Murakami, Niigata
Template:Nihongo is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 58,300 in 22,594 households,<ref>Murakami City official statisticsTemplate:In lang</ref> and a population density of 50 persons per km². The total area of the city was Template:Convert.
Geography
File:Goishi Beach and Neya Fishing Port, Murakami, Niigata, Japan - Aerial Video.webm Murakami is the northernmost and easternmost city of Niigata prefecture. Located on the coast of the Sea of Japan, it is bordered by Yamagata Prefecture to the north and east. In terms of area, it is the largest city in Niigata.
Surrounding municipalities
Climate
Murakami has a humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Murakami is Template:Cvt. The average annual rainfall is Template:Cvt with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around Template:Cvt, and lowest in January, at around Template:Cvt.<ref name ="normals"/>
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,<ref>Murakami population statistics</ref> the population of Murakami has declined steadily over the past 70 years.
Template:Historical populations
History
The area of present-day Murakami was part of ancient Echigo Province. Murakami developed as a port and a castle town for the Murakami Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence as a residence of samurai and merchants. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized as part of Iwafune District, Niigata, and the town of Murakami was established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Murakami was raised to city status on March 31, 1954. On April 1, 2008, the towns of Arakawa and Sanpoku and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi (all from Iwafune District) were merged into Murakami.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Government
Murakami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. Murakami, collectively with the villages of Sekikawa and Awashimaura contributes two members to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Education
Murakami has 21 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government. There is one public middle school and three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school.
Transportation
Railway
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Highway
- Template:Jct – Kamihayashi-Iwafune IC, Murakami-Senami Onsen IC, Murakami-Yamaberi IC, Asahi-Miomote IC, Asahi-Mahoroba IC
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Sister cities
- Template:Flagicon Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Local attractions
Famous products of Murakami are tea (Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon, and Murakami beef. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island.
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Salmon in Murakami -
Samurai residence -
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National Historic Sites
- Hirabayashi Castle ruins
- Murakami Castle ruins
- Yamamoto Site
Festivals
Template:Ill, a traditional regional festival, has been held in the downtown area on July 6 and 7, annually, since 1868.