Nagahama, Shiga
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Shiga Prefecture
, Japan
on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa
. The city center was developed and renamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
when Hideyoshi moved his center of administration from Odani Castle
. Kunitomo (国友), the northeast of Nagahama, had been known for the production of arquebus
es and gun
s since 1544.
On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai
and Biwa
from Higashiazai District
merged with the city
to create the current city of Nagahama, which replaced all municipal organizations—including the old city of Nagahama itself. The current city is now historically located within three former districts; Sakata District
, Higashiazai District
and Ika District
.
renamed it Nagahama for Oda Nobunaga
. It is not related to same name area in Fukuoka city
and same name town
in Ehime Prefecture
.
merged with 6 other towns to gain city status. The last population count was held on December 1, 2005, and the city had the population of 63,057. The total area was 45.50km².
On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai
and Biwa
from Higashiazai District
merged with the city to create the current city of Nagahama. As a result of the city's annexation of Azai and Biwa in 2006, the total population stood at 84,410.
On January 1, 2010, several municipalities were merged into the city of Nagahama. Kohoku
and Torahime
in Higashiazai District and Kinomoto
, Nishiazai
, Takatsuki
, and Yogo
in Ika District
and merged into Nagahama. Both districts were thereby dissolved.
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 Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, 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 the eastern shore of Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa
is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture , northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Because of its proximity to the ancient capital, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.-...
. The city center was developed and renamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
when Hideyoshi moved his center of administration from Odani Castle
Odani Castle
was a Sengoku period mountain-top castle located in the present day town of Kohoku in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable...
. Kunitomo (国友), the northeast of Nagahama, had been known for the production of arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
es and gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s since 1544.
On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai
Azai, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. In Sengoku period, Azai clan based here and Battle of Anegawa broke out.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 13,055 and a density of 149.90 persons per km²...
and Biwa
Biwa, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is on the northern shore of Lake Biwa and that was the origin of the town's name. Chikubu Island was under the administration of Biwa....
from Higashiazai District
Higashiazai District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....
merged with the city
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
to create the current city of Nagahama, which replaced all municipal organizations—including the old city of Nagahama itself. The current city is now historically located within three former districts; Sakata District
Sakata District, Shiga
Sakata was a district located in Shiga, Japan. The district is currently dissolved.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 41,126 and a density of 184.34 persons per km². The total area is 223.10 km²....
, Higashiazai District
Higashiazai District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....
and Ika District
Ika District, Shiga
Ika was a district located in Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 27,986 and a density of 79.65 persons per km². The total area was 351.38 km²....
.
The naming
Nagahama used to be known as Imahama (今濱), but Toyotomi HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
renamed it Nagahama for Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
. It is not related to same name area in Fukuoka city
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
and same name town
Nagahama, Ehime
was a town located in Kita District, Ehime, Japan.On January 11, 2005 Nagahama, along with the town of Hijikawa, and the village of Kawabe, all from Kita District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōzu and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
in Ehime Prefecture
Ehime Prefecture
is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
.
History
On April 1, 1943, the town of Nagahama from Sakata DistrictSakata District, Shiga
Sakata was a district located in Shiga, Japan. The district is currently dissolved.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 41,126 and a density of 184.34 persons per km². The total area is 223.10 km²....
merged with 6 other towns to gain city status. The last population count was held on December 1, 2005, and the city had the population of 63,057. The total area was 45.50km².
On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai
Azai, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. In Sengoku period, Azai clan based here and Battle of Anegawa broke out.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 13,055 and a density of 149.90 persons per km²...
and Biwa
Biwa, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is on the northern shore of Lake Biwa and that was the origin of the town's name. Chikubu Island was under the administration of Biwa....
from Higashiazai District
Higashiazai District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....
merged with the city to create the current city of Nagahama. As a result of the city's annexation of Azai and Biwa in 2006, the total population stood at 84,410.
On January 1, 2010, several municipalities were merged into the city of Nagahama. Kohoku
Kohoku, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga, Japan. The ruins of Odani Castle are located in Kohoku.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 8,745 and a density of 300.72 persons per km². The total area was 29.08 km²....
and Torahime
Torahime, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,737 and a density of 607.09 persons per km². The total area was 9.45 km²....
in Higashiazai District and Kinomoto
Kinomoto, Shiga
was a town located in Ika District, Shiga, Japan. It was the center of the district. In Sengoku period, Battle of Shizugatake broke out at a mountain in the west of Kinomoto....
, Nishiazai
Nishiazai, Shiga
was a town located in Ika District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 4,735 and a density of 70.62 persons per km². The total area was 67.05 km²....
, Takatsuki
Takatsuki, Shiga
was a town located in Ika District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 10,411 and a population density of 368.27 persons per km². The total area was 28.27 km²....
, and Yogo
Yogo, Shiga
was a town located in Ika District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 4,045 and a density of 24.13 persons per km². The total area was 167.62 km².On January 1, 2010, several municipalities were merged into the city of Nagahama...
in Ika District
Ika District, Shiga
Ika was a district located in Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 27,986 and a density of 79.65 persons per km². The total area was 351.38 km²....
and merged into Nagahama. Both districts were thereby dissolved.
Sightseeing
Nagahama is one of the most famous tourism city in Shiga. Attractions to be found in the city include:- Central Nagahama
- Nagahama CastleNagahama Castleis a hirashiro located in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.-History:Nagahama Castle was built in 1575-1576 by Hashiba Hideyoshi in the village then called Kunitomo, renaming the area Nagahama. Previously, he had ruled from Odani Castle, though found this hard to do as it was a yamashiro...
- Kurokabe Square (aka "Black Wall Square")
- The Old Nagahama Station Museum, built in 1882 and the oldest preserved railroad station in Japan.
- The Nagahama Roman Beer Brewery
- Nagahama Flintlock Gun Museum
- Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine
- Daitsu-ji Temple
- Shana-in Temple
- Soji-ji Temple
- Jinsho-ji Temple
- Chizen-in Temple
- Hōkoku Shrine
- Nagahama Hikiyama Festival event in April 13-16, every year, since Azuchi-Momoyama periodAzuchi-Momoyama periodThe came at the end of the Warring States Period in Japan, when the political unification that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate took place. It spans the years from approximately 1573 to 1603, during which time Oda Nobunaga and his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, imposed order...
. - Nagahama Bonbai (bonsaiBonsaiis a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. Similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Chinese tradition of penjing from which the art originated, and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ...
of ume) event in January 20 to March 10, every year, since 1952.
- Nagahama Castle
- Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet TroupeTonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe, founded in the 1830s, is one of the most active groups performing traditional ningyō jōruri or Bunraku puppetry in Japan, and has been officially designated an Intangible Cultural Treasure...
- Chikubu IslandChikubu Islandis an island in Lake Biwa in Japan. The national government has designated it a special historic site.The island's geographic coordinates are 35°25′24″ N, 136°8′37″ E. Its area is 0.14 km² and its coastline measures 2 km. The highest point has an elevation of 197 m...
- Odani CastleOdani Castlewas a Sengoku period mountain-top castle located in the present day town of Kohoku in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable...
- Anegawa RiverBattle of AnegawaThe 1570 came as a reaction to Oda Nobunaga's sieges of the castles of Odani and Yokoyama, which belonged to the Azai and Asakura clans. It was also referred to as the Battle of Nomura by the Oda and Azai clans and the Battle of Mitamura by the Asakura clan.As warriors sallied forth from the...
- Mount ShizugatakeBattle of ShizugatakeThe was a battle in Sengoku period Japan between supporters of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobutaka.In May, 1583, a former general of Nobunaga's named Shibata Katsuie coordinated a number of simultaneous attacks on Shizugatake, a series of forts held by Hideyoshi's generals among whom was Nakagawa...
- Lake Yogo