Murakami, Niigata

Murakami
村上市
City

Murakami Taisai Festival

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Seal

Location of Murakami in Niigata Prefecture
Murakami

 

Coordinates: 38°13′26.4″N 139°28′48″E / 38.224000°N 139.48000°E / 38.224000; 139.48000Coordinates: 38°13′26.4″N 139°28′48″E / 38.224000°N 139.48000°E / 38.224000; 139.48000
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture NIigata
Area
 • Total 1,174.26 km2 (453.38 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
 • Total 61,747
 • Density 52.6/km2 (136/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols  
• Tree Fagus crenata
• Flower Rosa rugosa
• Bird Spizaetus nipalensis
Phone number 0254-53-2111
Address 1-1, Sannochō, Murakami-shi, Niigata-ken 958-8501
Website www.city.murakami.lg.jp
Murakami City Hall
Murakami City, seen from the castle ruins on Oshiroyama

Murakami (村上市 Murakami-shi) is a city located in far northern Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. As of 1 June 2016, the city had an estimated population of 61,747 and a population density of 52.6 persons per km². Its total area was 1,174.26 square kilometres (453.38 sq mi).

Geography

Niigata is located on the Sea of Japan coast of far northern Niigata Prefecture, bordered by Yamagata Prefecture to the north and east.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Climate data for Murakami, Niigata (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)		 5.0
(41)		 8.8
(47.8)		 15.7
(60.3)		 21.0
(69.8)		 24.7
(76.5)		 28.0
(82.4)		 30.4
(86.7)		 25.9
(78.6)		 19.7
(67.5)		 13.4
(56.1)		 7.8
(46)		 17.08
(62.73)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5)		 1.5
(34.7)		 4.3
(39.7)		 10.1
(50.2)		 15.4
(59.7)		 19.8
(67.6)		 23.5
(74.3)		 25.3
(77.5)		 20.8
(69.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 8.8
(47.8)		 4.2
(39.6)		 12.47
(54.43)
Average low °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 0.1
(32.2)		 4.6
(40.3)		 10.2
(50.4)		 15.4
(59.7)		 19.7
(67.5)		 21.0
(69.8)		 16.6
(61.9)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.7
(40.5)		 1.0
(33.8)		 8.37
(47.09)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 207.0
(8.15)		 144.3
(5.681)		 128.7
(5.067)		 116.8
(4.598)		 128.0
(5.039)		 139.3
(5.484)		 211.3
(8.319)		 167.7
(6.602)		 182.4
(7.181)		 207.8
(8.181)		 250.9
(9.878)		 236.7
(9.319)		 2,120.9
(83.499)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 34.5 53.8 104.4 160.4 181.3 165.7 154.0 196.8 138.6 127.3 78.4 42.6 1,437.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

History

The area of present-day Murakai was part of ancient Echigo Province. Murakami developed as a port and a castle town for the Murakami Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence as a residence of samurai and merchants. Following the Meiji restoration, the area became part of Iwafune District, Niigata, and the town of Murakami was established with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Murakami was raised to city status on March 31, 1954. OnApril 1, 2008, the towns of Arakawa and Sanpoku and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi (all from Iwafune District) were merged into Murakami.

Education

Murakami has 21 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city. There is one public middle school and three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. These is also one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Famous products of Murakami are tea (Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon, and Murakami beef. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island.

Festivals

Murakami Taisai, a traditional regional festival, has been held in the downtown area on July 6 and 7, every year, since 1868.

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