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Kamikawa, Saitama

Coordinates: 36°12′50″N 139°6′6.2″E / 36.21389°N 139.101722°E / 36.21389; 139.101722
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Kamikawa 
神川町
Kamikawa town office
Kamikawa town office
Flag of Kamikawa 
Official seal of Kamikawa 
Location of Kamikawa in Saitama Prefecture
Location of Kamikawa in Saitama Prefecture
Kamikawa  is located in Japan
Kamikawa 
Kamikawa 
 
Coordinates: 36°12′50″N 139°6′6.2″E / 36.21389°N 139.101722°E / 36.21389; 139.101722
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureSaitama
DistrictKodama
Area
 • Total47.40 km2 (18.30 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2021)
 • Total13,369
 • Density280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSakura
- FlowerCosmos
- BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number0495-77-2111
Address909 Uetake, Kamikawa-machi, Kodama-gun, Saitama-ken 367-0292
WebsiteOfficial website

Kamikawa (神川町, Kamikawa-machi) is a town located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2021, the town had an estimated population of 13,369 in 5774 households and a population density of 280 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 47.40 square kilometres (18.30 sq mi).

Geography

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Kamikawa is located on the extreme western border of Saitama Prefecture, separated from Gunma Prefecture by the Kanna River, and isolated from the remainder of Saitama by the Chichibu Mountains.

Surrounding municipalities

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Gunma Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture

Climate

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Kamikawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kamikawa is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2028 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.3 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kamikawa has remained relatively steady over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 10,750—    
1930 10,523−2.1%
1940 11,171+6.2%
1950 13,834+23.8%
1960 12,397−10.4%
1970 11,425−7.8%
1980 12,012+5.1%
1990 13,564+12.9%
2000 15,197+12.0%
2010 14,470−4.8%
2020 13,359−7.7%

History

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The area around Kamikawa was part of ancient Musashi Province. The village of Tanshō was created within Kami District, Saitama and the villages of Wakaizumi and Aoyagi were created within Kodama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Kami District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Kodama District. On December 1, 1949, Wakaizumi split into Watarase and Aguhara. On May 3, 1954, the Tanshō and Aoyagi merged to form the village of Kamikawa. Kamikawa annexed Watarase on May 3, 1957, and was elevated to town status on October 1, 1987. On January 1, 2006, Kamikawa merged with neighboring Kamiizumi village.

Government

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Kamikawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Kamikawa, together with the city of Honjō and town of Kamisato, contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Kamikawa has some light manufacturing; however, many people commute to neighboring Honjō.

Education

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Kamikawa has four public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railway

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JR East - Hachikō Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ "Kamikawa town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ "Kamikawa climate: Weather Kamikawa & temperature by month". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  3. ^ Kamikawa population statistics
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Media related to Kamikawa, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons