Ōwani
大鰐町
Town
View of Ōwani Onsen
View of Ōwani Onsen
Flag of Ōwani
Flag
Official seal of Ōwani
Seal
Location of Ōwani
Ōwani is located in Japan
Ōwani
Ōwani
 
Coordinates: 40°31′6.1″N 140°34′4.2″E / 40.518361°N 140.567833°E / 40.518361; 140.567833
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureAomori
DistrictMinamitsugaru
Area
 • Total163.43 km2 (63.10 sq mi)
Population
 (January 31, 2023)
 • Total8,669
 • Density53/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0172-48-2111
AddressHagurodate 5-3, Ōwani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-0292
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush warbler
FlowerRhododendron
TreeKatsura
Ōwani town hall
Daien-ji

Ōwani (大鰐町, Ōwani-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the town had an estimated population of 8,669 people in 4108 households[1] and a population density of 53 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 163.41 square kilometres (63.09 sq mi). Skiing is very popular in Ōwani Town, and seven Olympic athletes have grown up there.

Geography

Ōwani, located in Minamitsugaru District, occupies the hilly southern border between south-central Aomori Prefecture and northern Akita Prefecture, to the southeast of the city of Hirosaki.

Neighbouring municipalities

Aomori Prefecture

Akita Prefecture

Climate

The town has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōwani is 9.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1397 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.0 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ōwani has decreased steadily over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 18,777—    
1970 16,724−1.15%
1980 16,312−0.25%
1990 14,751−1.00%
2000 12,881−1.35%
2010 10,978−1.59%
2020 8,665−2.34%

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 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1923, Ōwani was proclaimed 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.

Government

Ōwani has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town legislature of 12 members. Ōwani, together with the city of Hirakawa contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

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 public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town's only high school, a branch of Hirosaki Minami High School, closed in 2013.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Ōu Main Line

- Kōnan Railway Ōwani Line

Highway

Local attractions

  • Ōwani onsen
  • Daien-ji

Noted people from Ōwani

Olympic skiers

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ Ōwani Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ↑ Ōwani climate data
  3. ↑ Ōwani population statistics
  4. ↑ "About Novi." Novi Public Library. February 11, 2010. Retrieved on November 28, 2012.

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