Ōwani, Aomori

Ōwani 大鰐町
Town
View of Ōwani Onsen
Flag Seal
Location of Ōwani in Aomori Prefecture
Ōwani
Coordinates: 40°31′06″N 140°34′05″E / 40.51833°N 140.56806°ECoordinates: 40°31′06″N 140°34′05″E / 40.51833°N 140.56806°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Aomori Prefecture
District	Minamitsugaru
Area
• Total	163.43 km^2 (63.10 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
• Total	9,746
• Density	59.6/km^2 (154/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Katsura
- Flower	Rhododendron
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0172-48-2111
Address	Hagurodate 5-3, Ōwani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-0292
Website	Official website

Ōwani town hall

Ōwani (大鰐町 Ōwani-machi) is a town located in Minamitsugaru District of south-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of September 2015, the town had an estimated population of 9,746 and a population density of 59.6 persons per km². Its total area was 163.41 square kilometres (63.09 sq mi).

Geography

Ōwani occupies the hilly southern border between central Aomori Prefecture and northern Akita Prefecture. The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall.

Neighbouring municipalities

Aomori Prefecture

• Hirosaki
• Hirakawa

Akita Prefecture

• Ōdate

History

During the Edo period, the area around Ōwani was controlled by the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain. After the Meiji Restoration, it became a village within Minamitsugaru District of Aomori Prefecture. On April 1, 1923, Ōwani was proclaimed as a town. On July 1, 1954, it annexed neighboring Kuradate Town, but lost a portion of its territory to Hirosaki City on September 30, 1964.

Economy

The economy of Ōwani is heavily dependent on agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Tourism from ski resorts and onsen hot springs also contribute to the local economy. Mount Ajara was a venue for the 2003 Asian Winter Games).

Education

Ōwani has one elementary school, one middle school and one high school

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company -Ōu Main Line
  • Nagamine Station, Ōwani-Onsen Station
• Kōnan Railway Company -Kōnan Railway Ōwani Line
  • Ōwani - Shukugawara - Sabaishi

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway - Owami IC
• Japan National Route 7

Noted people from Ōwani

• Wakanohana Kanji II – sumo wrestler

Sister cities

• - Novi, Michigan, United States (in Metro Detroit)^[1]

References

1. "About Novi." Novi Public Library. February 11, 2010. Retrieved on November 28, 2012.

External links

Media related to Ōwani, Aomori at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)