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Coordinates: 36°52′16″N 140°0′56″E / 36.87111°N 140.01556°E / 36.87111; 140.01556
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{{distinguish|Odawara, Kanagawa}}
[[Image:Tochigi-ootawara-city.png|thumb|Location of Ōtawara in Tochigi Prefecture]]
{{Infobox settlement
{{nihongo|'''Ōtawara'''|大田原市|Ōtawara-shi}} is a [[cities of Japan|city]] located in eastern [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]] [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]], [[Japan]] which is in the northern part of the [[Kantō region]] north of [[Tokyo]]. Otawara is approximately 40 kilometers north of [[Utsunomiya, Tochigi|Utsunomiya]], the capital of Tochigi-[[prefectures of Japan|ken]] and approximately 50 km east of the historic town of [[Nikko, Tochigi|Nikko]]. The city's name may also be spelled "Ohtawara" as indicated by the official city website, as well as other websites.
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name = Ōtawara
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|大田原市}}}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Otawara City Office.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Ōtawara City Hall
| image_flag = Flag of Otawara, Tochigi.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_seal = Emblem of Otawara, Tochigi.svg
| seal_alt =
| image_shield =
| shield_alt =
| image_blank_emblem =
| nickname =
| motto =
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Otawara in Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Ōtawara in [[Tochigi Prefecture]]
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = &nbsp;
| coordinates = {{coord|36|52|16|N|140|0|56|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) -->
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]
| subdivision_name3 =
<!-- established -->
| established_title = First official recorded
| established_date = late 3rd century (official) {{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
| established_title2 = Town settled
| established_date2 = April 1, 1889
| established_title3 = City settled
| established_date3 = December 1, 1954
| founder =
| named_for =
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat =
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[:ja:相馬憲一|Kenichi Sōma]] (from April 2022)
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric -->
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes = <ref name="pop stats">[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/kokusei/2015/summary.htm Basic Complete Tabulation on Population and Households (Oct 2015). 09 - Tochigi-ken.] Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan. Retrieved February 23, 2017.</ref>
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_total_km2 = 354.36
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m =
<!-- population -->
| population_total = 73189
| population_as_of = July 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="pop stats" />
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_demonym = <!-- demonym, ie. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool -->
| population_note =
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1 = +9
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = Phone&nbsp;number
| blank_info_sec1 = 0287-23-1111
| blank1_name_sec1 = Address
| blank1_info_sec1 = 1-4-1 Honchō, Ōtawara-shi, Tochigi-ken 324-8641
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official|1=http://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/}}
| footnotes =
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| tree = [[Ginkgo biloba]]
| flower = [[Chrysanthemum]]
| bird =
| flowering_tree =
| butterfly =
| fish = [[Tokyo bitterling]]
| other_symbols =
}}
}}
[[File:Otawara, Tochigi, Japan.jpg|thumb|View from the ruins of Ōtawara Castle]]


{{Nihongo|'''Ōtawara'''|大田原市|Ōtawara-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Tochigi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2020|07|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 72,189 in 30,136 households,<ref name="Otawara-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/top.html |title= Ōtawara City official home page|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 210 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is {{convert|354.36|sqkm|sqmi}}. The city's name may also be spelled "Ohtawara" as indicated by the official city website.
Ōtawara has an estimated population of 78,366 as of September 2008, and an area of approximately 354 square kilometers. Ōtawara has an average temperature of 1.2 degrees Celsius in January up to 23.1 degrees Celsius in August and an annual average temperature of 12.9 degrees Celsius. Ōtawara averages approximately 158.7 millimeters of rainfall per year with the wettest months being June through September. About 50% of Ōtawara is covered by rice fields with about 12% being mountains and forests. The elevation of Ōtawara is 217.76 meters. The official flower of Ōtawara is the [[chrysanthemum]]. Ōtawara is accessed by the [[Tohoku Expressway]] or [[Nasushiobara Station|Nasushiobara]] [[Shinkansen]] Station of the [[Tohoku Shinkansen]] line on the westside of the city. Otawara is a [[sister city]] of [[West Covina]], [[California]].


== History ==
==Geography==
Ōtawara is located in northeast [[Tochigi Prefecture]] in the foothills of the Nasu region. About 50% of Ōtawara is covered by rice fields with about 12% being mountains and forests. The average elevation of Ōtawara is 217.76 meters. Ōtawara is approximately 40 kilometers north of [[Utsunomiya, Tochigi|Utsunomiya]], the capital of Tochigi, and approximately 50&nbsp;km east of the historic city of [[Nikkō, Tochigi|Nikkō]]. The city is long in the east and west direction, and the eastern side of the city is bordered by Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures. The Yamizo Mountains extend along the prefectural border with Ibaraki Prefecture in the eastern part of the prefecture. Rivers include the [[Naka River (Tochigi Ibaraki)|Naka River]], which runs north–south in the eastern part of the city.


===Surrounding municipalities===
The modern city was founded on [[December 1]], [[1954]]. Ōtawara Castle was built in the year [[1545]] and it prospered during the [[Edo Period]] (1603-1867) as Ōtawara Castle Town. Ōtawara Prefecture was born in 1871 and afterwards it was integrated into Tochigi Prefecture. The town was known as Ota Haramachi in 1889. In December 1954, Ota Haramachi and Kin Tamura combined into Ōtawara City. Later, Nozaki Village and part of Nishi Nasuno Town merged with the City in November 1955. In 2005, Ōtawara merged with Yuzugami Village and Kurobane Town to form the present day Ōtawara City.
[[Fukushima Prefecture]]
* [[Tanagura, Fukushima|Tanagura]]
[[Ibaraki Prefecture]]
* [[Daigo, Ibaraki|Daigo]]
[[Tochigi Prefecture]]
* [[Nakagawa, Tochigi|Nakagawa]]
* [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]]
* [[Nasushiobara, Tochigi|Nasushiobara]]
* [[Sakura, Tochigi|Sakura]]
* [[Yaita, Tochigi|Yaita]]


===Climate===
== Cultural and historical assets ==
Ōtawara has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōtawara is {{cvt|12.9|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1522.6|mm}} with June through July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|24.4|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|1.7|C}}.<ref name=normals/>
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Ōtawara (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
|Jan record high C = 18.0
|Feb record high C = 21.5
|Mar record high C = 24.7
|Apr record high C = 29.9
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 34.8
|Jul record high C = 37.1
|Aug record high C = 37.2
|Sep record high C = 35.0
|Oct record high C = 30.8
|Nov record high C = 23.6
|Dec record high C = 22.9
|Jan record low C = -16.4
|Feb record low C = -11.9
|Mar record low C = -9.5
|Apr record low C = -5.5
|May record low C = 2.0
|Jun record low C = 7.7
|Jul record low C = 9.0
|Aug record low C = 12.2
|Sep record low C = 6.2
|Oct record low C = 0.1
|Nov record low C = -5.9
|Dec record low C = -8.9
|Jan high C = 7.4
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 12.1
|Apr high C = 17.6
|May high C = 22.3
|Jun high C = 25.0
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 29.8
|Sep high C = 26.0
|Oct high C = 20.5
|Nov high C = 15.1
|Dec high C = 9.9
|Jan mean C = 1.7
|Feb mean C = 2.6
|Mar mean C = 5.9
|Apr mean C = 11.3
|May mean C = 16.5
|Jun mean C = 20.0
|Jul mean C = 23.5
|Aug mean C = 24.4
|Sep mean C = 20.8
|Oct mean C = 15.1
|Nov mean C = 9.1
|Dec mean C = 4.0
|Jan low C = -3.4
|Feb low C = -2.7
|Mar low C = 0.2
|Apr low C = 5.5
|May low C = 11.4
|Jun low C = 15.9
|Jul low C = 19.9
|Aug low C = 20.7
|Sep low C = 16.8
|Oct low C = 10.4
|Nov low C = 3.6
|Dec low C = -1.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 34.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 34.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 84.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 108.3
|May precipitation mm = 139.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 172.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 235.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 235.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 209.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 160.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 71.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 39.5
|year precipitation mm = 1522.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 4.3
|Feb precipitation days = 4.8
|Mar precipitation days = 8.2
|Apr precipitation days = 10.0
|May precipitation days = 11.3
|Jun precipitation days = 14.3
|Jul precipitation days = 15.7
|Aug precipitation days = 13.4
|Sep precipitation days = 12.7
|Oct precipitation days = 10.1
|Nov precipitation days = 6.7
|Dec precipitation days = 4.5
|Jan sun = 193.5
|Feb sun = 185.5
|Mar sun = 194.1
|Apr sun = 189.1
|May sun = 183.2
|Jun sun = 129.6
|Jul sun = 128.5
|Aug sun = 148.0
|Sep sun = 120.3
|Oct sun = 139.9
|Nov sun = 161.5
|Dec sun = 180.3
|year sun = 1953.4
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=41&block_no=0331&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = May 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=41&block_no=0331&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = May 19, 2022}}</ref>}}


===Demographics===
Otawara is home to several historical and cultural assets.
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-tochigi.php Ōtawara population statistics]</ref> the population of Ōtawara has remained relatively steady over the past 70 years.


{{Historical populations
The Shino Kura Hall is a [[thatching|thatched]] roof style building dating to approximately the late 1850s or early 1860s, the end of the [[Edo Period]]. The Hall displays old equipment and other artifacts dating to that time period such as large carts, a foot [[threshing machine]], a packsaddle, and a milk machine. The Hall also serves handmade soba noodles using home-grown buckwheat.
| 1920 | 20,064
| 1930 | 22,216
| 1940 | 23,069
| 1950 | 77,363
| 1960 | 71,806
| 1970 | 65,232
| 1980 | 71,276
| 1990 | 76,406
| 2000 | 78,993
| 2010 | 77,707
| 2020 | 72,087
|align = none
|footnote =
}}


==History==
Also located in Otawara are several ancient [[samurai]] burial mounds dating to approximately 1692. Little is know specifically of the samurai who are buried there however.
During the [[Sengoku period]], the area was controlled by the [[Ōtawara clan]], who built [[Ōtawara Castle]] in 1545. The surrounding ''[[jōkamachi]]'' was a ''[[shukuba]]'' on the [[Ōshū Kaidō]] highway to northern Japan. During the [[Edo Period]], [[Ōtawara Domain]] under the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] lasted for over 250 years until the [[Meiji period]]. [[Kurobane Domain]] was another feudal domain which existed within the borders of modern Ōtawara during this time. With the creation of the modern municipality system on April 1, 1889, the town of Ōtawara was created. On December 1, 1954, the town of Ōtawara and the villages of Chikasono and Kaneda combined to form the city of Ōtawara. The city annexed part of Nozaki Town on December 31, 1954 followed by part of Nishinasuno Town on April 1, 1955 and the town of Sakuyama on November 5, 1955.


On October 1, 2005, the town of [[Kurobane, Tochigi|Kurobane]], and the village of Yuzukami (both from [[Nasu District, Tochigi|Nasu District]]) were merged into Ōtawara.
The local performing arts center for Ōtawara and the nearby city of [[Nasushiobara, Tochigi|Nasushiobara]] is called Harmony Hall where concerts and theater performances are held.


==Government==
There are three libraries in the Otawara City library system, the Tabara Hiroshi Library, Kurobane Library, and the Yudukami Library
Ōtawara has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] town council of 21 members. Ōtawara contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of [[Tochigi 3rd district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].


==Economy==
== Sports and recreation ==
[[File:OTAWARA TOBU.jpg|thumb|Tōbu department store]]
Ōtawara is one of the largest rice producing areas in Tochigi. The city is also home to four [[industrial park]]s, and industries include corporations such as [[Canon Medical Systems Corporation]] which sells medical imaging equipment worldwide including CT scans, and [[Mochida Pharmaceutical]] Co. Ltd. which specializes in the sales of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and skincare products. Tochigi Nikon Corporation, a member of the [[Nikon|Nikon Group]] that designs and manufactures optical products, electronic imaging equipment, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and optical lenses, is also located in Ōtawara.


==Education==
The largest sporting event the city hosts is the Tabara Hiroshi Marathon which is held annually on November 23rd, Labor Day. There are ten golf courses in the Ōtawara area. The golf courses include both public courses and private country clubs such the New St. Andrews Golf Club which is a [[Jack Nicklaus]] design course. Otawara has a large sports and recreation complex called the North Tochigi Prefecture Gymnasium. The gymnasium has a main arena for general sports and cultural events and includes two basketball and three volleyball courts, 10 badminton courts, 20 ping-pong tables, one handball court, 10 tennis courts, two wrestling and karate rings. The arena can seat up to 1,500 spectators. In addition, there is a separate smaller arena, martial arts area, and training rooms. Several other gymnasiums, community pools, and sports fields are located throughout the Otawara area.
Ōtawara has 20 public elementary schools eight public junior high schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. The [[International University of Health and Welfare]] is located in Ōtawara. The university was established in 1995, with the aim of training experts in the field of health and welfare.


==Transportation==
== Shopping and dining ==
[[File:Map of railway stations around Otawara City.png|thumb|Railway stations]]
[[Image:OTAWARA TOBU.jpg|thumb|Tobu in Otawara]]
Located in Ōtawara is a Tobu Department Store shopping center which includes a McDonald's and other food stands, a grocery store, and a standard department store selling jewelry, cosmetics, clothing and many other items. The city also has a large variety of other shopping and dining to choose from such as a [[Uniqlo]] clothing store, [[Yamada Denki|Yamada electronics department store]], many home improvement stores, grocery stores and clothing stores, a [[MOS Burger]], a [[Mister Donut]] and many other restaurants.


== Industries ==
===Railway===
[[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]] [[JR East]] – [[Tohoku Main Line]] ([[Utsunomiya Line]])
*{{STN|Nozaki|Tochigi}}


===Highway===
The city is home to corporations such as Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation which sells medical equipment worldwide including CT Scans and other medical imaging equipment and Mochida Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. which specializes in the sales of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and skincare products. Tochigi Nikon Corporation is also located in Ōtawara. Tochigi Nikon Corporation is a member of the Nikon Group and specializes in the development, design and manufacture of optical products and electronic imaging equipment; design and manufacture of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and optical lenses.
* {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4}} – Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|294}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|400}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|461}}


== Education ==
==Local attractions==
[[File:OtawaraTemple4.jpg|thumb|right|Entrance to Kōshin-ji in Ōtawara.]]
Ōtawara is home to several historical and cultural assets:
* Kasaishi Shrine (笠石神社) dating to the 690s AD has one of the oldest surviving examples of writing in Japan
*site of Kurobane Castle
*Kurobane Onsen
*[[Nakagawa Aquatic Park]]
*Nasunogahara Harmony Hall
*site of Ōtawara Castle
*Ōtawara Onsen
*Shino Kura Hall is a [[thatching|thatched]] roof style building dating to approximately the late 1850s or early 1860s, the end of the [[Edo period]]. The Hall displays old equipment and other artifacts dating to that time period such as large carts, a foot [[threshing machine]], a packsaddle, and a milk machine. The Hall also serves handmade soba noodles using home-grown buckwheat.
*Unganji (雲巌寺), a Buddhist temple in the east side of Ōtawara, is a location where [[Matsuo Bashō]] stopped during the journey recorded in ''[[Oku no Hosomichi|The Narrow Road to the Deep North]]'' ([[Oku no Hosomichi]])''.'' A stone engraved with a ''haiku'' he wrote inspired by what he saw there is displayed.


== Sports and recreation ==
The city has 23 municipal elementary schools and 12 municipal junior high schools as well as a common prefectural high school. The International University of Health and Welfare is located in Ōtawara. The university was established in 1995, with the aim of training experts in the field of health and welfare.
The largest sporting event the city hosts is the Tabara Hiroshi Marathon which is held annually on November 23, Labor Day. There are ten golf courses in the Ōtawara area, including both public courses and private country clubs such the New St. Andrews Golf Club which is a [[Jack Nicklaus]] design course. Ōtawara has a large sports and recreation complex called the [[Tochigi Prefectural North Gymnasium]]. The gymnasium has a main arena for general sports and cultural events and includes two basketball and three volleyball courts, 10 badminton courts, 20 ping-pong tables, one handball court, 10 tennis courts, two wrestling and karate rings. The arena can seat up to 1,500 spectators. In addition, there is a separate smaller arena, martial arts area, and training rooms. Several other gymnasiums, community pools, and sports fields are located throughout the Ōtawara area.


==International relations==
==Photo gallery==
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[St Andrews]], [[Scotland]], United Kingdom<ref>[http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/english/intro/international.html] Tochigi Prefecture official home page</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[West Covina]], [[California]], United States<ref>[http://www.westcovina.org/about-the-city/sister-city/ohtawara-japan] West Covina official home page</ref>


==Noted people==
<gallery>
* [[Masakazu Fukuda]], professional wrestler<ref>[http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=1052] Wrestler Data.com</ref>
Image:OtawaraTemple4.jpg|Kōshin-ji Temple entrance in Ōtawara.
* [[Hokutōriki Hideki]], sumo wrestler
Image:OtawaraTemple3.jpg|[[Guan Yin|Kannon]] statues at Kōshin-ji Temple.
* [[Hikaru Midorikawa]], voice actor
Image:otawarashrine2.jpg|Grave of Ōtawara clan at Kōshin-ji Temple grounds.
* [[Yumiko Ōshima]], cartoonist
Image:OtawaraTemple2.jpg|Ōtawara Sukekiyo, the lord of Ōtawara castle.
* [[Nasu Sukeharu]], [[Muromachi period|Muromachi-era]] ''[[daimyō]]''
Image:OtawaraTemple6.jpg|Temple Statue.
* [[Kazue Takahashi]], voice actress
</gallery>
* [[Hirobumi Watanabe]], movie director
* [[Michio Watanabe]], politician


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<ref>http://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/</ref>


==External links==
==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
{{external links|date=September 2009}}<!--This section is not supposed to link to commercial entities merely located in this city-->
*[http://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{commonscat|Otawara, Tochigi}}
* [http://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/ Otawara official website] in Japanese
*[http://www.ohtawara.info/ Ōtawara Tourism Association] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.tochigi-nikon.co.jp/ Tochigi Nikon Corp.] in Japanese
* [http://www.mochida.co.jp/english/index_e.htm Mochida Pharmaceutical Co.]
* [http://www.toshiba-medical.co.jp/tmd/english/ Toshiba Medical Systems Corp.]
* [http://www.pref.tochigi.jp/kogyo/english/03/index3.html Information on Tochigi's industries including those located in Otawara.]
* [http://www.nsaj.com/ New St. Andrews Golf Club] in Japanese
* [http://www.nasu-hh.com/ Harmony Hall] in Japanese
* [http://www.iuhw.ac.jp/ International University of Health and Welfare]
* [http://www.pref.tochigi.jp/intro/gaikokugo/english/englishtop.html Tochigi Prefecture Website]
* [http://www.tobu-dept.jp/ Tobu Department Store] in Japanese
* [http://72.14.203.104/maps?hl=ja&om=1&ie=UTF8&ll=36.427912,140.149841&spn=1.425357,1.963806&z=9 Regional Google map] in Japanese


{{Tochigi}}
{{Tochigi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|36|52|N|140|1|E|region:JP_type:city|display=title}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Otawara, Tochigi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Otawara, Tochigi}}
[[Category:Cities in Tochigi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Cities in Tochigi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Ōtawara]]

[[ar:أوتاوارا، توتشيغي]]
[[de:Ōtawara]]
[[fr:Ōtawara]]
[[gl:Ōtawara]]
[[it:Ōtawara]]
[[nl:Otawara]]
[[ja:大田原市]]
[[pt:Otawara]]
[[ro:Otawara, Tochigi]]
[[tl:Otawara, Tochigi]]
[[tg:Отавара]]
[[zh:大田原市]]

Latest revision as of 14:35, 7 October 2024

Not to be confused with Odawara, Kanagawa.
Ōtawara
大田原市
City
Ōtawara City Hall
Ōtawara City Hall
Flag of Ōtawara
Flag
Official seal of Ōtawara
Seal
Location of Ōtawara in Tochigi Prefecture
Location of Ōtawara in Tochigi Prefecture
Ōtawara is located in Japan
Ōtawara
Ōtawara
 
Coordinates: 36°52′16″N 140°0′56″E / 36.87111°N 140.01556°E / 36.87111; 140.01556
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi
First official recordedlate 3rd century (official) [citation needed]
Town settledApril 1, 1889
City settledDecember 1, 1954
Government
 • MayorKenichi Sōma (from April 2022)
Area
[1]
 • Total
354.36 km2 (136.82 sq mi)
Population
 (July 2020)[1]
 • Total
73,189
 • Density210/km2 (530/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0287-23-1111
Address1-4-1 Honchō, Ōtawara-shi, Tochigi-ken 324-8641
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FishTokyo bitterling
FlowerChrysanthemum
TreeGinkgo biloba
View from the ruins of Ōtawara Castle

Ōtawara (大田原市, Ōtawara-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 72,189 in 30,136 households,[2] and a population density of 210 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 354.36 square kilometres (136.82 sq mi). The city's name may also be spelled "Ohtawara" as indicated by the official city website.

Geography

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Ōtawara is located in northeast Tochigi Prefecture in the foothills of the Nasu region. About 50% of Ōtawara is covered by rice fields with about 12% being mountains and forests. The average elevation of Ōtawara is 217.76 meters. Ōtawara is approximately 40 kilometers north of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi, and approximately 50 km east of the historic city of Nikkō. The city is long in the east and west direction, and the eastern side of the city is bordered by Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures. The Yamizo Mountains extend along the prefectural border with Ibaraki Prefecture in the eastern part of the prefecture. Rivers include the Naka River, which runs north–south in the eastern part of the city.

Surrounding municipalities

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Fukushima Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

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Ōtawara has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōtawara is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,522.6 mm (59.94 in) with June through July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C (75.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.7 °C (35.1 °F).[3]

Climate data for Ōtawara (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4) 		21.5
(70.7) 		24.7
(76.5) 		29.9
(85.8) 		34.0
(93.2) 		34.8
(94.6) 		37.1
(98.8) 		37.2
(99.0) 		35.0
(95.0) 		30.8
(87.4) 		23.6
(74.5) 		22.9
(73.2) 		37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3) 		8.5
(47.3) 		12.1
(53.8) 		17.6
(63.7) 		22.3
(72.1) 		25.0
(77.0) 		28.4
(83.1) 		29.8
(85.6) 		26.0
(78.8) 		20.5
(68.9) 		15.1
(59.2) 		9.9
(49.8) 		18.6
(65.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1) 		2.6
(36.7) 		5.9
(42.6) 		11.3
(52.3) 		16.5
(61.7) 		20.0
(68.0) 		23.5
(74.3) 		24.4
(75.9) 		20.8
(69.4) 		15.1
(59.2) 		9.1
(48.4) 		4.0
(39.2) 		12.9
(55.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		0.2
(32.4) 		5.5
(41.9) 		11.4
(52.5) 		15.9
(60.6) 		19.9
(67.8) 		20.7
(69.3) 		16.8
(62.2) 		10.4
(50.7) 		3.6
(38.5) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		8.1
(46.6)
Record low °C (°F) −16.4
(2.5) 		−11.9
(10.6) 		−9.5
(14.9) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		2.0
(35.6) 		7.7
(45.9) 		9.0
(48.2) 		12.2
(54.0) 		6.2
(43.2) 		0.1
(32.2) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		−8.9
(16.0) 		−16.4
(2.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 34.9
(1.37) 		34.8
(1.37) 		84.0
(3.31) 		108.3
(4.26) 		139.4
(5.49) 		172.4
(6.79) 		235.8
(9.28) 		235.7
(9.28) 		209.6
(8.25) 		160.5
(6.32) 		71.0
(2.80) 		39.5
(1.56) 		1,522.6
(59.94)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.3 4.8 8.2 10.0 11.3 14.3 15.7 13.4 12.7 10.1 6.7 4.5 116
Mean monthly sunshine hours 193.5 185.5 194.1 189.1 183.2 129.6 128.5 148.0 120.3 139.9 161.5 180.3 1,953.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4]

Demographics

[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Ōtawara has remained relatively steady over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 20,064—    
1930 22,216+10.7%
1940 23,069+3.8%
1950 77,363+235.4%
1960 71,806−7.2%
1970 65,232−9.2%
1980 71,276+9.3%
1990 76,406+7.2%
2000 78,993+3.4%
2010 77,707−1.6%
2020 72,087−7.2%

History

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During the Sengoku period, the area was controlled by the Ōtawara clan, who built Ōtawara Castle in 1545. The surrounding jōkamachi was a shukuba on the Ōshū Kaidō highway to northern Japan. During the Edo Period, Ōtawara Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate lasted for over 250 years until the Meiji period. Kurobane Domain was another feudal domain which existed within the borders of modern Ōtawara during this time. With the creation of the modern municipality system on April 1, 1889, the town of Ōtawara was created. On December 1, 1954, the town of Ōtawara and the villages of Chikasono and Kaneda combined to form the city of Ōtawara. The city annexed part of Nozaki Town on December 31, 1954 followed by part of Nishinasuno Town on April 1, 1955 and the town of Sakuyama on November 5, 1955.

On October 1, 2005, the town of Kurobane, and the village of Yuzukami (both from Nasu District) were merged into Ōtawara.

Government

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Ōtawara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 21 members. Ōtawara contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tochigi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

[edit]
Tōbu department store

Ōtawara is one of the largest rice producing areas in Tochigi. The city is also home to four industrial parks, and industries include corporations such as Canon Medical Systems Corporation which sells medical imaging equipment worldwide including CT scans, and Mochida Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. which specializes in the sales of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and skincare products. Tochigi Nikon Corporation, a member of the Nikon Group that designs and manufactures optical products, electronic imaging equipment, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and optical lenses, is also located in Ōtawara.

Education

[edit]

Ōtawara has 20 public elementary schools eight public junior high schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. The International University of Health and Welfare is located in Ōtawara. The university was established in 1995, with the aim of training experts in the field of health and welfare.

Transportation

[edit]
Railway stations

Railway

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JR East – Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)

Highway

[edit]

Local attractions

[edit]
Entrance to Kōshin-ji in Ōtawara.

Ōtawara is home to several historical and cultural assets:

  • Kasaishi Shrine (笠石神社) dating to the 690s AD has one of the oldest surviving examples of writing in Japan
  • site of Kurobane Castle
  • Kurobane Onsen
  • Nakagawa Aquatic Park
  • Nasunogahara Harmony Hall
  • site of Ōtawara Castle
  • Ōtawara Onsen
  • Shino Kura Hall is a thatched roof style building dating to approximately the late 1850s or early 1860s, the end of the Edo period. The Hall displays old equipment and other artifacts dating to that time period such as large carts, a foot threshing machine, a packsaddle, and a milk machine. The Hall also serves handmade soba noodles using home-grown buckwheat.
  • Unganji (雲巌寺), a Buddhist temple in the east side of Ōtawara, is a location where Matsuo Bashō stopped during the journey recorded in The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Oku no Hosomichi). A stone engraved with a haiku he wrote inspired by what he saw there is displayed.

Sports and recreation

[edit]

The largest sporting event the city hosts is the Tabara Hiroshi Marathon which is held annually on November 23, Labor Day. There are ten golf courses in the Ōtawara area, including both public courses and private country clubs such the New St. Andrews Golf Club which is a Jack Nicklaus design course. Ōtawara has a large sports and recreation complex called the Tochigi Prefectural North Gymnasium. The gymnasium has a main arena for general sports and cultural events and includes two basketball and three volleyball courts, 10 badminton courts, 20 ping-pong tables, one handball court, 10 tennis courts, two wrestling and karate rings. The arena can seat up to 1,500 spectators. In addition, there is a separate smaller arena, martial arts area, and training rooms. Several other gymnasiums, community pools, and sports fields are located throughout the Ōtawara area.

International relations

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Noted people

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Basic Complete Tabulation on Population and Households (Oct 2015). 09 - Tochigi-ken. Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "Ōtawara City official home page" (in Japanese). Japan.
  3. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Ōtawara population statistics
  6. ^ [1] Tochigi Prefecture official home page
  7. ^ [2] West Covina official home page
  8. ^ [3] Wrestler Data.com
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