Funagata, Yamagata

Funagata 舟形町
Town
Funagata Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Funagata in Yamagata Prefecture
Funagata
Coordinates: 38°41′N 140°19′E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Yamagata
District	Mogami
Area
• Total	119.03 km2 (45.96 sq mi)
Population  (October 2013)
• Total	5,788
• Density	48.6/km2 (126/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Japanese pagoda tree
- Flower	Kobushi Magnolia
Phone number	0233-32-2111
Address	263 Funagata, Funagata-machi, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-4601
Website	http://www.town.funagata.yamagata.jp/

Funagata (舟形町, Funagata-machi) is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of October 2013, the town has an estimated population of 5,788, and a population density of 48.6 persons per km². The total area is 119.03 square kilometres (46 sq mi).

Geography

Funagata is located in mountainous north-central eastern Yamagata Prefecture. The Mogami River runs through the town. The area is known for extremely heavy snowfall in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Shinjō
  • Obanazawa
  • Murayama
  • Mogami
  • Ōkura
  • Ōishida

History

The area of present-day Funagata was part of ancient Dewa Province and is mentioned in Nara period documents as a location of a fortified settlement on the road connecting Akita Castle on the Sea of Japan with Tagajo on the Pacific coast. During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of the Mogami clan. During the Edo period, the Funagata was a river port on the Mogami River and a post station on the sankin kotai route to Edo and for pilgrims en route to the Three Mountains of Dewa. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The modern village of Funagata was established on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on December 1, 1954.

Transportation

Railways

• JR East – Ōu Main Line
  • Funagata
• JR East - Rikuu East Line
  • Higashi-Nagasawa - Nagasawa

Highways

• National Route 13
• National Route 47

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)