Ōmachi (大町市, Ōmachi-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2019, the city had an estimated population of 27,559 in 11861 households,[1] and a population density of 49 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 565.15 square kilometres (218.21 sq mi).

Ōmachi
大町市
Ōmachi City Hall
Ōmachi City Hall
Flag of Ōmachi
Official seal of Ōmachi
Location of Ōmachi in Nagano Prefecture
Location of Ōmachi in Nagano Prefecture
Ōmachi is located in Japan
Ōmachi
Ōmachi
 
Coordinates: 36°30′10.8″N 137°51′4″E / 36.503000°N 137.85111°E / 36.503000; 137.85111
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
PrefectureNagano
Area
 • Total
565.15 km2 (218.21 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2019)
 • Total
27,559
 • Density49/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreePrunus sargentii
• FlowerErythronium japonicum
• BirdRock ptarmigan
• AnimalJapanese Serow
Phone number0261-22-0420
Address3887, Ōmachi, Ōmachi-shi, Nagano-ken 398-0002
WebsiteOfficial website
Ōmachi and Takase River

Geography

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Ōmachi is located west of Nagano, the capital of Nagano Prefecture, in the Daihoku District (大北地域, Daihoku-chiiki) of the prefecture. The 3000 meter Northern Japanese Alps (or Hida Mountains) are to the west ranges to the west of the city and mountains of around 1000 meters form the eastern border. The Takase River runs through the city, which is located in the northern Matsumoto basin.

The Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line active fault system is also running through the city.

  • Mountains: Mount Yarigatake, Mount Noguchigorō (野口五郎岳, Noguchigorō-dake), Mount Eboshi (烏帽子岳, Eboshi-dake), Mount Sugoroku (双六岳, Sugoroku-dake), Mount Otenshō (大天井岳, Otenshō-dake), Mount Tsubakuro (燕岳, Tsubakuro-dake), Mount Gaki (餓鬼岳, Gaki-dake), Mount Harinoki (針ノ木岳, Harinoki-dake), Mount Renge (蓮華岳, Renge-dake), Mount Jii (爺ヶ岳, Jii-ga-take), Mount Kashimayari (鹿島槍ヶ岳, Kashimayari-ga-take), Mount Goryū (五竜岳, Goryū-dake)
  • Rivers: Takase River
  • Lakes and marshes: Nishina three lakes (仁科三湖, Nishina-san-ko) (Lake Kizaki (木崎湖, Kizaki-ko), Lake Nakatsuna (中綱湖, Nakatsuna-ko), Lake Aoki (青木湖, Aoki-ko))

Surrounding municipalities

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Climate

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Due to its elevation, the city has a Köppen climate classification Dfa climate. Winters are cold and very snowy, while summers are very warm and wet. The average annual temperature in Ōmachi is 9.7 °C (49.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,405.9 mm (55.35 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.4 °C (72.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.8 °C (27.0 °F).[2]

Climate data for Ōmachi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.7
(56.7)
18.0
(64.4)
22.6
(72.7)
28.2
(82.8)
31.8
(89.2)
32.5
(90.5)
34.9
(94.8)
35.5
(95.9)
32.8
(91.0)
28.2
(82.8)
22.5
(72.5)
18.3
(64.9)
35.5
(95.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)
2.8
(37.0)
7.4
(45.3)
15.0
(59.0)
20.8
(69.4)
23.8
(74.8)
27.2
(81.0)
28.5
(83.3)
23.7
(74.7)
17.7
(63.9)
11.6
(52.9)
4.8
(40.6)
15.4
(59.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.8
(27.0)
−2.3
(27.9)
1.6
(34.9)
8.0
(46.4)
14.0
(57.2)
17.9
(64.2)
21.6
(70.9)
22.4
(72.3)
18.1
(64.6)
11.8
(53.2)
5.8
(42.4)
0.2
(32.4)
9.7
(49.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.5
(18.5)
−7.4
(18.7)
−3.4
(25.9)
2.0
(35.6)
8.1
(46.6)
13.2
(55.8)
17.4
(63.3)
18.0
(64.4)
13.9
(57.0)
7.2
(45.0)
0.9
(33.6)
−3.9
(25.0)
4.9
(40.8)
Record low °C (°F) −17.0
(1.4)
−18.0
(−0.4)
−14.5
(5.9)
−11.1
(12.0)
−1.2
(29.8)
3.6
(38.5)
10.3
(50.5)
9.0
(48.2)
2.0
(35.6)
−4.2
(24.4)
−7.6
(18.3)
−14.8
(5.4)
−18.0
(−0.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 84.7
(3.33)
78.1
(3.07)
100.1
(3.94)
98.1
(3.86)
111.5
(4.39)
159.4
(6.28)
195.3
(7.69)
136.1
(5.36)
165.0
(6.50)
129.1
(5.08)
69.8
(2.75)
78.8
(3.10)
1,405.9
(55.35)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 164
(65)
133
(52)
76
(30)
5
(2.0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
6
(2.4)
73
(29)
454
(179)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.2 10.9 12.0 10.3 10.8 11.5 14.0 11.0 10.8 9.2 9.2 12.4 134.3
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 18.4 15.9 9.4 0.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.7 7.7 52.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 107.2 125.3 163.4 185.1 198.4 146.6 137.4 169.4 118.9 137.6 132.2 108.6 1,730
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

History

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The area of present-day Ōmachi was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The modern town of Ōmachi was established with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It merged with the neighboring villages of Taira, Tokiwa and Yashiro on July 1, 1954 to form the city of Ōmachi. On January 1, 2006, the villages of Miasa and Yasaka (both from Kitaazumi District) were merged into Ōmachi.

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ōmachi has been declining over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 41,185—    
1970 35,817−13.0%
1980 36,083 0.7%
1990 34,300−4.9%
2000 33,550−2.2%
2010 28,805−14.1%
2020 26,029−9.6%

Government

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Ōmachi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members. The city contributes one member to the Nagano Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Ōmachi is grouped with Matsumoto, Azumino, Higashichikuma District, Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Kamiminochi District, Nagano and part of the city of Nagano to form Nagano 2nd District in the lower house of the National Diet.

Economy

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Ōmachi is a regional commercial center and a producer of aluminum, cotton thread and rice. Seasonal tourism to the mountains is also an important source of local income.[5]

Education

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Ōmachi has five public elementary schools, three public middle schools and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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Highway

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International relations

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ ¥http://www.city.omachi.nagano.jp Ōmachi City official statistics](in Japanese)
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Ōmachi population statistics
  5. ^ Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 1147. ISBN 406205938X.
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