Ōwani, Aomori

Ōwani 大鰐町
Town
View of Ōwani Onsen
Flag Seal
Location of Ōwani in Aomori Prefecture
Ōwani
Coordinates: 40°31′6.1″N 140°34′4.2″E / 40.518361°N 140.567833°E / 40.518361; 140.567833Coordinates: 40°31′6.1″N 140°34′4.2″E / 40.518361°N 140.567833°E / 40.518361; 140.567833
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Aomori
District	Minamitsugaru
Area
• Total	163.43 km2 (63.10 sq mi)
Population  (March 31, 2020)
• Total	9,322
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Katsura
- Flower	Rhododendron
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0172-48-2111
Address	Hagurodate 5-3, Ōwani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-0292
Website	Official website

Ōwani (大鰐町, Ōwani-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 9,322 people in 4,201 households^[1] and a population density of 57 persons per km². The total area of the town is 163.41 square kilometres (63.09 sq mi).

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

• Hirosaki
• Hirakawa

Akita Prefecture

• Ōdate

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

Year	Pop.	±%
1960	18,777	—
1970	16,724	−10.9%
1980	16,312	−2.5%
1990	14,751	−9.6%
2000	12,881	−12.7%
2010	10,978	−14.8%

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 as 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. 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

• Nagamine - Ōwani-Onsen

- Kōnan Railway Ōwani Line

• Ōwani - Shukugawara - Sabaishi

Highway[]

• Tōhoku Expressway – Owani Interchange
• National Route 7

Local attractions[]

• Ōwani onsen
• Daien-ji

Noted people from Ōwani[]

• Wakanohana Kanji II – sumo wrestler

Sister cities[]

• - Novi, Michigan, United States (in Metro Detroit)^[4]

References[]

External links[]

Media related to Ōwani, Aomori at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)