Kurobe, Toyama

Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox settlement Template:Nihongo is a city in Toyama Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 41,564 in 15,387 households and a population density of 95.8 persons per km².<ref>Kurobe city official statistics Template:In lang</ref> Its total area was Template:Convert.Template:Citation needed

Geography

Kurobe is located in northeastern of Toyama Prefecture, with a topography ranging from sea level at Toyama Bay to the 3000 meter mountains of the Northern Alps on the border with Nagano Prefecture. The Kurobe River flows through the city. Kurobe has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kurobe is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2277 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.6 °C.<ref>Kurobe climate data</ref>

Surrounding municipalities

• Nagano Prefecture
  • Hakuba
  • Omachi
• Toyama Prefecture
  • Asahi
  • Kamiichi
  • Nyūzen
  • Tateyama
  • Uozu

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,<ref>Kurobe population statistics</ref> the population of Kurobe has remained relatively steady over the past 50 years. Template:Historical populations

History

The area is home to the Aimotohimesha Shrine and also shares its name with Kurobe River, both of which form a central element in the local legend of a powerful serpent of Kurobe River.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The area of present-day Kurobe was part of ancient Etchū Province. The towns of Ikuji and Mikkaichi were created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the municipalities system. On April 1, 1954, the town of Ikuji merged with the town of Sakurai to form the city of Kurobe.<ref name="Kurobe history">Kurobe official city historyTemplate:In lang</ref>

On March 31, 2006 the town of Unazuki (from Shimoniikawa District) was merged into Kurobe.<ref name ="Kurobe history"/>

Government

Kurobe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

File:Kurobe City Hall.jpg

Kurobe city hall

Economy

Kurobe is the world headquarters of YKK.

Education

Kurobe has nine public elementary schools and four public junior high schools. The city has one public high school operated by the Toyama Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school.Template:Citation needed

Transportation

Railway

• File:JR logo (west).svgWest Japan Railway Company (JR West) – Hokuriku Shinkansen
  • Template:STN
• File:Ainokaze Toyama Railway logo.png Ainokaze Toyama Railway
  • Template:STN - Template:STN
• File:Toyama Chiho Railway logo.jpg Toyama Chihō Railway
  • Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN - Template:STN
• Kurobe Gorge Railway

Highway

• Template:Jct

International relations

• Template:Flagicon Sneek, Friesland, Netherlands, since September 10, 1970<ref name=International>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Template:Flagicon Macon-Bibb, Georgia, United States, since May 10, 1977<ref name= "Kurobe relations">Kurobe city official home pageTemplate:In lang</ref>
• Template:Flagicon Samcheok, Korea, friendship city<ref name= "Kurobe relations"/>

Local attractions

• Kurobe Gorge
• Unazuki Onsen

Notable people from Kurobe

• Susumu Kurobe, actor
• Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, politician

External links

• Template:Wikivoyage-inline
• Template:Official Template:In lang
• Kurobe Unazuki-onsen Tourist Board