Ōdate (大館市, Ōdate-shi, Japanese: [oːdate]) is a city in Akita Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2020[update], the city has an estimated population of 71,558 in 31,634 households,[1] and a population density of 82 persons per km2 (212 persons per square mile). The total area of the city is 913.22 square kilometres (352.60 sq mi).
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Ōdate
大館市 | |
---|---|
City | |
![]() Panorama view of Ōdate | |
![]() Location of Ōdate in Akita Prefecture | |
![]() ![]() Ōdate | |
Coordinates: 40°16′17″N 140°33′51″E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Tōhoku |
Prefecture | Akita |
Government | |
• -Mayor | Hajime Obata |
Area | |
• Total | 913.22 km2 (352.60 sq mi) |
Population (January 2020) | |
• Total | 71,558 |
• Density | 78/km2 (200/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
Phone number | 0186-49-3111 |
Address | 20 Nakajō, Ōdate-shi, Akita-ken 017-8555 |
Climate | Cfa/Dfa |
Website | Official website |
Symbols | |
Flower | Chrysanthemum |
Tree | Akita sugi |
Ōdate is located in the mountains of northern Akita Prefecture, with the Ōu Mountains on the east and Aomori Prefecture to the north. The city is a basin surrounded by mountains on all sides. Part of the city is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Much of the city area is covered in forest. Due to its inland location, the city is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter.
Ōdate has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Ōdate is 10.3 °C (50.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,741.0 mm (68.54 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.6 °C (74.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.0 °C (28.4 °F).[2]
Climate data for Ōdate (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) |
17.6 (63.7) |
20.8 (69.4) |
30.8 (87.4) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.1 (95.2) |
37.5 (99.5) |
38.3 (100.9) |
37.0 (98.6) |
28.6 (83.5) |
23.3 (73.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
38.3 (100.9) |
Average high °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
14.8 (58.6) |
20.8 (69.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
27.6 (81.7) |
29.0 (84.2) |
24.9 (76.8) |
18.2 (64.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
4.0 (39.2) |
15.5 (60.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.0 (35.6) |
8.2 (46.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.8 (65.8) |
22.5 (72.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
12.0 (53.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
0.2 (32.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
Average low °C (°F) | −5.9 (21.4) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
2.3 (36.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
13.9 (57.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
14.5 (58.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
5.7 (42.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19.0 (−2.2) |
−17.9 (−0.2) |
−14.9 (5.2) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
9.9 (49.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−15.8 (3.6) |
−19.0 (−2.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 108.2 (4.26) |
92.6 (3.65) |
106.1 (4.18) |
118.5 (4.67) |
126.4 (4.98) |
121.6 (4.79) |
216.6 (8.53) |
214.0 (8.43) |
164.8 (6.49) |
163.2 (6.43) |
162.0 (6.38) |
139.2 (5.48) |
1,741 (68.54) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 19.8 | 17.0 | 15.7 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 10.4 | 13.0 | 11.7 | 12.3 | 14.8 | 17.2 | 20.2 | 177.2 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59.2 | 82.7 | 132.0 | 165.9 | 185.6 | 174.9 | 147.4 | 176.4 | 145.9 | 131.2 | 91.1 | 57.9 | 1,541.5 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2] |
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ōdate peaked in the 1960s and has been in decline since then.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1920 | 64,055 | — |
1930 | 70,629 | +10.3% |
1940 | 75,333 | +6.7% |
1950 | 96,841 | +28.6% |
1960 | 103,531 | +6.9% |
1970 | 97,856 | −5.5% |
1980 | 95,529 | −2.4% |
1990 | 90,098 | −5.7% |
2000 | 86,288 | −4.2% |
2010 | 78,951 | −8.5% |
2020 | 69,237 | −12.3% |
The area of present-day Ōdate was part of ancient Dewa Province, although it remained outside of the control of the Yamato court until well into the Heian period. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain, and who maintained a secondary fortification at Ōdate Castle. The castle was destroyed during the Boshin War. [citation needed].
After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture in 1878. The town of Ōdate was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. During the Meiji period, the discovery of "black ore" (sphalerite and galena - a mixture of zinc, lead, gold, silver, and other precious metals), led to the development of numerous mines in the area, including the Hanaoka mine;[5] however, the deposits were depleted by the mid-Shōwa period.
On June 20, 2005, the towns of Hinai and Tashiro (both from Kitaakita District) were merged into Ōdate.
Ōdate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. The city contributes three members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The economy of Ōdate is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism.
East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line
East Japan Railway Company - Hanawa Line
![]() | This section does not cite any sources. (September 2013) |
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