Wazuka

2025-10-14T05:39:03Z

2400:2650:8840:9900:40EA:1DE5:C9BF:4FE3: minor grammar change to the Economy section.

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Wazuka
| official_name =
| native_name = {{nobold|和束町}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Towns of Japan|Town]]
| other_name =
| image_skyline =和束町役場01.JPG
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Wazuka Town Hall
| image_flag = Flag of Wazuka, Kyoto.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Wazuka, Kyoto.svg
| image_map= {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=8}}
| image_map1 = Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_caption = Location of Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|34|47|44|N|135|54|18|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Sōraku District, Kyoto|Sōraku]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 64.93
| population_total = 3,478
| population_as_of = April 1, 2023
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 14-2 Ikusui, Oaza Kamazuka, Wazuka-machi, Soraku-gun, Kyoto-fu 619-1295
| website = {{Official website|1=http://www.town.wazuka.kyoto.jp/}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| tree = [[Cryptomeria]]
| flower = ''[[Camellia sinensis]]''
| bird = [[Green pheasant]]
| flowering_tree =
| butterfly =
| fish =
| other_symbols =
}}
}}
[[file:Wazuka,KyotoIMG 1428.jpg|thumb|270px| Tea plantations in Wazuka]]
[[File:Wazuka town.jpg|thumb|Wazuka Town Kyoto]]
{{nihongo|'''Wazuka'''|和束町|Wazuka-chō}} is a [[List of towns in Japan|town]] located in [[Sōraku District, Kyoto|Sōraku District]], [[Kyoto Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2023|04|01}}, the town has an estimated [[population]] of 3,571.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/tokei/monthly/suikeijinkou/suikeitop.html|title= Official website of Kyoto Prefecture|publisher= Kyoto Prefecture|location= Japan|language= Japanese|accessdate= October 19, 2022}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 54 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area is 64.93 km<sup>2</sup>.

==Geography==
Wazuka is located in the hills of far southeastern of Kyoto Prefecture.

===Neighboring municipalities===
;{{flagicon|Kyoto}}[[Kyoto Prefecture]]
*[[Kizugawa, Kyoto|Kizugawa]]
*[[Sōraku District, Kyoto|Sōraku District]] ([[Kasagi, Kyoto|Kasagi]]・[[Minamiyamashiro, Kyoto|Minamiyamashiro]])
*[[Tsuzuki District, Kyoto|Tsuzuki District]] ([[Ide, Kyoto|Ide]]・[[Ujitawara, Kyoto|Ujitawara]])
;{{flagicon|Shiga}}[[Shiga Prefecture]]
*[[Kōka, Shiga|Kōka]]

===Climate===
Wazuka has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Wazuka is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1439 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2,1 °C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/kyoto-prefecture/wazuka-47064/ Wazuka climate: Average Temperature, weather by month]</ref>

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-kyoto.php Wazuka population statistics]</ref> the population of Wazuka has declined in recent decades.

{{Historical populations
| 1940 |6186
| 1950 | 7489
| 1960 | 6889
| 1970 | 6316
| 1980 | 6290
| 1990 | 6079
| 2000 | 5457
| 2010 | 4482
| 2020 | 3478
|align = none
| footnote =
}}

== History ==
The area of Wazuka was part of ancient [[Yamashiro Province]]. During the [[Edo Period]], the area was part of the holdings of the [[Imperial family of Japan|Imperial family]]. The villages of Nishiwazuka, Nakawazuka and Higashiwazuka were merged to form the town of Wazuka on December 15, 1954.

==Government==
Wazuka has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] town council of ten members. Wazuka, collectively with the other municipalities of Sōraku District and the city of Kizugawa, contributes two members to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the [[Kyoto 6th district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

==Economy==
Wazuka is a rural area, with an economy based on agriculture, with the area noted for its production of [[green tea]]. Wazuka is home to roughly 300 tea growing families.<ref name="Japan Travel">{{Cite web|url=https://en.japantravel.com/kyoto/wazuka-japanese-tea-town/8231|title=Wazuka – Japanese Tea Town – Kyoto|website=JapanTravel}}</ref> The area was selected in the Kamakura period (1192–1333) for tea production and has enjoyed an 800-year history as one of the main production areas of [[Uji tea]]. Today Uji tea comprises only about 4% of the tea produced in Japan, and [[Wazuka tea]] only half of that.<ref name="Itouen Tea Research">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocha.tv/growing_regions/nihoncha_producers/|title=日本茶（緑茶）の主要産地|website=お茶百科}}</ref> Also a considerable crop of rice is produced among other agricultural products. The local community is in cooperation with NICE,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nice1.gr.jp/en/wcj_list/|title=International workcamps in Japan & Asia projects list|website=www.nice1.gr.jp}}</ref> a major volunteer program, and together hold a large annual work camp at the end of August lasting 2 weeks. The program is open to about 12 foreigners per year and an equal number of Japanese work campers.

In addition, Wazuka is home to [[Obubu Tea Farm]], one of the biggest tea producers in the country. [[Obubu Tea farm]] offers interesting activities such as tea harvesting events, tea tours for tourists and professionals, visits to the tea fields and production facilities, [[tea]] tasting and production, in addition to [[mochi]] making and [[pottery]] classes and events. Additionally, Wazuka is also home to [https://blodgelodge.com Blodge Lodge], a popular private guesthouse, run by a Japanese-American couple. Besides private stays, [https://blodgelodge.com/en/front-page/ Blodge Lodge] also offers tea tasting, tea ceremony, matcha art, cooking classes, and private tours of Wazuka.

===Wazuka tea history===
[[Kaijūsen-ji]] temple is often credited with bringing tea to Wazuka village. Shonin Jishin, a Zen Buddhist monk of the temple, was the first person to begin cultivation of tea there. He began cultivation on Mt. Jubu, where the practice began to spread to the village of Wazuka below. The original function of tea that was grown in Wazuka was grown for medicinal use for Zen Buddhist monks. The monks in the area used it for training at their temples.

The type of tea grown in Wazuka, Uji tea, was first introduced on to the world stage when [[Matthew C. Perry|Commodore Perry]], head of the United States [[East India Squadron|East Indian Squadron]], influenced Japan to open up trade in the [[Tokyo Bay|Edo Bay]] in 1853.

Later, the village of Wazuka itself, along with former villages [[Kamo, Shizuoka|Kamo-Mura]] and Koma-Mura, began to reach acclaim within Japan when it won a prize in a national tea exposition in [[Ueno Park]], Tokyo in 1890.<ref>2015. ''The History of Wazuka Tea''. Wazuka-cho, Kyoto, Japan</ref>

==Education==
Wazuka has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the ''Sōraku Tōbu kōiki rengō''. The town does not have a high school

== Transportation ==
===Railways===
Wazuka does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest train station is [[Kamo Station (Kyoto)|Kamo Station]] on the [[JR West]] [[Kansai Main Line]].

=== Highways ===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|163}}

==Local attractions==
* {{ill|Asakasinnoryobo|ja|安積親王陵墓}}
* {{ill|Kontaiji Temple|ja|金胎寺}}
* {{ill|Sakajiri Tomb|ja|坂尻1・2号墳}}

<gallery>
Wazuka town japan.jpg|Farmland in Wazuka
Kebon teh.jpg|Cycling in Tea plantation in Wazuka, Kyoto
Wazuka,KyotoIMG 1403.jpg|Scenery of the tea plantation in Wazuka Town
Wazukatown center area.JPG|Wazukatown center area
Wazuka,KyotoIMG 1469.jpg|Syohoujisan mountain in Wazuka Town
Asakasinnou tomb01.jpg|Asakasinnou tomb
Wazuka Magaibutsu.JPG|Wazuka Magaibutsu
Kontaiji Temple Goma Houyou 20130901.jpg|Kontaiji Temple Goma Houyou
Sikyakumon.jpg|Syohoji temple
Sakajirikofun.jpg|Sakajiri Tomb No1
SakajiriNO2.jpg|Sakajiri Tomb No2 entrance
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.town.wazuka.kyoto.jp/ Wazuka official website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Kyoto}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Kyoto Prefecture]]

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Wazuka