View source for Totsukawa

{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Totsukawa
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = {{nobold|十津川村}}
| native_name_lang         = ja
| settlement_type          = [[Villages of Japan|Village]]
| other_name               = 
| image_skyline            = Totsukawa montage.JPG
| image_caption            = Clockwise from top left: Jyuni Waterfall, Totsukawa Spa area, Kamiyu Spa area, Kazeya Dam, Mount Shaka
| image_flag               = Flag of Totsukawa, Nara.svg
| image_seal               = Emblem of Totsukawa, Nara.svg
| image_map                = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=260|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|59|18|N|135|47|33|E|display=inline, title}}
| map_caption              = Location of Totsukawa in Nara Prefecture
| image_map1               = Totsukawa in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Japan
| 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        = [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| established_title2       = 
| established_date2        = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Hisao Nakashima Hisao
| leader_title1            = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1             = 
| unit_pref                = Metric
| area_total_km2           = 672.38
| population_total         = 2,657
| population_as_of         = January 1, 2025
| 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          = 225-1 Ōaza Ohara, Totsukawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken 637-1333
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| website                  = {{Official|1=https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/}}
| module                   = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = ''[[Cryptomeria]]''
 | flower = [[Rhododendron]]
 | bird = [[Japanese bush warbler]]
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
}}
}}
[[file:Totsukawa Village Office02.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Totsukawa Village Hall]]
{{nihongo|'''Totsukawa'''|十津川村|Totsukawa-mura|lead=yes}} is a geographically large village in the Yoshino District of [[Nara, Japan]].<ref name="muragaiyo">{{Cite web |title=村の概要 |trans-title=日本一広い村、十津川村。 |author= |work=vill.totsukawa.lg.jp |date=October 2018 |access-date=15 October 2023 |url= https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/village/ |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014074252/https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/village/ |archive-date=14 October 2023 }}</ref>  {{As of |2025|01|01}}, the village had an estimated [[population]] of 1,322 and a [[population density]] of 4.0 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Nara-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pref.nara.jp/6265.htmp|title=Nara Prefecture official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the village is {{cvt|672.38|km2}}.<ref name="muragaiyo"/>

==Geography==
Totsukawa is located in the Okuyoshino region, which is in the southern part of the Yoshino region, and has been isolated from the surrounding areas by the [[Kii Mountains]].  It is the largest village in Nara in terms of area, and the fifth largest village in Japan.<ref name=shinko>{{Cite web |title=面積からみた奈良県 |trans-title=総務省「社会生活統計指標」2011より |author= |date=August 2011 |access-date=15 October 2023 |url= https://www.pref.nara.jp/koho/kenmindayori/tayori/t2011/tayori2308/nara_toukei2308.htm |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604023439/https://www.pref.nara.jp/koho/kenmindayori/tayori/t2011/tayori2308/nara_toukei2308.htm|archive-date=4 June 2023 }}</ref>

===Surrounding municipalities===
[[Nara Prefecture]]
*[[Gojō, Nara| Gojō]]
*[[Kamikitayama, Nara| Kamikitayama]]
*[[Shimokitayama, Nara| Shimokitayama]]
*[[Nosegawa, Nara|Nosegawa]]
[[Mie Prefecture]]
*[[Kumano, Mie|Kumano]]
[[Wakayama Prefecture]]
*[[Shingū, Wakayama| Shingū]]
*[[Tanabe, Wakayama|Tanabe]]
*[[Kitayama, Wakayama|Kitayama]]

===Climate===
Totsukawa has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa''), which is hot and humid in the summer (above {{convert|30|°C|°F}}) and is somewhat cold in the winter with temperatures dropping to around freezing ({{convert|0|°C|°F}})

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Totsukawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
|Jan record high C = 17.1
|Feb record high C = 20.9
|Mar record high C = 26.0
|Apr record high C = 31.6
|May record high C = 34.5
|Jun record high C = 35.8
|Jul record high C = 38.0
|Aug record high C = 39.4
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 30.4
|Nov record high C = 23.6
|Dec record high C = 21.7
|Jan record low C = -6.0
|Feb record low C = -7.2
|Mar record low C = -4.4
|Apr record low C = -1.9
|May record low C = 2.1
|Jun record low C = 8.2
|Jul record low C = 13.0
|Aug record low C = 13.8
|Sep record low C = 8.9
|Oct record low C = 1.6
|Nov record low C = -1.6
|Dec record low C = -4.8
|Jan high C = 8.1
|Feb high C = 9.1
|Mar high C = 13.4
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 23.7
|Jun high C = 26.1
|Jul high C = 30.2
|Aug high C = 31.4
|Sep high C = 27.4
|Oct high C = 21.6
|Nov high C = 15.9
|Dec high C = 10.3
|Jan mean C = 3.4
|Feb mean C = 4.0
|Mar mean C = 7.3
|Apr mean C = 12.4
|May mean C = 17.0
|Jun mean C = 20.5
|Jul mean C = 24.3
|Aug mean C = 25.0
|Sep mean C = 21.6
|Oct mean C = 16.0
|Nov mean C = 10.4
|Dec mean C = 5.4
|Jan low C = -0.3
|Feb low C = -0.1
|Mar low C = 2.3
|Apr low C = 6.8
|May low C = 11.6
|Jun low C = 16.4
|Jul low C = 20.4
|Aug low C = 21.0
|Sep low C = 17.9
|Oct low C = 12.1
|Nov low C = 6.3
|Dec low C = 1.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 79.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 103.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 162.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 168.4
|May precipitation mm = 208.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 341.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 395.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 299.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 351.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 219.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 109.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 81.8
|year precipitation mm = 2538.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8.8
|Feb precipitation days = 9.5
|Mar precipitation days = 11.9
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 10.8
|Jun precipitation days = 14.0
|Jul precipitation days = 13.6
|Aug precipitation days = 12.3
|Sep precipitation days = 11.6
|Oct precipitation days = 10.6
|Nov precipitation days = 8.4
|Dec precipitation days = 8.5
|Jan sun = 122.1
|Feb sun = 122.9
|Mar sun = 159.0
|Apr sun = 184.2
|May sun = 183.5
|Jun sun = 120.5
|Jul sun = 149.9
|Aug sun = 180.0
|Sep sun = 135.1
|Oct sun = 138.9
|Nov sun = 129.6
|Dec sun = 123.6
|year sun = 1747.2
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=64&block_no=1228&year=2017&month=&day=&view=
|script-title=ja: 風屋 年・月ごとの平年値 | accessdate = 4 April 2018 |language=Japanese| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=64&block_no=1228&year=&month=&day=&view=
|script-title=ja:風屋 観測史上1～10位の値 | accessdate = 4 April 2018 |language=Japanese| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
The population of Totsukawa in 2020 was 3,061 people. Totsukawa has been conducting censuses since 1920.<ref name=zensus/>

{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 13,157
| 1925 | 11,445
| 1930 | 11,079
| 1935 | 12,093
| 1940 | 12,271
| 1945 | 12,118
| 1950 | 12,145
| 1955 | 12,503
| 1960 | 15,588
| 1965 | 10,776
| 1970 | 8,502
| 1975 | 8,086
| 1980 | 6,627
| 1985 | 6,001
| 1990 | 5,516
| 1995 | 5,202
| 2000 | 4,854
| 2005 | 4,390
| 2010 | 4,112
| 2015 | 3,508
| 2020 | 3,061
|align       = none
| footnote = Totsukawa population statistics<ref name=zensus>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/nara/ Totsukawa population statistics]</ref>
}}

==History==
===Etymology===
The name of the Totsukawa River {{nihongo|遠津川|totsukawa}}, which the village is named after was originally composed of the [[kanji]] {{nihongo|遠|to}}, meaning distant, {{nihongo|津|tsu}}, meaning harbor (or port), {{nihongo|川|kawa}}, meaning river, as the river was, and especially for the time its name is first said to appear ({{circa|1142 AD}}), far away from any ports. Because the village built along the river is also distant from the capital, {{nihongo|都|to}}, it was given the name {{nihongo|十津川村|totsukawa-mura}}, as a [[play-on-words]] meaning village of the river
distant from any ports or the capital.<ref name="totsureiki">{{Cite web |title=十津川の「歴史」ざっくりわかる、十津川の成立 |trans-title= |author= |work=vill.totsukawa.lg.jp |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014031523/https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/history/ |archive-date=14 October 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023 |url= https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/history/ |language=ja}}
</ref> The word used for the first kanji in the current name, {{nihongo|[[:wiktionary:十|十]]|to}}, and the original name for the river, {{nihongo|[[:wiktionary:都|遠]]|to}}, as well as the word for capital, {{nihongo|[[:wikt:都|都]]|to}}, all contain a reading of ''to''.<!--please fix this abomination and wikify this-->

===End of Kamakura and Muromachi period===
In 1333, [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] overthrew the [[Kamakura Shogunate]] and thus began the [[Kenmu Restoration]]. However, many samurai, including [[Ashikaga Takauji]] were dissatisfied with the new policies, and so a struggle ensued between them and the emperor. As a result of the struggle, the emperor fled to [[Yamato Province]], which composed much of present-day Nara Prefecture and included Totsukawa within.<ref name="totsureiki"/><ref name="yamanara">[[Louis-Frédéric|Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric]] (2005). "Yamato" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia''|page=1046}}.</ref> There he established the [[Southern Court]]. Totsukawa was deeply intertwined with the southern court, and [[Prince Morinaga]] once sought refuge there. Old documents written by the second emperor of the court, [[Gomurakami]] and Morinaga's son, [[Prince Okura]] are still kept and preserved within the village, and contain directives to the people of the village to assist the southern court. The people were said to be skilled martial artists and hunters, which is attributed to their recognition by multiple successive emperors within southern court.<ref name="totsureiki"/>

===Edo period===
In 1585, [[Toyotomi Hidenaga]], half-brother of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] was appointed governor of Yamato Province, [[Kii Province]] and [[Izumi Province]], and made lord of [[Kōriyama Castle]]. Two years later, in 1587, Hidenaga commenced a comprehensive land survey of Totsukawa, as expected of someone in his role. Kobori Masatsugu. appointed survey commissioner, executed the survey at Hidenaga's request. Following the survey, Totsukawa was subject to [[mura uke seido]] where each village would pay taxes as a unit.<ref name="totsureiki"/>

===Meiji Restoration to World War II===
In 1869, one year after the beginning of the [[Meiji Restoration]] following the fall of the [[Tokugawa Shogunate]], during significant changes in Japan, Totsukawa was incorporated into Nara Prefecture. In 1871, the people of the village were recognized for their service during the end of the shogunate and during the [[Boshin War]], some were even granted the title of samurai.<ref name="totsureiki"/>

In 1873, the land tax law was changed, and Totsukawa became taxes as well, instituting a plethora of changes to follow.<ref name="totsureiki"/>

In 1889, a major flood happened in Totsukawa, causing widespread destruction. In result, many citizens moved to [[Hokkaido]] and developed a new village there. The first and then governor of Nara, [[Saisho Atsushi]], issued a notice giving his respects and condolences, as well as informing them of disaster relief in the form of {{JPY|2000}}{{NoteTag|{{JPYConvert|2000|year=1889}}}} in gold from Emperor Meiji.<ref name="totsureiki"/><ref name="saa notice">[https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/sonpo/pdf/h22/sonpou7.pdf 村報とつかわ2010年7月号] - 十津川村役場（p.5を参照）</ref> The residents opted to name the new settlement “[[Shintotsukawa, Hokkaido|Shintotsukawa]]”{{NoteTag|''shin'' ([[:wiktionary:新]]) means new}}, literally “New Totsukawa".<ref name="totsureiki"/>

The villages of Kitatotsukawa, Totsukawa, Totsukawa Hanazono, Nakatotsukawa, Nishitotsukawa,  Minamitotsukawa and Higashitotsukawa were established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On June 19, 1890, these villages merged to form the village of Totsukawa.

==Government==
Totsukawa has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] village council of nine members. Totsukawa, collectively with the other municipalities of Yoshino District, contributes two members to the Nara Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the [[Nara 3rd district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

== Economy ==
The main industries are forestry, agriculture, and the farming and processing of river fish such as sweetfish.

==Education==
Totsukawa has two public elementary schools and one public junior high schools operated by the village government, and one public high school operated by the Nara Prefectural Board of Education.

==Transportation==
===Railways===
Totsukawa has no passenger railway service. The nearest train station is [[Gojō Station (Nara)|Gojō Station]] on the [[JR West]] [[Wakayama Line]].

=== Highways ===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|168}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|169}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|311}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|425}}

==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Miyoshi, Tokushima]], Japan
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto]], Japan

==Local attractions==
[[File:Tanise-Totsukawa.jpg|right|thumb|Tanize Suspension Bridge]]
===Tanize Suspension Bridge===
The {{nihongo|[[Tanize Suspension Bridge]]|谷瀬の吊り橋|tanize no tsuribashi|italic=set}} is a [[suspension bridge]] known for the ''Yuredaiko'', an annual drum festival on the bridge held on August 4 of every year.<ref>[https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASIH25H01_V20C14A9AA1P00/ 【謎解きクルーズ】奈良・十津川村 なぜ「東京弁」険しい峡谷 関西弁阻む] [[日本経済新聞]]サイト（2014年10月4日）</ref> It is one of Japan's longest steel-wire suspension bridges, and is located in the Tanize/Uenoji area in northern Totsukawa. It was built in 1954 and is {{cvt|54|m}} high and {{cvt|297|m}} long. Each family in the village donated {{JPY|2,000-3,000}} towards the construction. The money collected from the villagers totaled approximately {{JPY|8000000}}{{NoteTag|{{JPYConvert|8000000|year=1954}}}} in donations.<ref name=tourist>{{Cite web|url=http://totsukawa.info/joho/kanko/ |publisher=十津川村観光協会 |title=谷瀬の吊り橋|accessdate=2020-08-12}}</ref>

===Yaen gondolas===
[[File:Ya-en in Totsukawa-mura.jpg|thumb|left|Totsukawa Yaen Gondalas]]
There are gondolas called {{ill|yaen gondolas|ja|索道#野猿・吊舟|lt=yaen}} in Totsukawa village. Yaen are small gondolas hung from ropes above a river and move from shore to shore of the river, moving forward by pulling on a rope inside of the gondola. The name ''yaen'' comes from the Japanese word for ''wild monkey'', and were named as such because a person using one has the appearance of a wild monkey climbing a vine. They were historically used for transportation across the river by the villagers, as it would only take the average person around 10 minutes to move the entire route. They are no longer used as a means of transportation, and are now only used as a novelty.<ref>[http://www.totsukawa-nara.ed.jp/bridge/guide/around/ar_e28.htm 十津川探検 ～十津川巡り～「野猿」] 十津川かけはしネット（十津川村教育委員会</ref>

===Sasa-no-taki waterfall===
[[File:Sasa-no-taki.jpg|thumb|right|Sasa-no-taki Waterfall]]
{{nihongo|{{ill|Sasa-no-taki|ja|笹の滝}}|笹の滝}} is a waterfall located on the outskirts of Totsukawa,<ref name="tokasasa">[http://totsukawa.info/joho/kanko/2waterfall_of_the_sasa.html 笹の滝（十津川村観光協会HP）]</ref> and is ranked by [[Kodansha]] as one of the 100 Best Waterfalls in Japan.<ref>『日本の滝100選』 グリーンルネッサンス事務局/編、1991年、[[講談社]]</ref> It is about {{cvt|32|m}} tall and {{cvt|13|km}} away from Takikawa gorge, and has an altitude of {{cvt|500|m}} with multiple hiking trails leading up to the waterfall. The area directly under the waterfall, however, has its access restricted due to the safety hazard imposed by the risk of falling rocks.<ref name="tokasasa"/><ref>『日本の滝 (2) 西日本767滝』 北中康文/写真・文、2006年、[[山と渓谷社]]</ref>

===Tamaki Shrine===
[[File:Tamaki_Jinja,_Totsukawa009.JPG|thumb|left|Tamaki-jinja]]
{{nihongo|{{ill|Tamaki Shrine|ja|玉置神社}}|玉置神社|tamaki jinja}} is a [[Shinto]] shrine located at the top of {{nihongo|{{ill|Mt. Tamaki|ja|玉置山}}|玉置山|tamaki san}}. It was built by [[Emperor Sujin]] in 37 BC and is surrounded by several large [[Japanese cedar|cedar]] trees. Tamaki Shrine is registered as a landmark with the [[UNESCO World Heritage]] Center as one of the "[[Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range]]."<ref name="Takamuro">[https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2807 玉置神社社務所及び台所]（[[1988年]]〈昭和63年〉指定、重要文化財〈建造物〉）、[https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/ 国指定文化財等データベース]（[[文化庁]]）&nbsp;<span title="">2010年6月5日</span>閲覧。、pp.39,75</ref><ref name="Sugi">{{Cite web|author=奈良県教育委員会文化財保存課・文化財保存事務所|url=http://www.pref.nara.jp/secure/9689/kenshitei-zentai.pdf|title=奈良県指定文化財一覧|accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref>

===Totsukawa Onsen===
[[File:Totsukawa spa town 2011.JPG|right|thumb|Totsukawa Onsen]]
{{nihongo|{{ill|Totsukawa Onsen|ja|十津川温泉}}|十津川温泉}} is an [[onsen]] hot spring located in the middle of Totsukawa village. Around the hot spring, there are multiple bathhouses, also known colloquially as ''onsen'', which utilize the hot spring.<ref name=totsuon>[http://totsukawa.info/joho/totsukawa_onsen_gou/2totsukawa_onsen.html 十津川村観光協会]</ref> {{nihongo|{{ill|Tosenji Onsen|ja|湯泉地温泉}}|湯泉地温泉}} is the oldest bathhouse in the village, dating back to 1581.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://totsukawa.info/joho/totsukawa_onsen_gou/index.html | title=【十津川村観光協会】 湯泉地温泉 }}</ref> The bathhouses pipe the water from the hot spring into their facilities without recycling, heating or prior treatment.<ref name=totsuon/>

===Hatenashi mountain range===
{{nihongo|{{ill|Hatenashi mountain range|ja|果無山脈}}|果無山脈|hatenashi sanmyaku}} is about {{cvt|1200|m}} in height. This mountain range is located on the boundary between Nara and Wakayama Prefecture and stretches about {{cvt|30|km}}. The place where Hatenashi mountain range meets Kohechi at Kumano-Kodo route is called Hatenashi pass. This pass is {{cvt|1070|m}} high. The Kumano-Kodo pilgrimage routes are designated as a World Heritage Site.<ref name="Kadokawa_1992_844">「角川日本地名大辞典」編纂委員会[1992: 844]</ref><ref>宇江[2004b: 90]</ref>

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|3253735}}
* [http://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/ Totsukawa Village web page] (in Japanese)

{{Nara Prefecture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Nara Prefecture]]