Sakura
さくら市
City
Sakura City Hall
Sakura City Hall
Flag of Sakura
Flag
Official seal of Sakura
Seal
Location of Sakura in Tochigi Prefecture
Location of Sakura in Tochigi Prefecture
Sakura is located in Japan
Sakura
Sakura
 
Coordinates: 36°41′7″N 139°57′59.1″E / 36.68528°N 139.966417°E / 36.68528; 139.966417
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi
Area
 • Total125.63 km2 (48.51 sq mi)
Population
 (April 1, 2021)
 • Total44,712
 • Density360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSakura
- FlowerSakura
- BirdWagtail
Phone number028-681-1111
Address2771 Ujiie, Sakura-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-1311
WebsiteOfficial website
Ryuko-ji temple
Ruins of Kitsuregawa Castle

Sakura (さくら市, Sakura-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2021, the city had an estimated population of 44,712 in 16,882 households,[1] and a population density of 360 persons per km². The total area of the city is 125.63 square kilometres (48.51 sq mi).

Geography

Sakura is located in central-east Tochigi Prefecture, at the far-northern portion of the Kantō plains. the city is approximately 115 kilometers north of the Tokyo metropolis and 15 kilometers north of the prefectural capital of Utsunomiya. It consists mostly of flat land extending to the east of the Kinugawa River, and hilly land to the east of several tributaries of the Naka River.

Surrounding municipalities

Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

Sakura has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sakura is 13.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1425 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakura has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 33,375—    
1970 32,495−2.6%
1980 34,820+7.2%
1990 36,543+4.9%
2000 40,030+9.5%
2010 44,774+11.9%
2020 44,513−0.6%

History

The town of Kitsuregawa was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The city of Sakura was established on March 28, 2005 with the merger of the towns of Kitsuregawa and Ujiie (both from Shioya District).

Government

Sakura has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city assembly of 18 members. Sakura, together with the towns of Shioya and Takanezawa collectively contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tochigi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Agriculture, primarily rice cultivation, is a mainstay of the local economy. The city is increasingly a bedroom community for nearby Utsunomiya.

Education

Sakura has six public primary schools, two public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Tōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)

Highway

Local attractions

  • Kitsuregawa Castle and the Sakura City Museum of Art are located in Sakura.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Sakura City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ↑ Sakura climate data
  3. ↑ Sakura population statistics
  4. ↑ Liedtke, Walter A.; Plomp, Michiel; Rüger, Axel (2001). Vermeer and the Delft School. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 610. ISBN 978-0-87099-973-4. Retrieved 17 October 2012.

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