Hitachiōmiya (常陸大宮市, Hitachiōmiya-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population of 39,281 in 16.047 households and a population density of 220 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 37.6%.[1] The total area of the city is 348.45 square kilometres (134.54 sq mi).

Hitachiōmiya
常陸大宮市
Hitachiōmiya city hall
Hitachiōmiya city hall
Flag of Hitachiōmiya
Official seal of Hitachiōmiya
Location of Hitachiōmiya in Ibaraki Prefecture
Location of Hitachiōmiya in Ibaraki Prefecture
Hitachiōmiya is located in Japan
Hitachiōmiya
Hitachiōmiya
 
Coordinates: 36°32′33.1″N 140°24′39.2″E / 36.542528°N 140.410889°E / 36.542528; 140.410889
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki
Area
 • Total
348.45 km2 (134.54 sq mi)
Population
 (September 2020)
 • Total
39,176
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0295-52-1111
Address3135-6 Nakatomi-chō, Hitachiōmiya-shi, Ibaraki-ken 319-2292
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdCommon kingfisher
FlowerRose
TreeSakura
Yamizo Mountains from Mt.Shakujo

Geography

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Hitachiōmiya is located in the northwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, at the eastern foot of the Yamizo Mountains, with 59% of the city area classified as forest and mountains.[1] The Kuji River runs from north to south in the eastern part of the city, along which Japan National Route 118 and the JR Suigun Line pass. The city center is located in the southeast. The Naka River flows in the southwestern part of the city.

Surrounding municipalities

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Ibaraki Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

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Hitachiōmiya has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hitachiōmiya is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,363.7 mm (53.69 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.7 °C (76.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C (34.9 °F).[2]

Climate data for Hitachiōmiya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.1
(64.6)
23.0
(73.4)
25.5
(77.9)
30.1
(86.2)
33.3
(91.9)
34.5
(94.1)
37.2
(99.0)
37.0
(98.6)
36.3
(97.3)
33.0
(91.4)
24.0
(75.2)
24.7
(76.5)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8)
9.6
(49.3)
12.9
(55.2)
18.1
(64.6)
22.5
(72.5)
25.1
(77.2)
28.8
(83.8)
30.3
(86.5)
26.7
(80.1)
21.3
(70.3)
16.1
(61.0)
11.1
(52.0)
19.3
(66.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)
2.6
(36.7)
6.0
(42.8)
11.2
(52.2)
16.1
(61.0)
19.7
(67.5)
23.5
(74.3)
24.7
(76.5)
21.1
(70.0)
15.3
(59.5)
9.3
(48.7)
3.9
(39.0)
12.9
(55.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.2
(24.4)
−3.5
(25.7)
−0.2
(31.6)
4.8
(40.6)
10.3
(50.5)
15.4
(59.7)
19.7
(67.5)
20.7
(69.3)
17.0
(62.6)
10.5
(50.9)
3.7
(38.7)
−1.8
(28.8)
7.7
(45.9)
Record low °C (°F) −11.8
(10.8)
−12.3
(9.9)
−9.0
(15.8)
−5.0
(23.0)
−0.4
(31.3)
6.1
(43.0)
10.7
(51.3)
11.1
(52.0)
5.8
(42.4)
−1.0
(30.2)
−4.7
(23.5)
−9.2
(15.4)
−12.3
(9.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40.3
(1.59)
44.4
(1.75)
89.0
(3.50)
112.6
(4.43)
136.4
(5.37)
147.9
(5.82)
184.2
(7.25)
149.5
(5.89)
187.0
(7.36)
159.9
(6.30)
72.6
(2.86)
42.1
(1.66)
1,363.7
(53.69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.5 5.3 8.9 10.1 11.4 12.7 13.3 10.4 11.7 10.6 7.0 5.0 110.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 203.8 189.5 196.1 192.5 188.9 134.9 145.4 170.9 136.6 149.4 165.7 191.6 2,063
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Hitachiōmiya has been declining over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 69,209—    
1960 61,238−11.5%
1970 52,500−14.3%
1980 50,332−4.1%
1990 49,670−1.3%
2000 48,964−1.4%
2010 45,178−7.7%
2020 39,267−13.1%

History

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The town of Ōmiya was created within Naka District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Hitachiōmiya was established on October 16, 2004, from the merger of Ōmiya with the neighboring villages of Miwa and Ogawa (all from Naka District), the town of Yamagata, and the village of Gozenyama (both from Higashiibaraki District).

Government

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Hitachiōmiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Hitachiōmiya contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between Ibaraki 1st district and Ibaraki 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Hitachiōmiya is primarily agricultural.

Education

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Hitachiōmiya has 11 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR EastSuigun Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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Notable people from Hitachiōmiya

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  4. ^ Hitachiōmiya population statistics
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