Kita Akita City

From Akita Wiki

**Kita Akita City**
**北秋田市**
Kita Akita City's location in Akita, Japan.
Location
District	Kita Akita City
Prefecture	Akita
Region	Tohoku
Country	Japan
Physical characteristics
Area
Total	1,152.57 km²
Population (as of Oct 31, 2009)
Total	37,875
Symbols
Tree	Japanese Beech (椈)
Flower	Hydrangea (紫陽花)
Bird	Black Woodpecker (クマゲラ)
Emblem of Kita Akita City
City Hall
Mayor	Eikou Tsuya (津谷永光)
Address	秋田県北秋田市花園町19番1号
Phone number	0186-62-1111

Kita Akita City (北秋田市; -shi) is Akita's second-largest city in area. It was formed in March of 2005 with the consolidation of the four former towns, Takanosu Town (鷹巣町; -machi), Aikawa Town (合川町; -machi), Moriyoshi Town (森吉町; -machi), and Ani Town (阿仁町; -machi). Today, the names of the four former towns are frequently used without the -machi (町) suffix to identify the regions of Kita Akita City, but are no longer independent towns in the political sense.

1 Location and Population
2 Towns in Kita Akita City
3 Schools
4 Festivals
5 Sightseeing Destinations
6 Onsens
7 Restaurants
8 Shopping
9 Waste & Garbage Disposal
10 External Links

Location and Population

Kita Akita City is located in the north-central part of Akita prefecture. The area of Kita Akita City is 1,152.57 km². As of October 31, 2009 the population is estimated to be 37,875, giving the city a population density of only 32.8 persons per km². In Akita prefecture, Kita Akita City is second only to Senboku City in lowest population density.

Towns in Kita Akita City

Despite the recent merge, each of Kita Akita City's four towns maintains a local atmosphere as well as their own festivals and charms.

Takanosu (鷹巣) The focal town of the city with the local government offices, most businesses, and the connection train stations linking the Ou Line with the Nairiku Line.

Aikawa (合川) Smallest in area, yet most densely populated town of the city. Set in southwestern Kita Akita City with a public park and loads of rice fields.

Moriyoshi (森吉) The town which bears the name of the local mountain peak. Is seperated into two primary hamlets: Yonaizawa, near Aikawa, and Maeda, near Ani.

Ani (阿仁) The most mountainous and rugged town in the city. Also the largest in area, yet the least populous. Claims the southern half of Mt. Moriyoshi as well as waterfalls, hiking trails, and bears!

Schools

High Schools

Takanosu Agriculture High School (県立鷹巣農林高等学校)(website)
Takanosu High School (県立鷹巣高等学校)(website)
Yonaizawa High School (県立米内沢高等学校)(website)
Aikawa High School (市立合川高等学校)(website)

Junior High Schools

Takanosu Middle School (鷹巣中学校)(website)
Takanosu Minami Middle School (鷹巣南中学校)(website)
Moriyoshi Middle School (森吉中学校)
Ani Middle School (阿仁中学校)(website)
Aikawa Middle School (合川中学校)(website)
Kamikoani Middle School (上小阿仁中学校)(website)

Elementary Schools

Takanosu Elementary School (鷹巣小学校)(website)
Takanosu Higashi Elementary School (鷹巣東小学校)(website)
Tsuzureko Elementary School (綴子小学校)
Takanosu Chuuou Elementary School (鷹巣中央小学校)
Takanosu Minami Elementary School (鷹巣南小学校)
Takanosu Nishi Elementary School (鷹巣西小学校)
Yonaizawa Elementary School (米内沢小学校)
Urata Elementary School (浦田小学校)(website)
Maeda Elementary School (前田小学校)(website)
Aniai Elementary School (阿仁合小学校)
Ooani Elementary School (大阿仁小学校)
Aikawa Higashi Elementary School (合川東小学校)
Aikawa Nishi Elementary School (合川西小学校)
Aikawa Minami Elementary School (合川南小学校)(website)
Aikawa Kita Elementary School (合川北小学校)
Kamikoani Elementary School (上小阿仁小学校)(website)

Festivals

Ani Frozen Tree Festival (阿仁の樹氷まつり): mid Jan - mid March

People come from all over the prefecture (particularly from Akita City) to view the snow-blown trees on the peak of Mt. Moriyoshi. With the winds and the snow build-up throughout the winter, snow is cast and stuck onto the trees, making them into snow monsters. To view the trees, on has to take the gondola at Ani Ski Resort. A roundtrip ticket is ￥1,500 for adults. However, the trees can easily be seen if you're at the resort just for skiing or snowboarding.

Odaiko Festival (神社例大祭): July 14-15

Aikawa Hydrangea Festival (あじさい祭り): Late July

The hydrangea was the symbol of Aikawa Town before the 2005 merge, however the region is still known for the large blooming flowers. The exact date of the festival changes based on when the full bloom is expected, but it's usually held in late July.

Tanabata Fire Festival (たなばた火まつり): August 7

This festival is held in the sleepy Animaeda hamlet in Moriyoshi. For one evening, the hamlet comes alive and alight with fireworks and more.

Aikawa Matobi and Furusato Festival (合川まとび & ふるさとまつり): August 14, 7:30

In the wee town of Aikawa in Kita-Akita-shi. The festival is held near Aikawa Junior High School in a large parking lot in front of the Aikawa Agricultural Community Center 合川農村環境改善センター　and the local hospital. It's near the river in Aikawa. The festival is a Shinto/Bhuddist fire cleansing ritual for the river and the surrounding rice fields. There's obon dancing, enka, taiko, drinking, yaki-soba, gakko galore, and all the other accouterments of the typical Japanese festival.

Foreigner House Festival (異人館フェスティバル): August 16

This oddly named festival is indeed, an odd festival. The festival isn't celebrating the house of the ALT. Rather, they celebrate the house of German engineers who lived in Aniai during the 19th century. The festival includes German flag decorations around Aniai, German lager beer, children sending lanterns along the Ani River, and fireworks. It brings in a lot of people to an otherwise sleepy hamlet.

Ani Fireworks and Lantern Festival (阿仁の花火と灯籠流し): Aug 16 (2008)

Lanterns lit at 6pm, fireworks start at 7:30. At Ani river park (阿仁河川公園).

Kita Akita City Taiko Festival (北秋田市太鼓まつり): September 2

This festival is held right outside the Odaiko Hall in Takanosu. It's an afternoon-only event as things start to shut down about 15:30.

Sightseeing Destinations

Onsens

Onsen reviews and information have been moved to their respective towns' sections: Takanosu, Aikawa Ani, and Moriyoshi.

Restaurants

Restaurant reviews and information have been moved to their respective towns' sections: Takanosu, Aikawa Ani, and Moriyoshi.

Akita Prefecture has also compiled a directory of some local restaurants in Kita Akita City

Shopping

Shopping information can be found in their respective towns' sections: Takanosu, Aikawa Ani, and Moriyoshi.

Waste & Garbage Disposal

Waste & Garbage Disposal in Kita Akita City can be a little bit complicated. Detailed instructions are located on the Kita Akita City Waste & Garbage Disposal article.