Genkai (玄海町, Genkai-chō) is a town located in Higashimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 36.00 km2 and as of February 28, 2017 has a population of 5,855. It is currently the only municipality in Higashimatsuura District. There was a town with the same name in Fukuoka Prefecture, but it now no longer exists.
Genkai
玄海町 | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Genkai in Saga Prefecture | |
  Genkai Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 33°28′N 129°53′E / 33.467°N 129.883°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Prefecture | Saga Prefecture |
| District | Higashimatsuura |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.00 km2 (13.90 sq mi) |
| Population (February 28, 2017) | |
| • Total | 5,855 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 348 Ōaza Shoura, Genkai-chō, Higashimatsuura-gun, Saga-ken 847-1421 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Sakura |
| Tree | Japanese Zelkova |
History edit
- September 30, 1956 - The villages of Chika and Ariura merge to form the town of Genkai.
- December 31, 1957 - The neighborhoods of Sosorogawachi, Yunoo, Fujihira, Tashiro from the village of Kirigo are incorporated into Genkai. Kirigo's remaining neighborhoods are incorporated into Karatsu.
The great Heisei merger edit
All other towns and villages from Higashimatsuura District were incorporated into Karatsu between 2005 and 2006. Genkai originally planned to merge into Karatsu with the rest of the district, but was concerned about the slow administrative response of the surrounding areas. Eventually they withdrew their decision to merge and decided to continue as an autonomous municipality. Genkai is now enjoying a relatively high amount of revenue from the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant, built in 1975, but there is a question as to its administration in the future.
Geography edit
The town is located on the northwestern edge of the prefecture on the Higashimatsuura Peninsula and faces the Genkai Sea on its west side. It is located about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of the city of Saga and about 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Fukuoka. Genkai is home to one of sixteen nuclear power plants in Japan, with the only other nuclear power plant in the Kyūshū area being located in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the only town in the Higashimatsuura District of Saga that has not merged with Karatsu.
Adjoining municipalities edit
Education edit
Genkai has one public high school overseen by the prefectural government, and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government.
Previously home to four elementary schools and two junior highschools, in 2017 these schools were amalgamated into Genkai Mirai.[1] Opened on April 1, 2015, the school had 498 students from grades 1 - 9 across 19 classes and 6 special needs classes.[2]
Current edit
Prefectural high schools edit
- Karatsu Seishō High School (佐賀県立唐津青翔高等学校)
Municipal school edit
- Genkai Mirai Gakuen (玄海みらい学園)
Previously edit
Municipal junior high schools edit
- Ariura Junior High School (有浦中学校)
- Chiga Junior High School (値賀中学校)
Municipal elementary schools edit
- Ariura Elementary School (有浦小学校)
- Chiga Elementary School (値賀小学校)
- Kariya Elementary School (仮屋小学校)
- Mukata Elementary School (牟形小学校)
Transportation edit
Rail edit
There are no train stations in Genkai.
Bus edit
Local public buses are run by the SHOWA bus company. School buses are available for all students attending Genkai Mirai.[3]
Road edit
- National highways
- Main prefectural roads
- Hizen-Yobuko Route 47
Scenic and historic places edit
- Kaijō Onsen Parea (海上温泉パレア)
- Hamanoura Rice Terraces (浜野浦の棚田)
- Genkai Energy Park (玄海エネルギーパーク)
References edit
External links edit
Media related to Genkai, Saga at Wikimedia Commons- Genkai official website Archived 2009-04-08 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
