Kawachi (河内町, Kawachi-machi) is a town located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 8,298 in 2986 households and a population density of 183 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 39.5%.[1] The total area of the city is 44.30 square kilometres (17.10 sq mi).

Kawachi
河内町
Kawachi town hall
Kawachi town hall
Flag of Kawachi
Official logo of Kawachi
Location of Kawachi in Ibaraki Prefecture
Location of Kawachi in Ibaraki Prefecture
Kawachi is located in Japan
Kawachi
Kawachi
 
Coordinates: 35°53′5.1″N 140°14′40.2″E / 35.884750°N 140.244500°E / 35.884750; 140.244500
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki
DistrictInashiki
Area
 • Total44.30 km2 (17.10 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total8,298
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerHydrangea macrophylla
- BirdEurasian skylark
Phone number0297-84-2111
Address1183 Genseida, Kawachi-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki-ken 300-1392
WebsiteOfficial website
Joso Bridge across the Tone River at Kawachi

Geography edit

Located in extreme southern Ibaraki Prefecture bordering Chiba Prefecture, Kawachi is long and narrow east-west, and bordered by the Tone River and Shin-Tone River.

Surrounding municipalities edit

Ibaraki Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture

Climate edit

Kawachi has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kawachi is 14.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1376 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C.[2]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kawachi has declined in recent decades and is now less that it was a century ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 10,831—    
1930 11,093+2.4%
1940 11,397+2.7%
1950 14,205+24.6%
1960 13,065−8.0%
1970 11,720−10.3%
1980 11,516−1.7%
1990 11,201−2.7%
2000 11,502+2.7%
2010 10,172−11.6%
2020 8,231−19.1%

History edit

The villages of Nagasao, Genseida, and Mamaita were created within Kawachi District, Ibaraki Prefecture the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. At the same time, the village of Kanaetsu from Katori District, Chiba and a portion of Toyosumi Village in Shimohabu District, Chiba were transferred to Ibaraki Prefecture. The border between ancient Hitachi Province and Shimōsa Province was the Tone River; however, due to shifting of the riverbed by the Meiji period, it was located on the north bank of the river. The three villages originally from Hitachi Province were merged to form the village of Kawachi on April 1, 1955. On February 15, 1958, the neighboring village of Kanaetsu was annexed to Kawachi.

Government edit

Kawachi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Kawachi, together with neighboring Inashiki, contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Ibaraki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

Education edit

Kawachi Gakuen is the only compulsory education combined elementary and junior high school in Kawachi. The academy was established by integrating two junior high schools in 2017 and three elementary schools in 2018.[4] The town does not have a senior high school.

Transportation edit

Railway edit

  • Kawachi does not have any passenger train service. The nearest stations are Namegawa in neighboring Narita and Ryūgasaki in neighboring Ryūgasaki.

Highway edit

Local attractions edit

  • Ōtone Airport

References edit

  1. ^ "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Kawachi climate data
  3. ^ Kawachi population statistics
  4. ^ "学校統合の歴史 | かわち学園ホームページ". www.edu-kawachi.jp. Retrieved 2023-01-27.

External links edit

  Media related to Kawachi, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons