Kitaaiki

Kitaaiki (北相木村, Kitaaiki-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the village had an estimated population of 755 in 350 households, and a population density of 13 persons per km². The total area of the village is 56.32 square kilometres (21.75 sq mi).

Kitaaiki 北相木村
Village
Kitaaiki Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Kitaaiki in Nagano Prefecture
Kitaaiki
Coordinates: 36°3′33.1″N 138°33′4.2″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano
District	Minamisaku
Area
• Total	56.32 km2 (21.75 sq mi)
Population  (April 2019)
• Total	755
• Density	13/km2 (35/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Larch
• Flower	Rhododendron
• Bird	Copper pheasant
Phone number	0267-77-2111
Address	2774 Kitaaiki-mura, Minamisaku-gun, Nagano-ken 384-1201
Website	Official website

Summit of Mount Ogura

Geography

Kitaaiki is located in mountainous eastern Nagano Prefecture, bordered by Gunma Prefecture to the east. More than 90% of the village area is covered by mountains and forest. Mount Ogura (2,112 meters) is the highest point in the village.

Surrounding municipalities

• Gunma Prefecture
  • Ueno
• Nagano Prefecture
  • Koumi
  • Minamiaiki
  • Sakuho

Climate

The village has a humid continental climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The average annual temperature in Kitaaiki is 7.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1513 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 20.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around −4.7 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kitaaiki has decreased over the past 70 years and is now less than a third of what it was in 1950.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	1,871	—
1950	2,262	+20.9%
1960	2,104	−7.0%
1970	1,787	−15.1%
1980	1,299	−27.3%
1990	1,194	−8.1%
2000	1,025	−14.2%
2010	843	−17.8%
2020	752	−10.8%

History

The area of present-day Kataaiki was part of ancient Shinano Province, and was mentioned in Muromachi period records. The present village of Kitaaiki was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Education

Kitaaiki has one public elementary school operated by the village government. The village shares a public middle school with neighboring Minamiaika. The village does not have a high school.

Tourism

The forest mountains have made Kitaaiki an isolated rural village. Kitaaiki is known for its cool and pleasant mountain climate and tourists come to the village to escape the summer heat.

Transportation

Railway

• The village does not have any passenger rail service.

Highway

• The village is not served by any national highways

Local attractions

• Tochibaraiwakage ruins, a Jomon period National Historic Site

External links

• Media related to Kitaaiki, Nagano at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)