Murakami, Niigata
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in northern Niigata
, Japan
.
On April 1, 2008, the city merged with the towns of Sanpoku
and Arakawa
, and the villages of Asahi
and Kamihayashi
, all from Iwafune District
.
As of 2005, before the merger, the former city had an estimated population
of 30,649 and the density
of 218.89 persons per km². The total area was 142.12 km².
After the merger, as of April 1, 2011, the new city has an estimated population
of 67,442 and the density
of 57.43 persons per km². The total area is 1,174.24 km².
The city was founded on March 31, 1954.
Murakami once thrived as a castle town
under the Murakami clan
. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence of a hub of samurai
and merchants.
Famous products of Murakami are tea
(Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon
, and Murakami beef
. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen
and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island
.
Murakami is connected to Niigata City
in the south and Yamagata Prefecture
in the north via the Uetsu Line (JR East
) and National Route 7
. Awashima
is accessible by ferry from Iwafune Port.
The city has a sister relationship with Sabae
in Fukui Prefecture
.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in northern Niigata
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
On April 1, 2008, the city merged with the towns of Sanpoku
Sanpoku, Niigata
was a town located in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.On April 1, 2008 Sanpoku, along with the town of Arakawa, and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi, all from Iwafune District, was merged into the city of Murakami....
and Arakawa
Arakawa, Niigata
was a town located in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.On April 1, 2008 Arakawa, along with the town of Sanpoku, and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi, all from Iwafune District, was merged into the city of Murakami....
, and the villages of Asahi
Asahi, Niigata
was a village located in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.The village was named after the Asahi Mountains.As of 2005, the village had an estimated population of 11,836 and a density of 18.69 persons per km²...
and Kamihayashi
Kamihayashi, Niigata
was a village located in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 10,228 and a density of 124.46 persons per km²...
, all from Iwafune District
Iwafune District, Niigata
is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the district has an estimated population of 7,137. The total area is 309.47 km².The district currently has two villages.* Awashimaura* Sekikawa...
.
As of 2005, before the merger, the former city had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 30,649 and the density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 218.89 persons per km². The total area was 142.12 km².
After the merger, as of April 1, 2011, the new city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 67,442 and the density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 57.43 persons per km². The total area is 1,174.24 km².
The city was founded on March 31, 1954.
Murakami once thrived as a castle town
Castle town
A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns are common in Medieval Europe. Good example include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles...
under the Murakami clan
Han (Japan)
The or domain was the name of the estate belonging to a warrior in Japan after the 17th century. The fiefs of the daimyos of the samurai class of Japan during the Edo period were called han.-Edo period:...
. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence of a hub of samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
and merchants.
Famous products of Murakami are tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
(Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
, and Murakami beef
Wagyu
refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat. The meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness...
. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island
Awashimaura, Niigata
is a village located on Awashima Island, in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the village has an estimated population of 438 and a density of 44.42 persons per km². The total area is 9.86 km²....
.
Murakami is connected to Niigata City
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
in the south and Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
in the north via the Uetsu Line (JR East
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
) and National Route 7
Route 7 (Japan)
National Route 7 is an important highway on the Sea of Japan side of the island of Honshū, Japan. It links the prefectural capitals of Niigata, Akita, and Aomori...
. Awashima
Awashimaura, Niigata
is a village located on Awashima Island, in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the village has an estimated population of 438 and a density of 44.42 persons per km². The total area is 9.86 km²....
is accessible by ferry from Iwafune Port.
The city has a sister relationship with Sabae
Sabae, Fukui
is a city located in Fukui, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 68,703 with 22,229 households and the density of 810.65 persons per km². The total area is 84.75 km².The city was founded on January 15, 1955.-Parks:...
in Fukui Prefecture
Fukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
.
Festival
Murakami Taisai, a traditional regional festival held downtown area on July 6 and 7, every year, since 1868.External links
- Murakami official website in Japanese
- Murakami Website in English