
| 5 December 1938 – 8 November 1946 | Hide Inoue (井上英) | |
| 7 April 1947 – 1 May 1959 | Saburo Murata (村田三郎) | |
| 2 May 1959 – 1 May 1975 | Kotaro Watanabe (渡辺浩太郎) |
| Dates | Mayor | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1975 – 14 December 1982 | Kihachiro Kawakami (川上喜八郎) | |
| 30 January 1983 – 9 October 1990 | Genki Wakasugi (若杉元喜) | |
| 18 November 1990 – 17 November 2002 | Yoshiaki Hasegawa (長谷川義明) | |
| 18 November 2002 – 17 November 2018 | Akira Shinoda (篠田昭) | |
| 18 November 2018 – present | Yaichi Nakahara (中原八一) |
| City | Country | State | since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston | United States | Texas | January 28, 1965 | |
| Khabarovsk | Russia | Khabarovsk Krai | April 23, 1965 | |
| Vladivostok | Russia | Primorsky Krai | February 28, 1991 | |
| Birobidzhan | Russia | Jewish Autonomous Oblast | August 6, 1992 (once a sister city of Toyosaka, Niigata assumed the sister city honors in 2005) | |
| Nantes | France | Pays de la Loire | January 31, 2009 (shifted from friendship city since 1999) |
| City | Prefecture | region | since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakodate | Oshima | Hokkaidō region | 1993 (Treaty ports Partnership) | |
| Yokohama | Kanagawa | Kantō region | 1993 (Treaty ports Partnership) | |
| Kobe | Hyōgo | Kansai region | 1993 (Treaty ports Partnership) | |
| Nagasaki | Nagasaki | Kyushu region | 1993 (Treaty ports Partnership) | |
| Sado | Niigata | Chūbu region | August 1, 2008 | |
| Aizuwakamatsu | Fukushima | Tōhoku region | july 22, 2012 | |
| Kyoto | Kyoto | Kansai region | March 26, 2013 |
Niigata Airport is located about 6 km north of central Niigata. It handles some international destinations as well as many domestic ones. As of October 2016, the domestic destinations available are Osaka (10 times a day), Sapporo (five or six times a day), Fukuoka (three times a day), Okinawa (once or twice a day), Nagoya (three times a day), Narita (once a day) and Sado Island (three times a day).
Niigata Airport's international destinations are Harbin (twice a week), Seoul (five times a week), Shanghai (twice a week) and Vladivostok.[12]
The largest station in Niigata City is Niigata Station. It is centrally located in the Bandai area, one of the two main shopping districts in downtown Niigata. Approximately 37,000 passengers use the station daily. The Jōetsu Shinkansen, which terminates at Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. The Shin'etsu Main Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line, Uetsu Main Line, and Ban'etsu West Line also terminate at Niigata Station. These lines serve Myoko, Itoigawa, Akita, Sakata, and Aizuwakamatsu.
Niigata Kotsu Dentetsu Line and Kambara Dentetsu trains used to run through the city until the late 1990s; however, they no longer exist.
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BRT "Bandai-bashi Line" runs through business/shopping districts in the central Niigata (Niigata Station - Bandai Bridge - Furumachi - City hall - Hakusan Station - Aoyama).
The Port of Niigata served as a part of kitamaebune during Edo era, and became one of the five open ports according to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–Japan) in 1858. The west district of the port of Niigata provides passenger transportation facilities as well as cargo transportation, while the east district is dedicated for cargo capabilities, including the container terminal facilities. The Port of Niigata is designated as one of by the government.
The destinations of the passenger services available at the port of Niigata include Ryotsu on Sado island, Otaru, Akita, Tsuruga.
Until 2006, Niigata was formerly the terminus of the Mangyongbong-92 ferry, one of the direct connections between Japan and North Korea.
Niigata has its own geisha culture since over 200 years ago dating back to the Edo period. This was due to the prosperity of the city as a port town. Locally they are called geigi and the tradition continues on. Most ochaya are located in the Furumachi neighbourhood with well-known places such as the Nabechaya.[14]
Niigata. 1905 . x.